Bill Shorten to be first major federal party leader to march at Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade

Bill Shorten to be first major federal party leader to march at Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade
Image: Bill Shorten (PHOTO: Coal Photography; Star Observer)

OPPOSITION Leader Bill Shorten will become the first leader of a major federal party to march at the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade.

The leader of the Australian Labor Party today announced he would march with the Rainbow Labor contingent at this year’s Mardi Gras Parade alongside his wife Chloe, their three children and Deputy Labor Leader Tanya Plibersek.

The announcement comes after he attended the Midsumma Pride March in Melbourne with Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews.

Shorten told Star Observer he decided to join the Mardi Gras Parade so he could send an important message to Australia’s LGBTI communities.

“It sends a strong message that LGBTI Australians are valued members of our community, entitled to the same opportunities, love and respect as everybody else,” he said.

“This message is important for everybody to hear, but it’s especially important for young people who are struggling with their sexuality or gender identity – this is why I was so keen to get involved.”

The Maribyrnong MP said he wanted to use his status as Labor leader to fight for LGBTI equality.

“I am committed to delivering equality for LGBTI Australians in all aspects of life, including the right to marry the person they love,” Shorten said.

“This will be my first time marching at Mardi Gras. I love Mardi Gras – it’s a fantastic celebration of the LGBTI community and a powerful demonstration of the ongoing fight for equality.”

Bill Shorten (centre) at this year's Midsumma Pride March.
Bill Shorten (centre) at this year’s Midsumma Pride March. (PHOTO: Daniel Bone; Star Observer)

Shorten said his participation in this year’s Mardi Gras Parade demonstrated how far LGBTI rights have come since the parade’s inception in 1978.

“The brave activists that marched in the first parade in 1978 faced violence, abuse and arrest.” he said.

“The fact that the federal leader of a major political party is now joining the Parade shows us just how far we’ve come in the fight for equality and inclusion.

“This is why a festival like Mardi Gras is so important.”

Shorten promised if he were elected at the upcoming Federal Election he would act on making marriage equality a reality.

“If Labor wins the next election, we will introduce a bill into (Federal) Parliament within 100 days of taking office – that’s my commitment,” he said.

He also acknowledged there were a number of issues facing LGBTI Australians aside from marriage equality that needed to be addressed, including making the HIV preventative medication, PrEP, readily available via approval by the Therapeutic Goods Adminstration (TGA) and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

“PrEP is a game changer in preventing HIV infection and a key component of getting to zero transmission,” he said.

“I’d like to see Gilead (biopharmaceutical company) and the regulatory authorities working together to get through TGA and PBS processes as quickly as possible.”

The Star Observer has contacted Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s office to see if he would be marching in this year’s Mardi Gras Parade. At the time of print, a response was not yet received.

The Star Observer is a proud media partner of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.

For all of Star Observer’s Mardi Gras coverage, click here

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19 responses to “Bill Shorten to be first major federal party leader to march at Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade”

  1. Oh yee of short memories, the Labor party has supported LGBTI people for years, making all the key law changes to enhance our lives. Get real people, Labor is the party that will give you marriage rights. Stop the petty media tart comments. Where the hell is Malcolm???

  2. What has my country Australia become? With still keeping laws banning marriage equality, kicking babies out to Nauru and Sydney lockout laws? Gee wiz, we are really turning into a nanny state like North Korea and Singapore! This country is a complete embarrassment, thanks to the Liberal idiot nutcases; such as David Clark, Tony Abbott, Mike Baird and Malcolm Turnbull!

    • Correct Glen! Will Liberal Mike Baird grant a special exemption to the NSW lockout laws, just like they did for New Years Eve and day, for the Sydney gay and lesbian Mardi Gras?!

  3. As a 30 year old gay activist living in Forbes NSW, I just want to say we have come a long way to be recognised! However we have much more work to do, even after marriage equality and PREP. There is still far too many LGBTI suicides in the bush, especially people just like me and this needs to be sorted out! I think we here in NSW, need to follow VIC lead in outlawing harmful conversion therapy on LGBTI minors! Also adoption equality is still not allowed in SA, QLD and NT – this needs to be addressed and fixed. Both WA and NT still do not recognise overseas same-sex unions or marriages today, which is a bit strange?! Also ending transmission of HIV by 2020 is an achievable goal!

  4. As a ’78er I welcome his participation. And if he is open to donning my vintage ’78ers sash (from the 20th anniversary Parade, if my memory serves me correctly), I will want a selfie with him big time.
    Cheers,
    Michael Fenaughty
    aka Sister Mary Age-of-Consent (retired)

  5. Malcolm Turnbull has got bigger fish to fry, since he runs a shambles of a Liberal government and on-going cabinet reshuffles! I personally would not invite him to the gay & lesbian Mardi Gras, because he is a secret bigot. My dad has always said; “you are judged by the company you keep!” All Liberal, Nationals, Family First and Christian Democrats members, who are both Senators and MPs – should be banned permanently from the gay & lesbian Mardi Gras!

  6. I though Bob Browne marched in the parade when he was leader of the Greens. or do you only count big parties as those funded by the multinationals?

    • Kiribati is also one of the 80 nations that has a ban on gay sex in there country in the middle of the Pacific Ocean!

  7. Fantastic! I know things aren’t perfect in this country but when you look at the horrors many LGBT people face around the world, that we have a leader joining this event is awesome.

    • Bill Shorten only got invited to the Sydney gay and lesbian Mardi Gras – because it was Bill Shorten that introduced a Marriage Equality Bill, back in June 2015! Other than that he is a nobody, who is out there as a media tart with a 15% approval rating while holding iceberg lettuces and shouting within Queenbeyan NSW Woolworths “15% GST on everything”!