Anthony Albanese to be the first prime minister to march in Mardi Gras as NRL is barred from parade

Anthony Albanese will be the first sitting Prime Minister to march in Sydney’s gay and lesbian Mardi Gras when he joins the WorldPride festival parade.

The Prime Minister says he will be joined by Foreign Minister Penny Wong, the first openly gay woman in parliament, when he takes part in the event on February 25.

Albanese announced the news to a crowd gathered for the official opening of Pride Square in Newtown, in Sydney’s inner-west.

“I will be the first prime minister not to watch the march at Mardi Gras, but to march,” he said on Saturday.

Albanese’s appearance will come as the annual gay pride parade snubs the NRL for the first time in seven years after seven Manly Sea Eagles refused to wear the gay pride jersey at a match last year.

Albanese said he will be joined by Foreign Minister Penny Wong, the first openly gay woman in parliament, at Mardi Gras (pictured Sydney Mardi Gras in 2018)

In 2016, Malcolm Turnbull became the first sitting prime minister to attend the gay and lesbian Mardi Gras, but did not march in the parade.

That year, then-opposition leader Bill Shorten became the first federal leader from a major party to take part in the march.

Albanese said his government was committed to eliminating inequality based on people’s sexuality or identity.

“We talk a lot about tolerance, and tolerance is really important, but it is a step that is much more important than tolerance,” he said.

‘We need to celebrate our diversity, not just tolerate it, because our diversity is what gives strength to our society.’

Albanese paid tribute to the protesters who marched for gay rights in 1978, many of whom were arrested when the first parade broke up on Sydney’s Oxford Street.

Since then, the annual Sydney March has become part of one of the largest LGBTQI festivals in the world.

This year, 12,500 marchers are expected to participate as the parade feeds into the 17-day WorldPride festival.

This year, 12,500 marchers are expected to participate in the Mardi Gras parade (Mardi Gras 2018 pictured)

The NRL will be banned from Mardi Gras this year following controversy over Sydney Roosters pride jerseys (above)

Albanese said Australia could be “a beacon to the world” where everyone would be respected and celebrated regardless of their beliefs, sexuality or ethnicity.

Meanwhile, the NRL will be banned from the event for the first time in seven years.

The football board was rejected by organizers in September, just weeks after seven Manly Sea Eagles refused to play a game against the Sydney Roosters after the club decided they would wear rainbow-coloured shirts.

However, Mardi Gras organizers said the incident had nothing to do with the NRL being turned away, but rather that the event was already full.