Lidia Thorpe Mardi Gras stunt draws criticism

Outspoken independent senator Lidia Thorpe has drawn condemnation for her stunt disrupting Sydney’s Mardi Gras parade on Saturday.

Senator Lidia Thorpe confronts police during Saturday’s Mardi Gras parade in Sydney. Picture: Ben McDonald / Matrix Pictures.

Independent senator Lidia Thorpe has drawn condemnation after police removed her following a stunt at Sydney’s Mardi Gras parade on Saturday night.

Bystanders saw former Greens senator Thorpe momentarily disrupt the parade about 9pm by laying in front of the Australian Federal Police float in the procession down Oxford St.

Senator Thorpe earlier this month defected from the Greens to the crossbench over disagreements with the party’s support for the Indigenous Voice to Parliament. She at the time said she would lead a “black sovereign movement”.

Videos shared to social media showed Senator Thorpe, clad in black clothing, laying on her back in front of a truck as two police officers tried to keep the procession going.

Two others – who appeared to be Mardi Gras event co-ordinators – joined the confrontation.

Crowds behind fences on either side of the road can be heard in videos booing her and telling her to get up.

“Get back up,” voices shouted, while others inveighed expletives.

Senator Thorpe then appeared to swat away one police officer’s hand, get up, and point aggressively at the pair of officers.

One officer gently pushed her back – in an apparent attempt to put distance between the pair – as she walked towards him, her face close to his in a confrontational way.

NSW police said Senator Thorpe was “later removed from the parade at the request of organisers for breaching the terms of her participation.”

A spokesperson for Sydney Mardi Gras said “while we respect the individual’s right to protest, interrupting the parade in this way has significant implications for the safety of our participants and the audience.”

Opposition legal affairs spokesman Julian Leeser criticised her “appalling behaviour”.

“It was disrespectful to the participants and visitors out celebrating Australia’s LGBT community,” Mr Leeser said.

“I can only hope the senator hasn’t billed taxpayers for a flight and for travel allowance so that she can disrupt a public event.”

At the time of writing, Senator Thorpe has not responded to questions whether her trip was privately funded.

Nationals leader David Littleproud on Sunday morning added to the criticism, saying on Channel 9: “Lidia, please, it’s not always about you.”

Senator Thorpe on Sunday defended her actions in a post on Twitter.

“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”.

#MardiGras2023#MardiGraspic.twitter.com/V6eRwmTKKT

— ADAY (@AlexDay96) February 25, 2023

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