Sydney Mardi Gras leadership deny impact of factional infighting

The leadership of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras has denied that months of infighting has affected the festival’s flagship event, the annual parade on Oxford Street in Sydney’s inner east.

Sydney’s annual pride festival is one of the largest and best-known festivals worldwide, but has been marred by factional conflict between two main groups: the progressive Protest Pride (PIP), represented by a number of politically left-wing groups, and the more conservative Protect Mardi Gras (PMG), which includes members of both major political parties.