New South Wales police have been asked not to march at Saturday’s Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade.
“In recent days, many have voiced their concerns to us, particularly regarding feelings of unease at the parade,” the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Board said in a statement.
The decision by the event’s board came in the wake of the alleged murders of Sydney couple Jesse Baird and Luke Davies by serving officer Constable Beau Lamarre-Condon.
The board said having police participate in the march “could intensify the current feelings of sorrow and distress” in the LGBTTQIA+ community, who were grieving over the young men’s deaths.
Aziz Al Saafin reports with the latest from a double-murder case where we have an arrest but still no victims. (Source: Breakfast)
“Their concerns centre on whether it can still be a space to protest, celebrate, and advocate for equality, as well as to honour and grieve for those we’ve lost, given the NSW Police’s participation in this year’s event.
"Our community needs space to grieve the loss of Jesse and Luke who, before this tragedy, would have been here celebrating with us at the festival,” the statement said.
"This decision was not made lightly, especially considering that many NSW Police members who participate in the parade are also members of the LGBTQIA+ community and are navigating the impact of this tragedy alongside us … This decision allows space for the community to heal this year and acknowledges the profound grief and strain that we are enduring.”
The discussion also comes amid ongoing questions about the police response to December's report into LGBTQ hate crimes.
In a statement, a police spokesperson said, “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".
"While disappointed with this outcome, NSW Police will continue to work closely with the LGBTTQIA+ community and remain committed to working with organisers to provide a safe environment for all those participating in and supporting this Saturday's parade."
'A crime of passion'
Yesterday, NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb doubled down on her support for police officers to march. Webb said earlier said it would be a "travesty" for police to be excluded but promised to comply with organisers' wishes.
"We have been building a bridge with the gay and lesbian community since the 78ers were mishandled by police back in the day," Webb said in her first public appearance since Baird and Davies were allegedly murdered.
Webb said the alleged double murder of Baird and Davies was not "gay hate-related" but “a crime of passion, we will allege”.
"It is domestic related, we allege."
Her comments have come under fire from domestic violence advocates who said it was inappropriate for the alleged actions of Lamarre-Condon to be justified by “love”.
Police’s troubled history with Mardi Gras
The troubled relationship between police and the event dates back to 1978, when 53 people were arrested and dozens more brutally bashed by officers in an attack on marchers who called for the decriminalisation of homosexuality.
Sydney's first Mardi Gras proved a pivotal moment in the LGBTTQIA+ movement.
Beau Lamarre-Condon, who had previously marched in the parade, has been charged with killing his ex-partner Baird and Baird's current partner Davies in inner Sydney last Monday, allegedly using a police pistol. Their bodies are yet to be found.
Murder inquiry update
Police now believe the bodies of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies were moved a second time by their killer and would today be working towards filling in that particular gap in the timeline.
It was a theory detectives had previously held but it looked like that has been resolved as most likely.
SHARE ME