Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras (SGLMG) has been slammed by people across the community following it’s post directed at One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, inviting her to attend the Mardi Gras Parade.
The social media post states “Mardi Gras has always responded to prejudice with humour, creativity, and fabulous outfit,” and that the invitation to attend “remains open” to Hanson.
It came in response to remarks from Hanson about SGLMG and how sexuality should be kept “behind closed doors”
Related content:
- Pauline Hanson still doesn’t like Mardi Gras, saying sexuality should be kept ‘behind closed doors’
- Fact-checking Pauline Hanson’s National Press Club speech
- Barnaby Joyce reckons One Nation is ‘one of the gayest parties in Australia’
Pauline Pantsdown strikes down Mardi Gras ‘misguided’ post
The post has now drawn widespread criticism from members of the LGBTQIA+ community, including from Simon Hunt, the performer behind Pauline Pantsdown.
Hunt has described the post as “stupid and misguided,” arguing it brings “harm [to] our communities.”
“Of course Hanson’s svengali James Ashby will consider jumping at the ‘offer’ in this worst-ever attempt at sardonic humour, & SGLMG will continue contributing to dangers against our communities,” Hunt wrote.
“It’s also a really bad look for an LGBTIQ+ organisation whose CEO only retracted a racially-charged column, widely regarded as racist, when running for office four years later,” Hunt continued, referring to a 2012 opinion article titled “I’m a sexual racist” written by Jesse Matheson. Matheson apologised in 2016.
“If you don’t f*ck with racial minorities; at least don’t f*ck with racists?” Hunt wrote.
“Finally, saying that Pauline Hanson ‘contributed’ to the satire against her is like saying the KKK contributed to the work of the Black Panthers (even though I understand it was just a poor attempt at completing a ‘joke’).
“This is a stupid & unfunny post.”
View this post on Instagram
Wider community response: ‘tone-deaf AF’
Many in the wider community have had a similar reaction, labelling the post as “tone-deaf AF” and proof the board has “lost its way”.
“This is why I no longer attend Mardi Gras. It is not a safe space for BIPOC queers.
“This woman isn’t just violent to LGBTQIA+ communities she is violent to First Nations peoples, migrants, Islamic communities, Asians etc etc. You could have put out a powerful statement, protecting the most marginalised in your communities but no,” one wrote in response.
“She’s not just homophobic. She’s a massive racist too. Whatever white gay wrote this is completely ignoring her racism and other bigoted views. Inviting her to a pride event is putting our POC community at risk. Very misguided post,” a second said.
“SGLMG treating the rise of One Nation as a cute little opportunity for some yass-queen liberalism is infuriating,” another added.
Mardi Gras change caption on post in response
QNews reached out to Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras for comment earlier in the day and was asked to wait until 5pm, but had not received a response after the deadline or at the time of publication.
It later changed the caption on the original social media post and re-posted, stating:
“Yesterday we shared part of a statement responding to Pauline Hanson’s comments about Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
“In sharing it without the full context of what we were responding to, some of the intent behind our words was lost.
“For almost five decades, Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras has done the opposite: putting our community and the issues we face firmly in the spotlight, and showing that LGBTQIA+ people exist in every facet of Australian life.
“Sometimes we’ve protested with placards and chants. Other times, with effigies, satire and dance. Both are powerful forms of protest embedded in our DNA.
“Hanson says she’s never attended or watched the Parade. We say it’s required viewing.
“Who knows? Maybe when she sees the tears, the smiles, the anger and the joy – and looks into the eyes of the people her words affect – she might change her mind. Perhaps she’ll feel something. And isn’t that part of why we march?”
Politicians and political leaders at Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras has a long history of debate over whether politicians, political leaders and police have a right to march in or attend the parade.
An apt initial reminder that Mardi Gras started in 1978 as a protest, while homosexuality was still criminalised (it was criminalised in NSW until 1984).
Many years later, in 2016, Malcolm Turnbull became the first sitting Australian Prime Minister to attend Mardi Gras. Though his attendance came with criticism.
That same year, a motion passed by Mardi Gras members declared he wouldn’t be welcome back due to his support for the same-sex marriage plebiscite which critics argued would do nothing but inflame divisive debate over gay marriage.
Marriage equality passed in 2017, and in the years that followed, more and more politicians began attending and marching in the parade.
In 2023, Anthony Albanese became the first sitting Prime Minister to march int he parade, while Chris Minns became the first NSW Premier to march in 2024.
Each time, there was considerable discussion within the community about whether political leaders should be invited, due to how much work still needed to be done for the community.
This was especially so at the 2024 parade, following the murder of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies, allegedly by a NSW Police Officer. That year, the board requested that police do not march in the parade.
Since then, there has been ongoing debate over who can march, and if those that are accused of oppressing or harming the community should have the right to attend.
Pauline Hanson’s history
Pauline Hanson has done and said many thing over the years to the LGBTQIA+, First Nations and BIPOC communities, and while many of us (me) are sick of talking about her, in this context it is important to give background on the commentary from members of the community.
There multiple instances over the years, and recently, involving her party members attacking these communities. Hanson herself also has a long history of inflammatory, dangerous rhetoric (and voting history).
You need only look so far as her recent maiden speech to the National Press Club in Canberra to see where she stands.
In it, she said immigration is to blame for the housing crisis, criticised multiculturalism, labelled global warming a hoax, demonised both the Islamic community and the transgender community (the transgender insurgency, anyone), and continued on a confused ramble about Germaine Greer and who is allowed in which bathroom.
On top of this, she has a long history of opposing First-Nations support programs and other initiatives, including campaigning heavily against the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum.
I could go on, but we’d be here a while.
For the latest LGBTIQA+ Sister Girl and Brother Boy news, entertainment, and community stories in Australia, visit qnews.com.au. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
I don’t know, it may be fun to have a float to hate on and throw tomatos at…
ofc an org run by white cis gays would have no problem inviting someone who wants to, in her words, “eradicate transgender people”