Here are the key takeaways from our story on Mardi Gras’ factional battle:
- Big contest: This year’s Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras annual general meeting (AGM) will be one of the most hotly contested in years.
- Two camps: A new group called Protect Mardi Gras wants the festival and march to stay broadly inclusive, while activist group Pride in Protest wants police, certain politicians and some corporate sponsors kept out.
- Board elections: Four seats on the Mardi Gras board are up for grabs as two-year terms expire.
- Intentions revealed: Current director Kathy Pavlich, whose term is expiring, says she supports Protect Mardi Gras and will renominate for a board position, while long-time director Louis Hudson has announced he won’t run again after six years on the board.
- Protect Mardi Gras’ plan: The group will support candidates who commit to a set of principles – obtained by Gay Sydney News but not yet released publicly – outlining how Mardi Gras should be run and how board contenders should conduct themselves.
- Principles: These principles call for inclusion, transparency and respectful debate.
- No exclusions: Protect Mardi Gras opposes blanket bans being pushed by Pride in Protest to exclude police from marching, arguing individuals should not be automatically excluded from the parade solely because of their affiliation.
- Good faith: Protect Mardi Gras argues that people who show up in good faith should be welcomed, even if their institutions still need reform.
- Accountability: The group stresses this does not mean giving institutions a free pass, saying harmful behaviour and unjust practices should be challenged in ways that build support and win change rather than narrowing the festival’s reach.
- Governance: Protect Mardi Gras’ principles also stress open and accountable governance of Mardi Gras: “While some matters – like HR or commercial negotiations – must remain confidential, greater transparency will strengthen governance and build community confidence,” they say.
- Respectful campaigning: Protect Mardi Gras has also pledged to avoid personal attacks and online pile-ons.
- Leadership: The Protect Mardi Gras campaign is led by co-founder Peter Stahel, a former Greens adviser and now head of progressive research firm Essential.
- Backing, not running: Stahel has ruled out nominating for the board himself and says Protect Mardi Gras will endorse supportive figures rather than fielding a preselection or formal ticket.
- Reason for forming: Stahel described the campaign’s existence as regrettable but necessary.
- Claims of entryism: “This campaign wouldn’t need to exist were it not for the entryist [Pride in Protest] campaign,” he said. “This is a deliberate attempt to push back against what we see as a really dangerous push for exclusion.”
- What is entryism? Entryism typically describes activists joining larger organisations to influence them from within. Protect Mardi Gras has accused Pride in Protest of using this tactic – a claim Pride in Protest rejects.
- Defending culture: Stahel argues the only way to stop entryism is to organise an alternative group.
- Encouraging members: He says Protect Mardi Gras wants Mardi Gras members to feel there is a co-ordinated effort to safeguard the festival.
- Supporters: Protect Mardi Gras has been publicly backed by unsuccessful former Labor candidate Savanna Peake, Sydney councillor Adam Worling and former Greens leader Bob Brown.
- High-profile followers: Its Instagram is followed by Mardi Gras directors Kyriakos Gold and Daniel Mitsuru Delisle, Delisle’s partner and Labor Inner West Council deputy mayor Mat Howard, former Mardi Gras CEO Gil Beckwith, and former Mardi Gras director Brandon Bear.
- Other followers: Instagram followers also include NSW Labor MP Marjorie O’Neill, Rainbow Labor NSW and former Mardi Gras parade producer Cass Looveer.
- Follower caution: Following an account does not necessarily mean support.
- Social media reach: Protect Mardi Gras has about 343 Instagram followers and 449 on Facebook, while Pride in Protest has about 13,300 Instagram and 5800 Facebook followers.
- Public praise: Upon launch, Mardi Gras director Kyriakos Gold welcomed Protect Mardi Gras, saying he was “heartened” to see the community unite for Mardi Gras’ future.
- Pride in Protest’s stance: The group maintains that police participation is inappropriate, citing decades of violence and discrimination against LGBTQIA+ people and arguing their presence makes some in the community feel unsafe.
