In this July edition of the First Mardi Gras Inc. Newsletter, we have:
- Barry Charles on Salon78: Celebrating Rainbow History
- Bill Ashton on 78ers Mardi Gras 44th Anniversary Drinks
- Robyn Kennedy on CAMP Australia’s Pioneer Homosexual Rights Activists
- Diane Minnis on the Human Progress Flag for the Mardi Gras 44th anniversary
- Chips Mackinolty on the Darwin Lunch for Mardi Gras 44th Anniversary
- Robyn Kennedy on the Establishment of Australian Pride Organisers Association
- Diane Minnis on forums in Queer Sydney: Powerhouse Late x Vivid Ideas
- Diane Minnis on CARR’s Fight for LGBTI+ Rights! Demo
- Statement from InterPride on the Oslo LGBTQIA+ Nightclub Shootings
- How to donate to Appeals for Northern Rivers and Ukraine
- Rebbell Barnes and Bill Ashton on 78ers and CAMP badges
- Calendar of Events.
The next First Mardi Gras Inc. General Meeting is 4pm, Saturday 30 July 2022, by Zoom. And our next Social Lunch is 12pm, Sunday 7 August, Terminus Hotel, 61 Harris Street Pyrmont, RSVP: info@78ers.org.au.
Diane Minnis
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History! Boring huh? I remember dry dates and momentous events from centuries past.
But at least in the last century or so we have moving images to see and voices to hear. And there has been a shift towards oral history (previously mistrusted against documents), being more appreciated.
For those of us who have lived through the last 70 years of social revolution and liberation politics, particularly for LGBTIQ+ people, our personal stories and experiences illuminate the changes that have occurred.
It is my experience that current generations want to hear these stories and get some sense of what it was like in the 50s, 60s and 70s for our community.
But how to communicate this attractively?
One of First Mardi Gras Inc.’s contributions to Pride Month 2022 was our Salon78 forum on zoom – Celebrating Rainbow History.
A large number tuned in to our on-line event on 25 June 2022 to hear speakers Garry Wotherspoon (author and historian), Rebecca Jennings (author and academic) and Hannah McElhinney (broadcaster and influencer) discuss the history of the queer community and ways of telling our story. Invigorating and exciting were my words to describe the contributions.
Very engaging was Hannah, who with a large number of young collaborators from all over the world has created RainbowHistoryClass.com. Specifically directed at the instant gratification generations, it goes out on TikTok. I am of a generation who doesn’t want to sign-up to anymore “new tech” but found the extracts of their presentations really fun and informative. They take a brief incident or colloquial phrase from the past and then quickly (in less than 4 minutes) describe it’s meaning and how it had significance. Engaging and inciting further exploration.
So, if you are brave enough to embrace that platform, you will find it entertaining.
Garry Wotherspoon has commented:
“It's good to talk to a younger generation with interest in our communities' histories, for a variety of reasons.
Firstly, the media they use gets to a far wider audience than we could (9 million likes on their website) and how they do it taps in very well to how a non-academic audience 'takes in' history.
Also, it's interesting to see what they see are the important milestones in LGBTQI+ history and report on (for us, it's just our past). And we are in a symbiotic relationship – the old guard (academics) do the groundwork, and the new guard 'spread the word'. United we stand.”
All in all, another excellent event in the Salon78 series. Tune in next time on Zoom!
Barry Charles
78er and First Mardi Gras Inc. Member
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By 5pm Sunday 26th June 78ers, partners and guests began arriving to celebrate the 44th anniversary of the first Mardi Gras. We had a good roll up with nearly 40 people over the course of the evening.
To get the party started Kinsella’s played background music from the 1970s and 80s above the chatter and clinking of glasses in the art deco Chapel Bar.
I was assisted on the front table by Maree Marsh as we greeted members and guests, writing out name tags…‘I know you’.
Rebbell Barnes and Diane Minnis sold raffle tickets and Treasurer Richard Thode got our new payment square going so everyone could tap their cards to pay.
At 5.45pm it was food service with canapés. At the end of service all plates were empty, bon appetite was had by all! Special thanks to Garry Case for handing around the plates.
Then it was time for drawing the raffle. Congratulations to those had winning tickets included a cook book and other nice prizes. Ken Davis, First Mardi Gras Inc. Co-Chair spoke about the importance of the anniversary and thanked all who attended and the event organisers. Committee Member Robyn Kennedy then spoke on the shootings in a LGBTQIA+ nightclub in Oslo – deliberately during Pride celebrations.
A big thank you to Kinsela’s management and staff for all their support and welcoming us to their venue. Thanks again to all who came to celebrate our 44th Anniversary Drinks at Kinselas, take care, till the next time.
Bill Ashton
78er and First Mardi Gras Inc. Committee Member
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The Pride movement in Australia began with the founding of CAMP (Campaign Against Moral Persecution) in Sydney in 1970. CAMP’s momentum spread quickly to other Australian states, fuelling the first LGBTQI rights marches and firing up political campaigns for changes to oppressive laws and systems.
