Sydney Mardi Gras: Mitch Brown and Matthew Pavlich lead crowd at Oxford Street parade
For many West Australians watching from a distance, it was a striking sight: former Fremantle champion Matthew Pavlich, former West Coast Eagles defender Mitch Brown and Sydney Swans’ Brodie Grundy leading the crowd at a Mardi Gras event in Sydney.
The trio walked down Oxford Street under rainbow lights and red-and-white club colors along the two-kilometre route.
Light rain did not stop the nearly 10,000 revelers; but the crowds were significantly smaller than in previous years, when hundreds of thousands of people often came out to celebrate.
It was a very touching moment when former AFL player Mitch Brown, who recently came out as bisexual, walked with the crowd as one of the parade’s emcees.
Brown has previously spoken candidly about the importance of visibility and the power of professional sports to promote acceptance.
Pavlich, who officially stepped into the Swans’ senior off-field role this summer, described the club’s presence as an expression of involvement and respect.
Grundy, one of Sydney’s best-known names on the field, embraced the festive spirit, smiling as he posed for photos along the way.
Many have scaled back the crowd size after ‘Pride in Protest’ was banned from the Mardi Gras parade after organizers refused to remove what they labeled “unacceptable public comment” towards a Jewish parade group.
Despite the drama, 200 vehicles turned out along Oxford Street for the 48th edition of the celebrations.
