LGBTQI+ celebrities condemn Mardis Gras for uninviting police from parade after cop is charged over the murders of two gay men in Sydney

By Marta Jary for Daily Mail Australia

09:09 February 27, 2024, updated 09:28 February 27, 2024

Share or comment on this article:

LGBTQI+ celebrities have hit out at the Mardis Gras board after New South Wales Police were banned from attending the event in Sydney for the first time in 20 years.

The decision was made following the suspected murder of a gay couple by the hands of an officer.

In a post on Instagram, gay singer Anthony Callea said the decision made him “sad.”

“With so much hate, pain and division in our world, I am saddened by the decision of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras board to withdraw the invitation for the NSW Police to attend this year's Mardi Gras,” he wrote in part.

“History and culture are complex and no one denies the systemic issues that have played a role in the past and present regarding the LGBTQ+ community, but I truly believe there are more effective and inclusive ways to build bridges and I hope for a positive outcome and a respectful solution can be reached.'

LGBTQI+ celebrities have hit out at the Mardis Gras board after New South Wales Police were banned from attending the event in Sydney for the first time in 20 years. Hugh Sheridan was among them on Tuesday

Bisexual actress and model Ellie Gonsalves shared her thoughts along with a photo of herself attending a previous Mardi Gas.

“Today the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras board decided to exclude NSW Police from this year's march, a decision I find extremely sad and disheartening,” she wrote.

“Tragically, the world recently lost two beautiful men, Luke and Jesse, allegedly at the hands of a police officer, and this is in the context of this tragedy.”

“It is disappointing that individual members of the force are being excluded because of the actions of one man; “A man who I don’t believe (and I don’t think anyone would believe) represents the values ​​of what NSW Police stands for.”

Bisexual actress and model Ellie Gonsalves (pictured) shared a photo of herself at a previous Mardi Gras alongside her thoughts: “Today the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Board has decided to exclude NSW Police from this year's march, a decision I find extreme.” “Sad and disheartening,” she wrote. In a post on Instagram, gay singer Anthony Callea (left) said the decision made him “sad.”

Bisexual actor Hugh Sheridan said in a video shared by Empact News on Instagram that he found the decision “disheartening.”

“So many of the responders are part of the community and they deserve the right to grieve, just as we do, and they deserve our support as they grieve,” he said.

“I’m incredibly sad that all police officers are now having to pay,” Hugh added.

This comes after Kyle Sandilands called the move “disgusting” on Tuesday's episode of The Kyle and Jackie O Show.

“With so much hate, pain and division in our world, I am saddened by the decision of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Board of Directors to withdraw the invitation to the NSW Police Force to attend this year's Mardi Gras,” wrote part-bisexual actor Hugh Sheridan said in a video shared by Empact News on Instagram (pictured) that he found the decision “disheartening.”

“What I don’t like is that people who fought for inclusion are now excluding people,” before calling for the entire board to resign.

“You should all resign and hang your head in shame,” Sandilands said.

News anchor Brooklyn Ross also weighed in, pointing out that police were investigating the crime and “have their own individual in custody charged with murder. What more could you want from the police?”

“You made a big mistake here,” Kyle insisted.

This shocking action was taken by the Mardi Gras board on Monday evening and will result in police being banned from marching next Saturday (March 2) for the first time in 20 years.

The controversial decision follows the alleged deaths of two gay men by NSW police officer Beau Lamarre-Condon.

Channel Ten presenter Jesse Baird and his new friend, Qantas flight attendant Luke Davies, were allegedly killed at a home in Paddington, Sydney's east, last week.

Mr. Baird and Lamarre-Condon had a brief relationship last year.

Kyle Sandilands (pictured) fired an extraordinary spray at the Mardis Gras board after New South Wales Police were banned from attending the event in Sydney for the first time in 20 years. One of his officers, Beaumont Lamarre-Condon ( pictured on the left at Mardi Gras in 2020) is said to have killed a gay couple

READ MORE: Bizarre “Hollywood” wish from Beau Lamarre-Condon

Police are desperately trying to find out what happened to Mr Baird

Police allege Lamarre-Condon, a 28-year-old senior police officer, was in Newcastle on Thursday evening He cleaned a van allegedly used to transport the couple's bodies before handing himself in at Bondi P. on FridayPolice station.

Lamarre-Condon was charged with two counts of murder and remains in protective custody after being denied bail.

It is understood several members of the Mardi Gras board disagreed with the decision to disinvite NSW Police from their parade and want the decision to be reviewed.

Police Commissioner Karen Webb, who has personally attended the parade celebrating queer relationships and identities for several years, said the decision left her “disappointed and dismayed.”

“We are human beings, we represent the community we serve and that is why we should be there,” she told the Daily Telegraph.

“The conversations we had were about the underreporting of crime in the queer community. 'How is this going to help?'

Commissioner Karen Webb (pictured center at Mardi Gras 2022) said the organizers' decision had left her “disappointed and dismayed”.

Commissioner Webb called the decision “illogical.”

“I feel the distrust and concern about this matter, but do not brand the entire organization because of the actions of one individual,” she said.

However, the alleged murder of Baird and Davies may have tipped the scales in the organizers' decision.

In recent years, calls have grown to remove officers from the parade, and many Mardi Gras participants feel the festival is moving away from its original purpose as a protest.

However, NSW MP Alex Greenwich believed the decision was a step in the wrong direction.

“I want police to stand with the LGBTQ+ community every day, and that includes the Mardi Gras parade,” he said.

“There is still much work to be done to improve community safety and we must do it together.”

Channel Ten presenter and Lamarre-Condon's ex-boyfriend Jesse Baird (right) and his new Qantas flight attendant boyfriend Luke Davies (left) were allegedly killed at a home in Paddington, Sydney's east

The shocking ban came after Commissioner Webb issued a historic apology to the families of LGBTQ+ victims following Judge John Sakkar's report into police brutality and hate crimes in the 1980s and 1990s.

She met with NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley, Mr Greenwich and other members of the community on Monday.

“So that we can withdraw [from Mardi Gras] “I assume that it makes no sense to me to judge based on the actions of an individual who is currently being charged in court,” said Commissioner Webb.

“I think getting past this means bringing NSW Police into Mardi Gras and saying we are in this together because we acknowledge the pain of the past and not confuse this with the former officer's matter in court.”

Commissioner Webb also noted the NSW Police Force's difficult early history with Mardi Gras parades, adding: “We have built a bridge with the gay and lesbian community since the police mistreatment of the '78s.”

At the first Mardi Gras in 1978, 53 people were arrested by police and dozens more were brutally attacked and beaten by officers.

Back then, protesters held Mardi Gras in hopes of decriminalizing homosexuality.

Their demands were met in 1994 with the passage of the Human Rights (Sexual Conduct) Act.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mardi Gras for comment.

Many Mardi Gras participants have called for the NSW Police (pictured at the 2019 parade) to be banned from the parade, but Commissioner Webb believes the decision will worsen chronic “under-reporting of crimes in the queer community”.READ MORE: Police officer identified as acquaintance who allegedly loaned Beau Lamarre-Condon a hose to clean a rented van