CAMP: Australia’s pioneer homosexual rights activists brings to life the vital role that CAMP activists played. They inspired and initiated a social movement that continues to this day. Individual members of CAMP from across Australia now tell their own stories and highlight their lived experiences. They speak of the life-changing support their community offered, at a time when lesbians and gay men were despised by much of society. They recall the excitement of protest and change. They pay tribute to individuals who drove those changes.
- Beautifully presented hard back illustrated with 35 commissioned portrait photographs and rare archival images
- Publish date: August 2022
- $49.95 per copy plus postage
- Limited print run
- Pre-order your copy now from pridepublish@gmail.com.
Robyn Kennedy
78er and First Mardi Gras Inc. Committee Member
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To mark the 44th anniversary of the first Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, Sydney WorldPride organised a human Progress Flag on the steps of the Opera House. On Friday 24 June – a cold and windy day – 1,111 people joined together in the flag to welcome the world to Sydney for WorldPride 2023. A number of people travelled from regional areas and interstate to attend.
I was honoured to be asked to speak as a 78er at the event and here is what I said:
I pay my respects to the Gadigal people of the Eora nation and to their elders, past present and emerging.
Today we mark the 44th anniversary of the first Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras on Saturday 24 June 1978.
Let’s recognise that LGBTIQ+ activism in Australia didn’t start in 1978…. it started with the first activist organisations in 1969/70.
But the difference between police harassment and arrests in early 70s demonstrations and the first Mardi Gras was the scale and brutality of arrests. And the massive campaign that followed.
Let us remember:
- 53 people arrested on 24 June 1978 – some badly bashed
- Over three months of the Drop the Charges campaign – 178 activists were arrested
- On Monday 26th June, the Sydney Morning Herald published the names, addresses and occupations of those arrested – on page 3 – with devastating consequences.
Let us also remember…the huge upsurge of activism that followed:
- May 1979 – the NSW Summary Offences Act was repealed
- 30 June 1979 – 3,000 people at the second Mardi Gras, with no arrests!
- 1982 amendment to the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act to include homosexuality
- 1984 homosexual law reform in NSW.
Let’s remember the 44 years of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade – a beacon to LGBTIQ people everywhere – and why it is so important to continue….and who would have thought that we’d still be here!
Diane Minnis
78er and First Mardi Gras Inc. Co-Chair
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It's a date I've quietly and privately marked for decades by myself: a few tears and a few laughs. Silent in many ways since the Mardi Gras in Sydney moved to February/March for warmer weather rather than that cold, cold night 44 years ago.
And relatively cold nights, too, remembering that violent night while working out bush, from central Arnhem Land to desert country. Memories so far away in time and place, sleeping on a swag under the stars, so far from the lights of Oxford Street and The Cross.
Not sure why I called for a lunch this year to revive memories. 44 years on. So much has changed for the better, but a long way to go, as we acknowledged on that day, as has been in the streets of unlikely places like Darwin, Katherine and Alice Springs and so many other regional centres around the country in recent times. But still a long way to go.
And then of course, what we saw in Oslo and the USA so close to that 44th anniversary.
In any case, I retold to some of my Darwin friends the events of that night and the following days and months. Everyone who came recognised the importance of those days 44 years ago, and thanked the 78ers!
A major tribute to my parents, Judy and John. In 1966 when we were in London at the time, they introduced me to a gay bloke who went through law with Dad at Melbourne Uni. Mum and Dad made it really clear to me and my sister that Peter was gay – not that it was called that then, but that it was just fine. (To be honest, I was more interested in the Picasso print Pete had on the wall of his solicitor's office!)
Then, in the aftermath of 1978 – something I only discovered in recent times – that a bunch of people arrested that night and afterwards visited them for legal and personal support and advice, a cuppa coffee or a wine. At least one of them still suffering from physical injuries. Let alone the emotional injuries that were being endured. They were amazing parents. Never mentioned it to me. Just something they did. It was not mere tolerance, but solidarity.
Like mum writing notes to school authorising me to take a day off to attend pro-abortion demonstrations in the city – not to mention anti-Vietnam war demos!
78er Chips Mackinolty
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Oceania Pride was established two years ago with the intention of bringing together Pride organisers and allies in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. The vast geography of the region, covering seven time zones and crossing the international date line, has posed significant difficulties in finding meeting times that are suitable.
The definition of our region was adopted from InterPride as the founding base of the group was InterPride members. In its new Strategic Plan, InterPride has discontinued previous regional definitions and all countries are now free to define their own groupings which may be geographic or linked by culture or language.
