Sydney Mardi Gras organisers have uninvite NSW Police Force in the parade this weekend after a police officer was charged with killing a gay couple.
It was on February 19 when Senior Constable Beau Lamarre-Condon was charged with murdering a gay couple of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies in their Paddington home.
The followed days after Lamarre-Condon arrested and charged, the LGBTQIA+ community expressed the shock after couple’s murder and persuade police force to voluntarily pull out of the parade.
No matter how, Police Commissioner Karen Webb refused to withdraw from the event but the decision was taken on Monday night that police had been uninvited by the organisers of the event.
“The NSW Police Force has been advised that the Board of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras has decided to withdraw the invitation to NSW Police to participate in this year’s event,” a NSW Police spokesman said in a statement.
“While disappointed with this outcome, NSW Police will continue to work closely with the LGBTQIA+ community and remain committed to working with organisers provide a safe environment for all those participating in and supporting this Saturday’s parade.”
The Board of Mardi Gras will meet with Police in the coming days to discuss about the issue. ABC News reported.
What is Sydney Mardi Gras?
This is the event in Sydney, New South Wales in Australia attended by hundreds and thousands of people around Australia and overseas.
It is the largest Pride event in Oceania and the second largest annual event in terms of economic impact -generating annual income of about $30 million for the New South Wales.
Mardi Gras is one of the largest LGTQIA+ festivals in the world. It includes the events such as the Sydney Mardi Gras Parade and party, Bondi Beach Drag Races, Harbour Party, the academic discussion panel Queer Thinking, Mardi Gras film festival and Fair Day.
Mardi Gras or Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras was inaugurated in 1978 on June 24, it is annual event which begins on second Thursday in February and ends first Saturday in March.
It maintains a political flavour, with marching groups and floats promoting LGBTQIA+ rights issues or themes.