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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Sadly no, but they could hold events and extend the festival to involve all who want stage events.
They can add Parramatta if they want so to do. The authorities need to ensure participants have protection in and out of the official area.
Not all areas are as accepting as the city and east.
They could bring back frox & have it at parramatta. That was a fantastic event for mardi gras & bought everyone together.
So no not,regardless of whether gentrification has happened in west Sydney ,it’s homeland and spiritual birth is Oxford st ,why not move Gallipoli dawn service from Gallipoli to Greek Islands ,it just would be downright wrong and disrespectful to both to move from their current locations and meaning less,despite increased traffic and location glitches
In article mentioned
“I would like to… see if we can stage a satellite Mardi Gras event in western Sydney.”
I agree with this one!!!
No the city is the home of Mardi Gras.
At least we don’t have 1:30 am lock outs in Parramatta!
Yes I would go. The story didn’t say they’d move the parade but have a satellite project to raise awareness about gay issues in an area that needs educating. A lot of LGTBIQQ people have moved west anyway. Parramatta is not what it was twenty years ago.
I just cannot comprehend over 300,000 spectators fitting in parramatta…
No way !
It should expand to Mardi GRASS!! The other oppressed ‘happy’ people who still have issues with closets ….
bit far for us to carry our viewing ladder – currently only 1 block so much prefer root remains
No but how about the Olympic stadium for a parade and huge dance party afterwards
No. Too dangerous, too far.
No way! It belongs in the city!
Maybe after Parramatta redevelopment …… But not at the moment.. Mind you I think you would get more success having it in Penrith though slightly backward sometimes a more open community in many ways
Clearly there are many that are missing Eddie Lloyd’s point. It’s about the bigger picture & acceptance outside the city. Come on guys think about it seriously.
Yes. but remove all the bogans first.
Yes
Nothing against Parramatta either – i lived in Auburn once….its just not queer friendly like Oxford st and i would feel really uncomfortable as a lesbian going to a parade there
No – too unfriendly and too much homophobia there
Mardi Gras is a major global event, when was the last time a major global event (other than football at Homebush) was not held in the city?
Olympics.
Concerts.
Festivals…
Need I go on?
You got me Neil, you’re a smart man.
All the people saying that the Mardi Gras shouldn’t be moved from Oxford Street should read the article again. Eddie was not talking about moving it – just advocating an expansion of Mardi Gras with a satellite event outside the CBD so that more people can participate in it, and to increase awareness of LGBTI issues. It’s surprising that there is so much resistance to the idea of engaging with people (gay or straight) beyond the inner city.
Change is great but this simply will never happen! Happy Mardi Gras for 2016!
Travis maybe for the demographic? Lol. Otherwise……. No!
Um, no. I don’t think I’ve ever been to parramatta.
I have one time….was heading to Bondi Beach but took a wrong turn :)
The purpose of Oxford street is where the actually gay rights movement March started. YES we should expand to have events in the west to show our support for the community but not move the parade.
Zero chance of that ever happening!
Ummm NO!!!!!!!!!
Nooooooo