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.
On October 15, a Gay Sydney News reporter was approached by Mardi Gras’ external public relations firm Original Spin to request that GSN write about the “launch” of a new official Mardi Gras app the next day.
Described as “a digital hub for events, safety, accessibility, and community connection”, the app was said to be free to download and would include queer and ally business discovery in one place.
“From planning and booking events to navigating Parade night, connecting with friends, or discovering LGBTQIA+ and ally-owned businesses across Sydney, the app places everything Festival-goers need at their fingertips,” the release said.
The app was not available for download on the date Mardi Gras was requesting the news of its future existence be published by Gay Sydney News – and is still not available to download at the time this article was published. In fact, its future existence had already been announced in an earlier media release on September 9, in which the organisation said the 2026 festival would “feature a brand-new Mardi Gras+ app”.
The date the app will actually be available to download is October 30, when the organisation announces its full 2026 festival line-up and key details about next year’s parade and parties.
GSN asks to expand on story about app
When Mardi Gras’ external public relations firm was told on the day of the app’s “launch” that Gay Sydney News wanted to expand any potential story on the app beyond being just about the app itself – and to interview interim Mardi Gras chief executive Jesse Matheson about broader topics, including digital transformation – a representative of the agency said that this was “disappointing to hear”.
“When one of the world’s most prominent queer events launches a major new platform built for community connection and safety, we would have expected that to be clear news for GSN, particularly given your audience,” said Original Spin director Amber Forrest-Bisley in an email to a GSN reporter.
“We recognise that every publication has its own editorial focus, and if GSN’s current direction is moving away from positive community stories like this, we respect that.
“In turn, we’ll be prioritising media engagement with platforms that reflect Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras community-centred initiatives and values.
“With that in mind, we won’t be proceeding with further interview opportunities, embargoed announcements or engagements with GSN at this time. We appreciate your past interest and remain open to future alignment.”
GSN coverage of Mardi Gras
Since its inception, Gay Sydney News has published an array of stories about Mardi Gras, including about staff concerns with interim CEO Jesse Matheson, outlined in a letter sent to the board and signed by 13 of the non-profit’s then-15 employees. Six staff have left the charity since his appointment.
GSN has also reported on its large financial loss last year and government-funded bailout. GSN also published a leaked review into the charity that revealed significant shortcomings in financial oversight and raised serious concerns about the independence of the board.
Gay Sydney News also recently reported that American Express pulled its “principal partner” sponsorship of 2026’s parade – and broke the story that Mardi Gras had lost the right to host the Bondi Beach Party.
Several internal leadership changes at the organisation have also been reported on, including two sudden director departures – one of which was only disclosed to members after GSN asked questions about it.
Complaints about the high cost of its ticketed events have also been reported on by GSN, as well as various membership factions like Protect Mardi Gras and Pride in Protest vying for board seats.
GSN’s reporting has consistently focused on Mardi Gras’ accountability to its members and the wider LGBTQIA+ community.
GSN editor Ben Grubb told Mardi Gras through its external PR agency that it was “disappointing that Mardi Gras has chosen to exclude GSN from future engagement – an organisation [whose] core value is inclusion.”
Asked for their perspective of the newsworthiness of the latest media release on the yet-to-be-released app, a journalist from another outlet told GSN: “Mardi Gras issuing a release for an app you can’t download? It’s not really a story.”
Media outlets including Frooty, Star Observer, Stun Magazine and Australian Pride Network published a story about it. Qnews included a mention of it back in September when it was first announced but did not publish an article based on Mardi Gras’ latest media release on it.
DNA Magazine did not publish a standalone story about it.
Mardi Gras excludes GSN from event’s invite list
True to its word, Mardi Gras excluded Gay Sydney News reporters from the emailed invite to its media launch event for the 2026 parade and festival scheduled for this Thursday. GSN was instead informed of the launch and location by another member of the media, who sent GSN the event’s details unprompted. GSN RSVPed using a linked-to form.
Gay Sydney News asked Mardi Gras’ external PR firm: “Has Mardi Gras and/or its directors instructed Original Spin not to invite Gay Sydney News to its media events, or to delay the distribution of media releases to Gay Sydney News? If so, could you please explain why?”
Forrest-Bisley referred GSN to the firm’s previous correspondence, saying that “the position has not changed and we will not be making any comment”. She added, however, that Mardi Gras had received GSN’s RSVP.
GSN was also not invited to the launch event of Mardi Gras’ 2026 theme “ECSTATICA” on September 24.
GSN was later told it was “a partner specific event” for “corporate/ community / media partners”. At least three queer media publications attended, including Star Observer, Qnews and Gay Sydney Australia.
Gay Sydney Australia (known as @gaysydneyaustralia on Instagram) is run by Pink Media Group managing director Ben Mulcahy, whose company recently signed a three-year commercial arrangement with Mardi Gras as its sponsorship sales agency until 2028. Besides its commercial relationship with Mardi Gras, Gay Sydney Australia also publishes interviews and reviews like any other news outlet.
GSN did not receive the media release for the ECSTATICA event until after other media outlets who attended the event started to publish their own stories.
At the time, GSN was told by Mardi Gras’ external PR that because releases “are mass mailings, they aren’t instant in everyone’s inboxes at the same time … unfortunately, they can sometimes take 1-2 hours to push out to every recipient. Where we have big news in future we can, where it’s possible, aim to give you a heads up.”
Editor’s note: This article was written by Ben Grubb, who pays $50 annually for Mardi Gras membership to access discounts, including at retail stores and bars, but doesn’t 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
