Sydney Mardi Gras 2023: Anthony Albanese slammed for wearing jeans and t-shirt to iconic event

Anthony Albanese has come under fire for wearing jeans and a T-shirt to Sydney’s Mardi Gras parade as he becomes the first prime minister to march.

Mr Albanese led the Rainbow Labor float in the iconic parade on Saturday, when the event returned to Oxford Street after a two-year absence during the pandemic.

The Labor leader was joined by Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek and NSW Opposition Leader Chris Minns as he toured the city center route.

However, the prime minister stuck out like a sore thumb among the other colorful and bejeweled attendees as he opted for a casual shirt and jeans combo.

Anthony Albanese (pictured with partner Jodie Haydon) became the first Australian Prime Minister to attend the Sydney Mardi Gras Parade in conjunction with WorldPride 2023.

Sydney Morning Herald reporter Amber Schultz shared a video of the leader arriving at the parade, but poked fun at his understated ensemble.

“Albo arrived at Mardi Gras with a disappointing lack of glitter, sequins, or fabulousness,” she tweeted Saturday night.

“Great to have the first gear of the afternoon, but what a missed opportunity to kill on some eyeshadow.”

Although Mr. Albanese passed up the opportunity for a bit of glitz and glamour, his partner Jodie Haydon was happy to indulge, rocking a sleek silver blazer.

Before the parade, the Prime Minister warned Australians not to expect too much from him.

“I will not try to compete on the high stakes in fashion,” Albanese said.

“Pride is something we should all be proud of, that Australia is moving towards an increasingly equal community where everyone is respected no matter who they love.”

Although Mr. Albanese passed up the opportunity for a bit of glitz and glamour, his partner Jodie Haydon was happy to indulge, rocking a chic silver sequined blazer.

Before the parade, the Prime Minister warned Australians not to expect too much from him.

It’s not the first time he’s marched in the parade, as Mr. Albanese participated in 1983, five years after Mardi Gras began as a gay rights protest.

Albanese said partygoers should pay tribute to the 78ers, the first Mardi Gras marchers.

Hairy chests and oiled stomachs were on full display as revelers partied the night away.

It is not the first time he has marched in the parade, as the Albanese participated in 1983, five years after Mardi Gras began as a protest for gay rights.

“It is unfortunate that I am the first (prime minister to march), but this is a celebration of modern Australia. We are a diverse and inclusive Australia and that is a good thing,” he told ABC as he waved to the crowd.

“People want to see their government be inclusive and represent everyone, no matter who they love, no matter who they are, no matter where they live. We need to be a country that respects everyone for who they are.’

Albanese said partygoers should pay tribute to the 78ers, the first Mardi Gras protesters, “who were jailed for the simple fact of who they were because they turned out to be gay or lesbian.”

“We have to keep standing up for equality.”

Lidia Thorpe confronted marching police officers at Mardi Gras on Saturday night as thousands of revelers celebrated well into the night.

Footage shows the senator from Victoria jumping onto the parade route and standing in front of an officer.

Elsewhere, Lidia Thorpe confronted marching police officers at Mardi Gras on Saturday night as thousands of revelers partied well into the night.

Footage shows the former senator from the Greens jumping onto the parade route and confronting a police officer before reportedly yelling “fuck the police.”

Senator Thorpe suddenly crashed the police section of the parade and he repeatedly yelled his catchphrase into their faces, witnesses at the scene have claimed.

A reveler told Daily Mail Australia: “She came out of nowhere, it took us a few seconds to realize what was going on.”

“I don’t know how he got into the parade, but he ran after the police as they marched yelling ‘fuck the police’ at them and the crowd.”

A group turned up dressed as the Sydney Opera House in blue and white with candlelight.

Participants take part in the 45th annual gay and lesbian Mardi Gras parade in Oxford Street opting for the colors blue and purple

‘She really got in their faces when she reached them, like inches away. Not what we expected to see tonight.

“Pride is supposed to be about unity, but she was the only one there doing it for something else. Shocking, really.’

Thousands of scantily clad revelers clad in lingerie, budgie smugglers and leotards partied well into the night as celebrations continued in bars and clubs.

The colorful revelers draped in rainbows and glittering in sequins made a pilgrimage to the spiritual home of the queer community as the celebration returns to Oxford Street after a two-year absence during the pandemic.

Sydney’s Oxford Street is awash in glitter after 300,000 partygoers celebrated the crown jewel of the WorldPride programme, which Australia hosted for the first time.

The event follows a successful WorldPride opening concert at the Domain on Friday night, when Kylie Minogue headlined a performance that included a surprise cameo from her sister Dannii.