A mural depicting famous queer Australians and LGBTQIA+ history has been removed from Surry Hills Police Station, just days after it was first hung in the heart of Sydney’s gay district.
The artwork, created by Jeremy Smith, was originally hung in the station’s muster room and featured numerous gay celebrities like drag queen Courtney Act, actress Magda Szubanski and author Benjamin Law.
Titled “Queer Sydney: A History”, the mural was taken down sometime last month days after it was first erected, but no official reason was given for its removal from the police station.
It included multiple nods to queer history and culture, including references to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the legislation of same-sex marriage in Australia, and the Mardi Gras parade, which is held annually just metres away from the station along Oxford street.
While NSW Police did not reveal the reason for the mural’s removal, sources told the ABC that it had been subject to a complaint by an officer.
Smyth addressed the situation with a statement shared to social media earlier today. He said he “cautiously” agreed when first approached by NSW Police for the mural, adding that he believed “art can build bridges where there has been hurt”.
“Especially since the station sits in the heart of Sydney’s gaybourhood, only a short walk from Oxford street,” Smith said.
“I acknowledge that confronting the past can be challenging for some, but it is only through facing and accepting it that we can truly heal and move forward together,” he added.
In a statement provided to PEDESTRIAN.TV, NSW Police said they are working with Smith to create a new artwork to be hung in the Surry Hills station.
“We acknowledge the diversity within our organisation and of the communities we serve,” the statement read.
“We encourage respectful dialogue and mutual understanding, and we remain committed to ensuring that every member of the organisation feels seen, safe and valued.”
Last year, former Police Commissioner Karen Webb said she was working to strengthen the relationship between NSW Police and the queer community, amid heightened tensions in the wake of an officer being charged with the murders of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies and the police’s subsequent disinvitation from the Mardi Gras parade.
“The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is an important event on the NSW Police calendar and as Commissioner, I am committed to continuing to strengthen the relationship between my organisation and the LGBTQIA+ community,” Webb said.
Lead images: Jeremy Smith/Instagram
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