After a senior constable in the police force was charged with the murder of two gay men, the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras board decided to disinvite New South Wales (NSW) Police from a major pride festival. Senior Constable Beau Lamarre-Condon, 28, was charged with the murders of Jesse Baird, a Ten television presenter, and Luke Davies, a flight attendant. The Mardi Gras board expressed the need for the community to have space to grieve the loss of the two men, who were supposed to march in the parade.
The Sydney Mardi Gras Parade, an annual LGBT pride festival with 12,000 marchers and 200 floats attracting around 250,000 spectators on Oxford Street, is a significant event. The Mardi Gras board received concerns from many people who felt uneasy about the presence of police at the parade. Due to these concerns and recent tragic events, the board made the decision to request that the police not march in the 2024 Parade.
Mr. Lamarre-Condon surrendered to a Sydney police station and was charged with two counts of murder. A bullet from his work pistol was found in a Paddington home where the victims were residing. Police divers were searching for the bodies while Mr. Lamarre-Condon remained silent. Despite Mr. Lamarre-Condon’s previous involvement with one of the victims, the situation has left the LGBT community and Sydney Mardi Gras devastated.
The NSW Police deputy commissioner assured the public that finding the bodies is their top priority. Both the Mardi Gras board and the LGBT community were devastated and understood the decision to disinvite the police from the event. Police spokesperson responded with disappointment but said they would continue to work with organizers. The Police Commissioner extended her support to the families of the victims and asked for patience as they continue to investigate the case.