Organisers of Australia’s premier LGBTQI event have asked police not to march in the Mardi Gras parade, the NSW Police Force says. A NSW Police Force spokesperson confirmed the decision on Monday night. “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,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
“Greater attention and focus needs to be on awareness, recognition and responses to domestic and family violence by our community, first responders, service providers and government.” NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said excluding officers from the parade on Saturday would set the organisation’s relationship with the gay and lesbian community backwards. “We have been participating in Mardi Gras for the last 20 years and haven’t missed a year ...