Mardi Gras board directors would be forced to suspend their membership of political parties while serving on the organisation’s board under a proposal to be debated at this month’s annual general meeting.
Ben Grubb
Ben Grubb
Ben Grubb is the founder and editor of Gay Sydney News, an independent publication covering LGBTQIA+ news. A journalist with more than 15 years' experience, he has reported and edited for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, WAToday, Brisbane Times, The Australian Financial Review, News.com.au, ZDNet, TelecomTimes and iTnews, primarily on the topic of technology. He previously hosted The Informer, a queer current affairs program on Melbourne’s JOY 94.9 radio station, and contributes to LGBTQIA+ media including Stun Magazine. Ben has also appeared as a technology commentator on Channel Ten's The Project, ABC RN’s Download This Show and commercial radio stations 2UE, 2GB and 6PR. Contact Ben: ben.grubb@gaysydneynews.com.au
The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras has announced a significant financial turnaround, reporting a net surplus of $401,750 for 2025, a substantial improvement from the previous year’s deficit of $1,242,774.
The outcome of the election will determine the makeup of the board that will steer Mardi Gras into its 50th anniversary, amid competing priorities over governance, community accountability and the organisation’s activist legacy.
The organisation behind the annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras festival and parade is poised to post a surplus for the 2025 financial year, according to two people familiar with the yet-to-be-released results.
Oxford Street gay bar Stonewall Hotel has extended its lease of neighbouring venue Diva bar, ensuring long island iced teas will continue to be poured from the pink-coloured watering hole for at least another three years, seven months and 27 days.
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras has confirmed its official all-night flagship party will return in 2026 – but the venue remains under wraps, with organisers yet to reveal where the festival’s biggest night will be staged.
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras says it will no longer engage with Gay Sydney News or include it in future media opportunities because the outlet didn’t cover a mobile app the organisation announced in September and re-announced in October – even though it wasn’t available to download either time (and still isn’t available to download).
Ultimately, and perhaps sadly, creating spaces where people feel included, safe and comfortable sometimes means drawing lines that exclude others.
CEO Michael Lewis and owner Kevin Du-Val of the soon-to-be-launched gay club on Oxford Street, which was initially set to be named after lesbian Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony” song – despite its target demographic being gay men – have apologised for offence in an open letter to the community.
Sydney’s soon-to-launch gay bar Pink Pony has changed its Instagram handle to “new.name.coming” following online backlash that accused the venue of culturally appropriating a song by a lesbian artist about inclusivity while at the same time marketing itself primarily towards gay men.