At the start of last week, Sydney’s gay community was gearing up for its biggest night of the year.
The cancellation of the previous weekend’s Fair Day event after an asbestos scare had concentrated hype into the final two weekends of the city’s annual Mardi Gras festival, with 2000s pop star Sophie Ellis-Bextor an exciting last-minute addition to a party at Bondi Beach that Saturday.
Colleagues rehearsed routines in city parks flanked by pride flags after work, preparing for the parade down Oxford Street on March 2. Groups of friends debated which parade after-party they would attend.
Jesse Baird (left) and Luke Davies at a Pink concert in Sydney last week.Credit: Instagram
However, among the colourful content posted by the Mardi Gras Instagram account on Friday – ticket links for side shows, countdowns to events, and footage of the stage being set for Saturday’s concert – there was a black slide with an image of a peace dove.
“Sydney Mardi Gras is all about coming together as a community. Sometimes that’s to party, sometimes it’s to spark conversation, and sometimes it’s to mourn,” the text read.
“Today we received the heartbreaking news that we’ve lost two beautiful souls from our community and we’d like to give our condolences to the friends, family and loved ones of Luke Davies and Jesse Baird.”
The deaths of Davies, 29, and Baird, 26, have rocked inner Sydney’s gay community.
Both men had recently moved to Sydney for work. Baird, a television presenter, had settled in Paddington, while Davies, a Qantas flight attendant, was in Waterloo.
As news of the men’s disappearance and then alleged murder emerged, so did the network of friends they had built during their time in the city. Many, some who had only met the couple once or twice, shared fond memories.
Ahead of its biggest night of the year, Sydney’s gay community mourns
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24.02.2024
At the start of last week, Sydney’s gay community was gearing up for its biggest night of the year.
The cancellation of the previous weekend’s Fair Day event after an asbestos scare had concentrated hype into the final two weekends of the city’s annual Mardi Gras festival, with 2000s pop star Sophie Ellis-Bextor an exciting last-minute addition to a party at Bondi Beach that Saturday.
Colleagues rehearsed routines in city parks flanked by........
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