Why Pride In Protest Are Still Planning To March Oxford Street On Mardi Gras

Pride celebrations are expectedly very different this year.

Where the first Saturday of March would usually see Sydney’s Oxford Street come alive with glitter, rainbows & LGBTIQ pride. COVID-19 and NSW health regulations can be to blame for the absence of by far the most sensational parade in the nation.

When the city centre would typically attract hundreds of thousands this weekend, the official Mardi Gras website states that due to state and government directives, and to allow contact tracing, the alternate venue for this year’s event was the best option.

The website declares the parade will centre on the “outlandish pageantry of costumes, puppetry and props,” instead of the floats we’re all used to seeing — but claims the spirit of celebration and protest will remain strong.

However, organisers of the social justice organisation, Pride in Protest say they will march down Oxford street this Saturday, regardless of restrictions.

Event organiser Charlie Murphy told Junkee that the group and their supporters will march from Taylor Square at 2PM, move down Oxford Street to conclude in Hyde Park in what she called a celebration and protest march in the name of LGBTIQ pride.

“Which is the original route that the 78ers took in the first Mardi Gras March”, they reminded us.

The group will march in honour of the 78er’s, which is the name given to the group of people who initiated the first Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Movement in 1978, and to raise awareness about issues that are important to the queer community.

Murphy said the movement calls for systematic change and will be attempting to highlight matters that are important to the community which include:

– National decriminalisation of sex work

– Kill the Bill, in reference to scrapping discriminative bills currently before Parliament, which target a bill prohibiting trans education in schools and the Religious Discrimination Bill

– No Pride in Detention. No more mandatory detention for refugees

– Defund the Police. No more Deaths in Custody

—  #LegaliseAllDrugsNow. Decriminalise and legalise drug use and support drug law reform that halts the war on drug users.

Members of Parliament (MPs) have also typed letters of support, calling on police and government health officials to increase the current capacity of 500 people for the event.

A statement from the NSW Police Force said a notice to hold a public assembly this Saturday (6 March) was submitted to the NSWPF Commissioner for consideration last Thursday (25 February). Authority has not been given for this event, as it outlined an intent for an assembly of a group greater than 500, which is contrary to current public health orders.

It goes on to say the NSW Police Force recognises and supports the rights of individuals and groups to exercise their rights of free speech and peaceful assembly, however, the first priority for NSW Police is always the safety of the wider community.

However as of Thursday 4th March, Pride in Protest have announced that the police are taking Pride in Protest’s Mardi Gras March organisers to the Supreme Court this Friday.

“This is their latest in a series of efforts to contain, suppress, and oppress the voices of the queer community, a tradition the Police have obstinately held onto since their actions against the original Mardi Gras protesters in 1978.” Said the organisers in a statement.

“Regardless of what happens with the response from NSW Police, we will be out on Taylor Square and Oxford Street at 2PM this Saturday. So, it is the police’s choice, whether they keep the LGBTIQ community safe or not,” Charlie Murphy confirmed to Junkee.