Nation split over Lidia Thorpe’s Mardi Gras protest
Australians everywhere, from TV personalities to politicians and the public, have seized the opportunity to weigh in on Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe’s decision to temporarily halt Sydney’s 2023 Mardi Gras parade.
Thorpe, who parted ways with the Greens party early in February, was - in her own words - protesting for “#NoPrideInGenocide, #NoPrideInPrisons, and #NoCopsInPride” when her actions caught the attention of the gathered crowds, with footage uploaded to social media showing her on her back in front of a parade float.
In the clip, NSW police officers can be seen addressing Thorpe, and eventually she was moved on. Reports have stated that earlier, she could be seen walking backwards in front of an Australian Federal Police officer while waving a small rainbow flag.
A statement from NSW Police claimed she was removed “at the request of organisers for breaching the terms of her participation”. They have since confirmed that the senator was not arrested and will not be charged over the incident.
As with all acts deemed controversial by social media, the video blew up, and the story reached the eyes and ears of people all across the country.
Thorpe attempted to get ahead of the discussion and set the record straight, tweeting that she was proud to have joined the Pride in Protest with their No Pride in Genocide float, as “Black and brown trans women started the first pride march as a protest against police violence. Today, we still face violence from [the] police.”
Black and brown trans women started the first pride march as a protest against police violence. Today, we still face violence from police. Proud to have joined the #PrideInProtest float in Sydney to say #NoPrideInGenocide, #NoPrideInPrisons, and #NoCopsInPride
— Senator Lidia Thorpe (@SenatorThorpe) February 25, 2023
When Thorpe’s attendance was first announced, No Pride in Genocide’s spokesperson Mikhael Burnard stated that “the oppression of queer people and the oppression of Indigenous people and refugees are one and the same fight.”
And while many raced to Lidia’s comment section to declare her a “legend” for their movement, just as many have been loud about their distaste for the senator’s actions.
“Lidia Thorpe did the queerest thing out of anyone at that co-opted, corporatised, pinkwashed excuse for a Pride march, & it aligns with the sentiments/needs of the most vulnerable members of the LGBTIQA+ community - & marginalised communities at large,” wrote one supporter.
“God it's funny how people don't understand that the entire point of protest is to be disruptive,” tweeted another, “that's why it's effective. Lidia Thorpe could write a polite letter to the king of the police that will do nothing, or she can actually centre cops at pride as part of the conversation.”
“Rusted on supporters of Lidia Thorpe who said yesterday it was ‘important context’ that she stopped a ‘police float’ now say it doesn't matter which float she stopped after learning last night it was a float for youth mental health services,” wrote a critic.
And now, radio’s Ben Fordham and NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet have seen fit to offer their opinion. Notably, neither figure was in attendance at the Mardi Gras celebration, although Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made history with his march in support of Australia’s thriving LGBTQIA+ community.
2GB’s Ben Fordham labelled Lidia a “rogue”, calling her protest “a whole new low.”
“Once again she has proven she is unfit for public office,” Ben, who has never held a position in office himself, went on, “that’s the reality.”
The debate over having police officers at Pride events has been around for a long time, and many came to Lidia’s defence citing the history of police repression with the LGBTQIA+ community - including but not limited to police brutality towards organisers, advocates, and participants alike.
In New South Wales, where Mardi Gras was held this year with WorldPride, the failure of authorities to investigate murders of a homophobic nature across three decades is never far from the minds of many. Ben, however, had his own take on the matter.
“Even though you’ve got police officers who for decades now have been part of the Mardi Gras trying to send a message to the gay and lesbian community that they’re on their side,” he said, “Lidia Thorpe doesn’t want them there.”
“It’s just typical Lidia Thorpe. It’s a disgrace,” Premier Dominic Perrottet agreed.
“As a society, we need to respect different views and not just tolerate it, but celebrate different perspectives,” Perrottet went on as he continued to condemn Thorpe’s standpoint, “and what we see from Lidia Thorpe and the Greens is this negativity and worse than that, this divisive nature of their politics.”
Images: Twitter