Pride in Protest Banned from Sydney Mardi Gras Over Social Media Posts

Sydney’s Mardi Gras board has banned the activist group Pride in Protest from participating in Saturday’s parade due to social media posts criticizing Jewish LGBTQ+ group Dayenu. The decision comes less than 24 hours before the event and has sparked debate over free speech, inclusivity and the role of political activism within the celebration.

Background to the Ban

Mardi Gras chief executive Jesse Matheson stated that Pride in Protest was asked to remove “unacceptable public commentary” directed at Dayenu, a community group for Sydney’s Jewish LGBTQ+ community and their allies. The posts, which remained online as of Saturday afternoon, described Dayenu as “pro-genocide” and alleged they “support genocide,” raising concerns about compliance with parade rules and the event’s values.

Pride in Protest was expelled from the parade after failing to respond within a six-hour deadline to a request to remove the posts. The group has denounced the decision as “authoritarian censorship” and vowed not to comply.

Dayenu’s Response

A spokesperson for Dayenu expressed feeling “deeply offended and hurt” by the statements made by Pride in Protest. They clarified that Dayenu is not a Zionist organization and felt the term was used as an insult to the Jewish community. Dayenu similarly expressed a willingness to engage in dialogue with Pride in Protest to uncover common ground and foster a respectful relationship.

Criticism of the Decision

NSW Greens upper house MP Amanda Cohn criticized the ban as an “extraordinary act of censorship,” particularly given the inclusion of the Liberal Party, which has been critical of Mardi Gras funding and LGBTQIA+ rights.

Mardi Gras’s Stance

Jesse Matheson defended the decision, emphasizing that participation in the parade is contingent upon adherence to the event’s terms and conditions, including a code of conduct prohibiting harassment, bullying, and discrimination. He noted that Pride in Protest had previously marched under the banner of “No Pride In Genocide” and that the current issue is about conduct and refusal to comply with agreed-upon terms.

Previous Protests and Context

In January 2024, Pride in Protest previously protested Dayenu’s participation in Mardi Gras. Dayenu announced its withdrawal from this year’s Mardi Gras and Fair Day due to safety concerns following protests against Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit. Pride in Protest responded with social media posts questioning Dayenu’s motives, suggesting their withdrawal was a “lobby stunt.”