Disunity in the Community at Aus Festival

The Sydney Star Observer, an LGBT+ newspaper in Australia, reports that a row has broken out within the community after scuffles at the Midsumma Festival in Melbourne, an LGBT+ community event.  Every year, gay, trans and allied police officers march in the event.  However, this year, a network called Queer Killjoys blocked the contingent of police, and issued a statement saying "we are  a collective of queers formed to destroy pinkwashing and assimilation. There is no pride on the stolen lands of so-called Australia and its ongoing genocide of First Nations’ Peoples. There is nothing to celebrate in genocide against Palestine. We are creating alternative spaces that affirm life, solidarity, community, accessibility and liberation".  A police spokesperson said that they had "contempt" for the protest group.  One person is reported to have been arrested, according to ABC Radio Sydney.