Two Sydney Mardi Gras board members removed after months of disputes

Members of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras (SGLMG) have voted to remove two directors, after months of internal disputes and a fiery meeting.

An extraordinary general meeting (EGM) was called to consider a series of resolutions, including transgender inclusion, board leadership, governance and the organisation's role in activism and politics.

Members from Pride in Protest (PiP) and Protect Mardi Gras have been at odds over the issues for months, resulting in the groups becoming opposing factions.

Hostilities intensified during a three-hour EGM on Saturday, before PiP members Damien Nguyen and Luna Choo were voted out by a majority of more than 70 per cent.

The pair had previously been censured by the board for the unofficial use of their email accounts to campaign against the organisation's refusal to implement motions, including for transgender rights in the Mardi Gras parade.

Resolutions to remove co-chairs Mits Delisle and Kathy Pavlich were not successful.

In a statement, the SGLMG Board said it would review matters raised in the lead-up to the meeting and would treat it as a mandate to strengthen governance and trust.

"SGLMG recognises that the calling of this EGM, the process and public debate that preceded it, and the outcome of today's vote, together point to a need for change within the organisation, regardless of the result of any individual resolution," it said.

Board requires 'uncompromising leadership'

With the rise of anti-trans rhetoric internationally, Ms Choo and Mr Nguyen said they felt the board required "uncompromising leadership".

In January, the board voted not to adopt three motions put forward by PiP, which called for the event to adopt a stronger focus on transgender rights.

One of those motions called for a boycott of organisations materially funding US President Donald Trump, in response to the roll-back of transgender rights in that country.

In the meeting on Saturday, multiple PiP members raised concerns about the organisation's position amid the rise of far-right movements and One Nation.

Mr Nguyen said the internal backlash ahead of the meeting came from real anxiety about the future for transgender youth.

"The debate is also about queer youth — I think what we're seeing is an attack federally on very, very young transgender people,"

he said.

Ms Choo said the transgender movement would be resurgent ahead of the organisation's 50th anniversary in 2028.

"There is Mardi Gras of the membership that we would see in general meetings, and then there is Mardi Gras on the streets, where people take to the streets and continue their proud tradition of fighting for our equal rights and against discrimination, against violence and against oppression, and that will continue forward."

No-one has 'really won here'

A co-founder of Protect Mardi Gras, Peter Stahel, said the group believed progress was instead won by building the "largest and most powerful" alliances, despite repeated calls by PiP to ban certain sponsors, politicians and police.

"We think that weakens us. We think ultimately it makes our community less safe," Mr Stahel said.

"I'm sort of quite sad about what the effect of this division over the last couple of months has had on the festival.

"I don't think anyone has really won here".

Mardi Gras member Andrew Nissen is not a part of either faction. He said he was broadly in support of what came out of the EGM but said he hoped the organisation and community would stick together from now on.

"I think that some of the motions had a danger of fracturing the community and splintering us,"

Mr Nissen said.

"Especially in really tense political times globally and in this country, it's important for us to be really inclusive inside our community … and really support the people who are the most vulnerable in our community."

Transphobia allegations

In the weeks leading up to this year's cancelled pride march afterparty, Mr Nguyen and Ms Choo made allegations of transphobia against the SGLMG board.

As the board's only out transgender member, Ms Choo said at the time the kind of treatment she had faced "had been, frankly, degrading".

"I've been locked out of my email. I've been repeatedly call[ed] a man and disciplined for trying to communicate to members of my community on the issue of … equal rights."

The SGLMG responded to the allegations with a statement, saying the community "unequivocally includes trans and gender-diverse people".

The organisation said it had apologised to Ms Choo for misgendering her.