Hundreds of LGBTQI rights protesters have marched along Oxford Street ahead of the official Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade.
The group marched down Oxford Street in a bid to “restore the protest roots of Mardi Gras and challenge systems of injustice”.
They claim the annual event has become “too corporate and abandoned its political roots”.
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The march took place on Saturday afternoon ahead of the official Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade, which has been moved to the Sydney Cricket Ground due to COVID-19 regulations.
A maximum of 23,000 spectators will be allowed into the SCG, as the parade moves away from the traditional large floats and instead focuses on the sparkling costumes, puppetry and props.
The Mardi Gras 2020 parade was the city’s last major event before coronavirus lockdowns began.
Courtroom showdown
The rally was the green light from NSW Health, meaning a court showdown between activists and the police who wanted the rally stopped, was called off at the last minute.
Pride in Protest approached Health Minister Brad Hazzard for an exemption to the 500-person limit on public gatherings on Thursday afternoon.
Mr Hazzard had previously refused an exemption for an Invasion Day rally in Sydney in January.
NSW MPs including Labor’s Jo Haylen and the Greens’ Jenny Leong wrote to Mr Hazzard over the pride rally, as did members of the ‘78ers protest group, who started the Mardi Gras movement amid police violence.
Mr Hazzard agreed to the exemption on Friday morning after the group agreed to enhanced contact tracing processes. It has been 47 days since NSW recorded a locally-acquired coronavirus case.
But police turnsx up in large numbers on Saturday, with officers to be deployed across Oxford Street, Hyde Park and Moore Park.
Pride in Protest spokesperson Toby Walmsley said the police’s plans were “onerous and unnecessary”.
“Hopefully the police won’t get in our way,” Pride in Protest’s Evan Gray also said on Friday.
Mardi Gras defended
Meanwhile, the head of Sydney Mardi Gras defended the social justice credentials of the main event.
“We’ve given every single float a 45-second dedicated spot on our broadcast to get their message across ... it’s not just about walking around in fancy costumes, it’s a social justice event,” Mardi Gras chief executive Albert Kruger told reporters.
Mr Kruger also said revellers should consider attending ticketed events and afterparties or host gatherings of up to 50 people at home.
About 10,000 people are expected at the Mardi Gras parade at the SCG.
Ms Leong warned the government that if they thought the mobilisation around LGBTQI issues was big, “they have seen nothing” compared to the women’s March For Justice planned for March 15.
Amnesty International campaigner Joel Mackay called on the NSW government to review the gathering cap to enable protests.
-With AAP
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