Mardi Gras Board Is Asking For Community Feedback About Police
by HOPE PRATT
The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Board (SGLMG) has begun consultations regarding the presence and participation of NSW Police in their events as the organisation prepares for a “leaner” parade in 2025.聽
On Friday June 7, the SGLMG board sent an email survey to its members, requesting input on how consultation should move forward in discussing the capacity of police involvement at future events.聽聽
The email said the board was seeking聽鈥渋nput specifically regarding the best way for the organisation to engage meaningfully with our membership to run a consultation process on the participation of the NSW Police Force in Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras events and the relationship between our organisations鈥�.
The organisation said it recognised 鈥渢he complex and sometimes contentious history between SGLMG and the NSW Police Force鈥� and said it was 鈥渃ritical to get the process right鈥� in collecting feedback.
The community consultation comes , which saw low attendance, events being cancelled last minute, and the organisers .
Should police be marching at Mardi Gras?聽
Mardi Gras 2024 was also overshadowed by grief and anger at the NSW Police Force, not only for their historic violence against the LGBTQI+ community, but also modern violence.
In the wake of , the SGLMG board rescinded the NSW Police Force鈥檚 invitation to march in the Parade.聽
Later, the SGLMG board back-pedalled their decision, after reaching an agreement with the force to allow officers to march out of uniform.聽
and spurred conversations regarding the police force鈥檚 history of violence, notably their role in beating and arresting marchers at the first Mardi Gras in 1978.
Pride in Protest heavily criticised the board鈥檚 decision, calling for them to hold police accountable for their present and past violence, and for SGLMG to further discuss and debate the role police should take in future Mardi Gras.聽
“We have no confidence in the ability of the majority of the board to lead Mardi Gras, and to act as figureheads for the queer community at large,” they said at the time.
SGLMG’s survey questions
The SGLMG board has since followed members’ requests to bar politicians from being promoted at Fair Day and from marching in the Parade if they do not support the Equality Bill.聽
Among the survey questions were, 聽鈥淎re there any special considerations regarding the participation of the NSW Police Force in SGLMG [Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras] events that should be addressed in this consultation?鈥�
鈥淵our insights will not only help create a safe, welcoming space and robust process for this consultation but also shape future consultations and improve our engagement with the community,” said the board.
The survey closes on Monday June 17.
I also a life foundation member and also haven’t received my email
I havn鈥檛 received the email yet, and am keen to respond. Life Member of SLGMG.