MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) – Organizers of Sydney's Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras have asked police not to march in the annual parade this weekend. murder of a couple This was by police officers, prompting the Police Commissioner on Tuesday to lift the ban.
Police on Tuesday discovered the bodies of former TV reporter Jesse Baird, 26, and her flight attendant partner Luke Davies, 29, who were allegedly shot dead at Baird's Sydney home last Monday. .
New South Wales Police Senior Constable Beau Lamarre-Condon, who was in a relationship with Baird until late last year, was charged on Friday with the murders of both men.
Police said Lamar provided information that led to a body found early Tuesday in a rural area about 200 kilometers (124 miles) southwest of Sydney.
The Mardi Gras board said the LGBTQIA+ community across Australia was devastated by the deaths of the couple, who were due to celebrate in Saturday's parade.
“The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Committee believes that NSW Police marching this year has the potential to add to the distress within our community, which has already been severely affected by recent events. “The board has made the decision to request that police not march in the 2024 parade,” the board said in a statement late Monday.
“This decision has not been taken lightly, particularly given that many of the NSW Police Forces participating in the parade are also members of the LGBTQIA+ community and are living with us through the effects of this tragedy. However, this decision has not been taken lightly. , we believe that their participation in this year's event may further intensify the current feelings of sadness and distress,'' the board added.
The commission noted that the 28-year-old murder suspect had participated in the parade in the past.
Police Chief Karen Webb, who has participated in the annual march since 2006, said she would meet with organizers on Tuesday to urge the commission to reconsider its decision.
“We're not dealing with gay hate crimes here. We're dealing with domestic homicide cases, and we're disappointed in the Mardi Gras board's stance on this issue,” Webb said. Ta.
“This is a time for us to come together the most in our society. We're talking about inclusion, we're talking about diversity, and excluding parts of that community sends the wrong message. “I think it will be,” Webb added.
Alex Greenidge, an independent state lawmaker and gay activist, agreed with Webb that police should be allowed to march.
“It's really important that the LGBTQ community knows that the police are there to protect us and that they can report crimes to the police. That being said, there's a lot of work that needs to be done on the police side here. Yes,” Greenidge said.
Opposition MP Jackie Munro said the government should withdraw funding from the event, which was a major tourist draw, because of police removal.
“The idea that the government is backing something that, based on the actions of a few people, has directed the entire organization to stand in a naughty corner is unacceptable,” Munro said.
Premier Chris Minns said he hoped police marches would be allowed, but ruled out withdrawing government funding.
“That's not the case. Hundreds of thousands of people are heading to Sydney as we speak. That will end this year's marches, there will be no marches, there will be no marches. How would that help the current situation?'' Minns told reporters.
Charlie Murphy, a queer community activist and spokesperson for Pride in Protest, said other floats would have boycotted the parade if the police march had been allowed, citing community grief and extreme anger. Ta.
Mardi Gras began in 1978 as a Sydney street protest against homophobia, but was violently suppressed by police. Uniformed police officers have been marching since 1998 as a show of respect and support.
Sydney-born Premier Anthony Albanese said the relationship between police and the LGBTQ community had come a long way since 1978.
“I think it was very good that the police marched,” Albanese said.
“The relationship has improved and we have a good relationship, but queer people
“The Sydney community in particular is saddened by this, which is a huge tragedy,” he added.
