Dayenu, a Sydney organisation that brings together Jewish and LGBTQIA+ communities, will not march in this year’s Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. The committee announced the decision “with a heavy heart,” saying recent events and rhetoric have created an environment that poses unacceptable risks to members and to the wider public.
For more than 20 years Dayenu has taken part in Mardi Gras, combining queer pride with Jewish identity. The group stressed this is a temporary pause rather than a permanent withdrawal: it will consider returning once it judges that safety and civility for Jewish Australians have been restored.
Why Dayenu pulled out
The committee pointed to a spike in threats and harassment aimed at Jewish people since the October 7 attacks in Israel, plus a series of specific incidents that have raised alarm. It did not list every incident in its public statement, saying instead that its assessment followed discussions with legal and community-safety advisers.
Among the incidents cited were the Bondi terrorist attack and a violent disturbance at Sydney Town Hall. Organisers also recalled last year’s Mardi Gras, when a group of pro-Palestine demonstrators entered the parade route with a banner and released flares; that confrontation led to several injuries and hospital treatment for a volunteer who suffered an asthma attack. Dayenu framed its withdrawal as a protective move: the decision is presented as risk-driven rather than a political stance.
Nature of the threat and community fears
Dayenu described what it called an “aggressive and ongoing anti‑Semitic campaign” by some activist groups, including actions under banners such as Pride in Protest. Committee members said those campaigns, plus what they see as limited consultation from parade organisers in previous years, left many of their members feeling isolated and reluctant to attend public queer spaces.
Leaders have urged stronger, more consistent coordination between festival organisers and affected communities. They want clear lines of communication, better on-the-ground protection and protocols that specifically address the needs of culturally distinct groups. Without such measures, they warn, long-standing relationships between Dayenu and broader LGBTQIA+ networks could fray and the group’s ability to support vulnerable members could weaken.
Dayenu’s background and purpose
Founded in 1999, Dayenu provides social programs and advocacy for Jewish LGBTQIA+ people across a wide spectrum of religious observance. Its stated mission is to foster ongoing conversation across religious practice while celebrating sexual and gender diversity. For many members, marching in Mardi Gras has been an important way to claim both Jewish and queer identities publicly.
Responses and next steps
Mardi Gras organisers have reiterated their commitment to inclusivity and described the festival as a “call against violence and oppression in all its forms,” expressing support for LGBTQIA+ people from both Israeli and Palestinian communities. Both sides say they plan further talks to turn broad assurances into concrete, enforceable protocols.
Negotiations are expected to cover entry screening, dedicated cultural spaces, rapid-response security teams and clearer communication channels. Community advocates, event organisers and law-enforcement liaisons have been named as key participants. Observers suggest a written protocol with independent oversight could be decisive in restoring trust.
Dayenu has said it will enter structured discussions with organisers and stakeholders, and will consult its members before accepting any safety plan. The committee hopes to rejoin the parade “once civility and safety for all Jewish Australians returns.”
For more than 20 years Dayenu has taken part in Mardi Gras, combining queer pride with Jewish identity. The group stressed this is a temporary pause rather than a permanent withdrawal: it will consider returning once it judges that safety and civility for Jewish Australians have been restored.0
For more than 20 years Dayenu has taken part in Mardi Gras, combining queer pride with Jewish identity. The group stressed this is a temporary pause rather than a permanent withdrawal: it will consider returning once it judges that safety and civility for Jewish Australians have been restored.1