- Politicians: Pride in Protest wants to bar MPs unless they support removing religious exemptions in discrimination law.
- Corporate stance: It has also pushed to exclude sponsors such as American Express over claims of discrimination against sex workers.
- Ethics charter: The group has also sought stronger human rights standards for sponsorships and procurement, and has campaigned for solidarity with Palestine.
- Community focus: And they have called for more support for queer people in western Sydney and regional areas.
- Wins and losses: While many of Pride in Protest’s AGM motions have failed, it succeeded in scrapping the Mardi Gras Police Accord, which governed police decency checks at the parade, and nearly passed a ban on police participating in the parade at the last AGM.
- Criticism of Protect Mardi Gras: Pride in Protest activist Luna Choo accused Protect Mardi Gras of recycling “stale right-wing talking points”.
- Community voice: Choo said thousands of LGBTQIA+ people have genuine concerns about police that should not be dismissed.
- No limits: Choo argued Protect Mardi Gras has no boundaries on what institutions it will accept, even if they are harmful or discriminatory.
- Corporate concerns: Choo said Protect Mardi Gras’ stance would mean opposing motions such as barring Gilead from sponsorship after alleged price gouging of PrEP, an antiviral medication used to prevent HIV.
- Far-right risk: Choo also warned that Protect Mardi Gras’ approach could allow far-right parties such as One Nation to take part in the parade.
- Pushback grows: Stahel said he once saw Pride in Protest’s activism as harmless but became alarmed as some of its motions gained traction.
- Governance: Mardi Gras directors can currently renominate indefinitely, something criticised in an external governance review leaked to Gay Sydney News last year.
- Review warning: The review said unlimited terms risk undermining the independence of the board.
- Expiring terms: The Mardi Gras director terms of Kathy Pavlich, Kyriakos Gold, Louis Hudson, and Pride in Protest’s Luc Velez expire this year. Director and Pride in Protest activist Damien Nguyen’s directorship continues until the end of 2026.
- Member involvement: Protect Mardi Gras’ Stahel wants ordinary Mardi Gras members to take part in the AGM and vote to keep the festival inclusive.
- Festival reach: He stressed Mardi Gras must remain large and welcoming to retain its cultural influence.
- Opposing view: Choo countered that Protect Mardi Gras is not making the festival welcoming but turning it into a “doormat”.
- Nominations: Pavlich said she supported the Protect Mardi Gras initiative and confirmed she would be renominating at this year’s AGM to continue on the board. Hudson indicated that he would be retiring and not standing as a candidate again after six years on the board.
- Principle of openness: Hudson said Mardi Gras must remain open and accessible to everyone under the LGBTQIA+ umbrella, and that new directors with vision and expertise are needed as the festival approaches its 50th anniversary.
- What’s next: The AGM, expected in December, will feature speeches from the board co-chairs and CEO Jesse Matheson, discussion on Mardi Gras’ yet-to-be-released annual financial report, and crucial votes on board seats and member motions.
- High stakes: Both Protect Mardi Gras and Pride in Protest are preparing to rally supporters, setting up a decisive contest over the future direction of the festival.
Editor’s note: Journalists Eliot Hastie and Ben Grubb each pay $50 annually for Mardi Gras memberships to access retail and bar discounts but do not use the membership’s voting rights
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
Eliot Hastie is a senior news producer at Channel Ten, reporting on a range of general stories, specialising in foreign affairs and LGBTQ+ stories. He’s also a reporter for Gay Sydney News, where he covers LGBTQIA+ culture, politics and nightlife. He previously helped to build and launch ausbiz, Australia's only live streaming finance news channel, where he was also an executive producer and host. He has previously worked as a finance and business journalist for publications including Fintech Business, Real Estate Business and other Momentum Media titles. Eliot holds a journalism degree from the University of Westminster and brings experience in both broadcast and digital reporting. Contact Eliot: eliot.hastie@gaysydneynews.com.au
