In early 2011, members of the organisation unanimously voted to include intersex formally into the organisation at the Annual General Meeting and adopt the formal use of the LGBTQI acronym.
To allow for greater inclusion of the LGBTQI community it represents (including those identifying as bisexual, transsexual, queer and intersex), on 17 November 2011 the festival and event organisers changed the event name to "Sydney Mardi Gras".
On the same date the organisation reverted to its former name, "Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras" (from "New Mardi Gras"), as more than 9,100 participants joined in the 2012 Parade, on 134 floats.

In 2011 Mardi Gras came under fire from LGBTQI communities for removing the words "Gay and Lesbian" from the festival's name.
The organisation's board confessed that they did not adequately consult the community in such an important decision.
The organisation has also been criticised for focusing on the requests of corporate sponsors, and allowing their floats rather than maintaining its original sense of identity.
This followed the 2010 season in which the Mardi Gras Parade and Party were held on separate dates for the first time in history.

During the rebranding in 2011, Mardi Gras Chairman Peter Urmson stated:
"I think that whilst we are first and foremost a GLBTQI community organisation, we also are very open to all of our friends that do not necessarily identify within that alphabet soup."

— Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras chairman, Peter Urmson, in 2011 during debate on the rebranding of the organisation and the festival's name.

In addition to offending many, including former Mardi Gras president Richard Cobden, who says the group didn't have the authority to make such a change:
"Peter Urmson says 'this is our gift to the city'.
It was not his to give… For 20-plus years we have been able to force the mainstream media to call it the 'Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.'
They had to say the words.
For a long time they did not want to but we made them.
That has been thrown away."

— Former Mardi Gras president Richard Cobden in 2011.

The name of the festival was subsequently restored as the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.

In 2013, the New South Wales Police were accused of police brutality after a video shot by a bystander showing a handcuffed man thrown to the ground by an officer.
By 2014, all charges against the bystander were withdrawn by police and the officer concerned was facing disciplinary proceedings.

On a number occasions, there have been controversies with, and bans of, the UFO-related Raelians participation in the parade.
A Raelian spokesman said the bans were unfair as the Raelians support non-discrimination and have gay and lesbian members.

In 2012 Mardi Gras organisers faced the issue of having a Sydney Polyamorists float in the parade, whilst also promoting marriage equality for couples.
Particularly, as the 2012 Mardi Gras theme was "universal and infinite love", some polyamorists felt discriminated against.
The issue was resolved with a polyamory float, based on the theme, "Queer Polyamory".
In the 2014 Mardi Gras there was another float, "Polyamory Sydney 'Birds of a Feather, love together' – the infinite love Nest".

Some also believe that the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras perpetuates gay stereotypes and excludes other members of the LGBTIQ community.
In early 2011, members of the organisation unanimously voted to include intersex formally into the organisation at the Annual General Meeting and adopt the formal use of the LGBTQI acronym. To allow for greater inclusion of the LGBTQI community it represents (including those identifying as bisexual, transsexual, queer and intersex), on 17 November 2011 the festival and event organisers changed the event name to "Sydney Mardi Gras". On the same date the organisation reverted to its former name, "Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras" (from "New Mardi Gras"), as more than 9,100 participants joined in the 2012 Parade, on 134 floats.
In 2011 Mardi Gras came under fire from LGBTQI communities for removing the words "Gay and Lesbian" from the festival's name. The organisation's board confessed that they did not adequately consult the community in such an important decision. The organisation has also been criticised for focusing on the requests of corporate sponsors, and allowing their floats rather than maintaining its original sense of identity. This followed the 2010 season in which the Mardi Gras Parade and Party were held on separate dates for the first time in history.
During the rebranding in 2011, Mardi Gras Chairman Peter Urmson stated:
"I think that whilst we are first and foremost a GLBTQI community organisation, we also are very open to all of our friends that do not necessarily identify within that alphabet soup."
— Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras chairman, Peter Urmson, in 2011 during debate on the rebranding of the organisation and the festival's name.
In addition to offending many, including former Mardi Gras president Richard Cobden, who says the group didn't have the authority to make such a change:
"Peter Urmson says 'this is our gift to the city'. It was not his to give… For 20-plus years we have been able to force the mainstream media to call it the 'Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.' They had to say the words. For a long time they did not want to but we made them. That has been thrown away."
— Former Mardi Gras president Richard Cobden in 2011.
The name of the festival was subsequently restored as the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
In 2013, the New South Wales Police were accused of police brutality after a video shot by a bystander showing a handcuffed man thrown to the ground by an officer. By 2014, all charges against the bystander were withdrawn by police and the officer concerned was facing disciplinary proceedings.
On a number occasions, there have been controversies with, and bans of, the UFO-related Raelians participation in the parade. A Raelian spokesman said the bans were unfair as the Raelians support non-discrimination and have gay and lesbian members.
In 2012 Mardi Gras organisers faced the issue of having a Sydney Polyamorists float in the parade, whilst also promoting marriage equality for couples. Particularly, as the 2012 Mardi Gras theme was "universal and infinite love", some polyamorists felt discriminated against. The issue was resolved with a polyamory float, based on the theme, "Queer Polyamory". In the 2014 Mardi Gras there was another float, "Polyamory Sydney 'Birds of a Feather, love together' – the infinite love Nest".
Some also believe that the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras perpetuates gay stereotypes and excludes other members of the LGBTIQ community.
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras