Mardi Gras should expand to western Sydney — Labor NSW election candidate
Image: As per tradition, the Dykes on Bikes gets the crowd revved up just before the start of the 2015 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade. (Photo: Ann-Marie Calilhanna; Star Observer)
LABOR’S candidate for the Sydney electorate in tomorrow’s NSW state election has said the city’s Mardi Gras should relocate part of its festival to western Sydney to help change attitudes towards people outside of the inner city.
Edwina Lloyd, a criminal lawyer, also said she would spearhead a campaign aimed at revitalising the Oxford St precinct.
However, Lloyd’s rival for the seat has said only the Greens could be trusted to always vote for equality.
Despite Labor being tipped to make gains across NSW on Saturday, the party is predicted to struggle against the Liberals and sitting independent MP Alex Greenwich in the LGBTI-centric electorate of Sydney.
According the analysis by the ABC, based on the 2011 result Labor – which didn’t contest the 2012 by-election that saw Greenwich elected – could even end up in fourth place behind the Greens.
However, Lloyd said she was unfazed by the projection.
“I’m in it to win it,” she told the Star Observer.
“I have received emails from Liberal voters and independent voters who are dissatisfied and have decided to vote for Labor this election.
“We’ve gained a lot of ground and as they say, every underdog has her day and Saturday might just be ours.”
Like all Sydney candidates, Lloyd supports marriage equality but she said if further LGBTI rights were to get over the line residents from outside “the city bubble” need to be engaged.
“The way to progress the marriage equality agenda is by appealing to the hearts and minds of people in the outer suburban and regional areas, where support for marriage equality is at its weakest,” she said.
“I would like to… see if we can stage a satellite Mardi Gras event in western Sydney.”
While Lloyd didn’t spell out whether this would involve moving a current Mardi Gras activity or creating a new event entirely, one idea was to stage a stripped-down parade through the streets of a western hub such as Parramatta.
Alongside her support for Taylor Square’s giant rainbow flag, Lloyd has also produced a regeneration plan for Oxford St – called Sparkle Sydney – which calls for collaboration between local and state governments and advertising on trains and buses.
The Greens’ Chris Brentin conceded to the Star Observer that he only had an outside chance of winning Sydney.
“I’m not just doing this to win – I agree with the Greens’ policies, I’ve managed to run a good campaign and I feel there is no greater honour,” he said.
Asked if it was a struggle standing against both independent and Labor candidates, Brentin said his party had a clear point of difference: “The Greens are a far more progressive party than Labor who are only progressive after we’ve tied their hands and brought them over kicking and screaming.”
Brentin added that unlike an independent member, “the Greens have representation at local, state and federal level and a party behind you so you’ve got that critical mass”.
A psychologist with practices in Leichhardt and Liverpool, Brentin said the Greens were committed to changing clauses in the current Anti-Discrimination Act which allow religious schools and other bodies to bar LGBTI people.
“The Greens will not stop until all the exemption are removed,” he said.
If elected, Pendeleos said she wanted to be a voice for the environment, animal welfare and equality in a Liberal government.
Greenwich said he was beholden only to his constituents, not to party whips, and would look to amend the Anti-Discrimination Act and end the requirement of trans* people to divorce if they undergo transition when they are already married.
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No
Because western Sydney is and has always been so homo-friendly?
I’m sure you’ve never been there
We go to a gay club called Heaven near Parramatta. And it’s FABULOUS !!!
Where and when? My partner and I are in Toongabbie
At the Northmead Bowling Club. We just had one last Saturday night.. The next one is on Saturday, 23 May. It is called Heaven Social Club. Have a look on Facebook. We would love to see you there :)
http://www.heavensocialdance.com
Gays don’t go pass parramatta road full stop. Grindr doesn’t really work out west.
ignorant
Ah here we go…
Some won’t get that good joke Ethan!
Very ignorant indeed. Stay in your suburb we don’t want you out west.
I live out west.
Hence the joke.
noooo
yeah no.
Oxford street is a historical place for the lgbti community it’s where the 78rs fought for our rights it would be unacceptable and disrespectful to move the parade from its current site
Just said the exact same thing to the husband Shelly!
Stop trying to gentrify Oxford street!
That happened years ago
Omg no!
There is nothing wrong with Parramatta, but I think the parade should stay in the heart of Sydney – it is symbolic. Also, there is a lot of gay history in Darlinghurst and we should all hold onto that and demonstrate it very loudly and publicly. I live in regional NSW and getting to Parramatta wouldn’t be easy without a vehicle. By all means have a Mardi Gras event in Parramatta – there are some cool things there and it could be great, but we shouldn’t give up our proud tradition too easily.
What? So I can get harassed by the bogans? I think not!
What hypocrisy – demanding rights and equality but then being dismissive of people because of where they live
Err … No; why the fuck would I go to a party where I need to carry my passport to get home!
Is this an early April Fools joke?
It’s about time the queers did something really ballsy instead of basking in their awesome in the safety of Oxford Street. You can now rename the event in Oxford Street to the Dionysian parade.
Yes! Eddie Lloyd is right ! Let’s move out of the city bubble. vote 1 Eddie Lloyd!
Maybe Katoomba or penrith ?
No
No LOL
Fuck no. What a stupid question.
No no no
no
That’s a long precession from Darlinghurst to parramatta ………
Gee, such acceptance in the comments of this post.
What’s wrong with Parramatta?
The stares you get when you’re a lesbian and have short hair and walk up the street. That’s what’s wrong with parramatta. The filth that gets screamed at you for being a lesbian… That’s what’s wrong with parramatta.
whats right with it ;)
I’ve worked in Parra and live and worked Penrith…. Never had a homophobic experience ever.
There is nothing wrong with Parramatta……Mardi Gras belongs where it began. Look what happened when they moved the Easter Show???
Because that would involve compromise and leaving their bubble, Beau. Something they’re not prepared to do.
A bizarre approach, I must admit.
I’ve never had homophobic attacks in parra ever and have lived there most of my life. Parra has also had its share of LGBTIQQ events over the years.
Nope
No
Move it to Albury then!
I would go to a mardi gra any were it is
No way
No way