Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras organisers have snubbed the NRL from this year’s parade, six months after the Manly rainbow jersey fiasco.
After being welcomed into the parade for seven of the past eight years, NRL officials were stunned when told on September 12 that their application to participate in this year’s parade had been denied.
The rejection came weeks after seven Sea Eagles players refused to play against the Roosters because of the club’s botched “Everyone in League” initiative, which involved rainbow piping on Manly’s traditional maroon-and-white jersey.
Organisers claim the NRL was snubbed because it was insufficiently gay or creative, claiming there was simply no room owing to high demand.
This year’s Mardi Gras parade, which will be held on February 25, is part of the wider World Pride festival.
A Mardi Gras spokesman said demand to participate in this year’s parade was so high that organisers could only accept 70 per cent of applicants.
The NRL float at the 2016 Mardi Gras.Credit:James Brickwood
“Because of this milestone year, we received a phenomenal number of parade applications, far exceeding our total capacity,” the spokesman said. “To ensure the safety and security of all our participants and spectators, we must adhere to strict limits on numbers of both people and vehicles involved in the event.”
The NSW teachers’ union and the state’s largest transgender service centre were among the other groups rejected from the parade, which will feature more than 200 entries.
The spokesman would not be drawn on whether the Manly boycott had been a factor in the rejection of the NRL float, but said a curatorial committee made of representatives of LGBTQIA+ communities had assessed entries against a set of selection criteria.
“Priority for Parade selection always goes to LGBTQIA+ groups,” he said. “The selection criteria also evaluates strong creative concepts with the ability to produce and deliver them, as well as a consideration of their previous parade history.”
In a statement provided to the Herald, the NRL said it remained committed to equality and diversity despite the snubbing.
“The NRL’s involvement in the Mardi Gras does not change its commitment to creating an inclusive sport and specifically to the LGBTQIA+ community,” it said. “We continue to work alongside our partners, including Pride In Sport, to assess ourselves against best practice and build an inclusive environment for people with diverse sexualities and genders in our sport. The NRL received Bronze Award at the 2022 Pride in Sport Awards, recognising our support of the community.”
The NRL first entered a float in 2016 thanks largely to the efforts of former Canterbury forward Paul Langmack, who is the mental fitness and wellbeing manager at the NSWRL.
A year later, he convinced Manly’s Ian Roberts, who went public with his homosexuality in the 1990s, to join the parade alongside former players Wendell Sailor and Dene Halatau.
The NRL came under fire in 2020 when it missed the deadline to enter a float but has participated in the last two parades, which have been held at the SCG because of COVID-19 restrictions.
Its floats are often distinguishable by a large inflatable ball on the back of the float with cheerleaders dancing behind.
Langmack was upset when told the NRL’s application had been denied.
“It’s disappointing,” he said. “We built the foundations of this to do it every year. The NSWRL organised it then the NRL took it off us. The first few years were really, really tough, trying to raise money for it. We got money off the NSWRL, off Campsie RSL, and we got plenty of former players involved.
“Ian Roberts was rapt when I got him involved. Wendell was very passionate about it. So, this is very disappointing for the game.”
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