23 Feb 2023 | 03:22 AM UTC
Australia: LGBTQ community to celebrate Mardi Gras in Sydney Feb. 25
LGBTQ community to celebrate Mardi Gras at Flinders and Oxford streets in Sydney, Australia, Feb. 25. Traffic disruptions almost certain.
Event
Members and supporters of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) community plan to hold the annual Mardi Gras celebration in Sydney Feb. 25. The Mardi Gras parade will take place along Flinders and Oxford streets 19:30-23:00. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to attend the parade. Counterprotests by anti-LGBTQ groups are possible along the march route and could attempt to disrupt the parade.
New South Wales Police will likely increase security to monitor and facilitate the parade and keep rival groups of activists apart. Authorities will close some roads, including College, Flinders, Liverpool, Oxford, and South Downing streets, Wentworth Avenue, and Anzac Parade from 16:00; as well as Castlereagh, Elizabeth, and Pitt streets from 21:00. Localized traffic disruptions are almost certain on the affected roads and surrounding areas in central Sydney. Most major roads will reopen 02:00-04:00 Feb. 26. Increased demand for public transport is also likely as participants travel to and depart the event site.
Advice
Avoid all protests as a routine security precaution. Exercise caution in the vicinity of the parade route the afternoon and evening of Feb. 25 Allow additional time for travel near event sites.