Acknowledging the constraints of meeting as Oceania, Pride, organisers in Australia are proposing to incorporate as an association open to Pride organisers across Australia. Being incorporated will allow:
- representation of Australian Pride organisers on the InterPride Board
- us to seek funding to support regional conferences and Pride events
- advocate more effectively for the rights of LGBTQI+ communities across the Oceania region.
We will continue to support the struggle for decriminalisation of homosexuality in the Pacific Islands as well as the broader rights of our communities.
It is noted that from 2023 InterPride will be funding a Pride Development Officer to build Pride in the Pacific Islands and our new group will aim to support that project as much as possible.
Robyn Kennedy
78er and First Mardi Gras Inc. Committee Member
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On 16 June a number of 78ers attended, spoke and performed at Queer Sydney: Powerhouse Late x Vivid Ideas. The evening was curated by Johnny Allen, C Moore Hardy and Dino Dimitriadis and presented by Vivid Ideas and Powerhouse.
The evening was billed as “our celebration of Sydney’s LGBTQIA+ history and explore the lineage from the original Mardi Gras 78ers to now, before ending the night with a little ‘Disco Conversion Therapy’ and a big ol' party.”
It was great that Vivid Sydney Festival Director Gill Minervini has included this celebration of so many facets of Sydney’s vibrant LGBTQIA+ history in the festival and her history as Mardi Gras Creative Director showed through!
There were films, photos, a history of radical music and a fashion parade featuring 78er Fabian Lo Schiavo amongst others. But my focus was on two of the forums on offer. |
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From Camp to Gay to Queer a Continuum or a Disconnection? – Panel discussion with Dennis Altman, C Moore Hardy and Dino Dimitriadis, moderated by Shirleene Robinson.
Dennis Altman opened from Camp perspective and his forceful first point was against the misconception that LGBTIQ+ activist started with the first Mardi Gras.
Dennis spoke about the early 1970s perception that drastic change was needed, though there wasn’t a single vision of the future. He said: “We have achieved more than any of us believed possible.” And Dennis concluded with “It is not the liberation of one group without the liberation of all.”
Photographer C Moore Hardy, representing what was then called the gay world, spoke about her mission to photograph lesbians at their venues and events. C Moore spoke passionately about the need for lesbian visibility and noted that today, many events are transient and offered or advertised online rather than regular events at venues.
Dino Dimitriadis, a thirty-something theatre director, multidisciplinary creative producer and curator, spoke from the queer end of the continuum. Dino is keen to have different voices from the queer community and to “put intersectionality front and centre”. In his productions Dino tries to include lesbians, trans men and non-binary people as well as gay men and trans women, to fully represent our community.
And in the Q&A session, Dino made the point that “visibility is activism” as is allyship |
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Qtopia Sydney – An introduction to Qtopia Sydney, a permanent queer museum and space opening on Oxford Street in 2023, which will celebrate Sydney’s queer history and acknowledge the impact of AIDS. Panel discussion with Patron Michael Kirby, Chair David Polson, and guests Shane Sturgiss and Katherine Wolfgramme, moderated by Jeremy Fernandez.
Perched on very uncomfortable stools, we heard the speakers led through a series of questions by moderator Jeremy Fernandez. But given the recent announcement that the City of Sydney had given $300,000 to Qtopia, we were really there to find out what the museum was all about.
Chair David Polson was diagnosed with HIV early in that pandemic and took part in 20 years of HIV drug trials under Professor David Cooper. When Cooper died, Polson was inspired to create an AIDS museum.
Patron Michael Kirby advocated for an Oppression and Persecution section to be added to educate the general community.
Trans advocate Katherine Wolfgramme is also keen to educate the broader community and is a Qtopia Advisory Panel Member.
Shane Sturgiss, CEO of BlaQ Aboriginal Corporation, spoke about the non-acceptance of young Indigenous LGBTIQ+ people in post-invasion culture and their poor mental health. He supports museums like Qtopia as a positive for his community.
One glaring omission was any mention of lesbians. Even in the HIV context, many lesbians supported gay men through Ankali and other services, nursed at St Vincent’s and took part in AIDS demonstrations.
There were no questions from the audience allowed at this forum….but Polson and Qtopia CEO Greg Fisher spoke to the SGLMG 78ers Committee meeting on 22 June.
We asked about the omission of lesbians in the discussion and the lack of lesbian representation on their Board and Advisory Panel. The answer was that they are always expanding their Board and Advisory Panel with “bi, lesbian and straight people”. And it seems Qtopia has heard the message and now invited some lesbians to join their Board.
Diane Minnis
78er and First Mardi Gras Inc. Co-Chair
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On Saturday 25 June Community Action for Rainbow Rights (CARR) held the Fight for LGBTI+ Rights! Demo. A couple of hundred people attended as well as half a dozen 78ers carrying our banner.
We heard speeches on the steps of Town Hall from a Greens Councillor, CARR members and it was great hearing from two representatives from School Strike for Climate. We then marched through city streets, Pitt Street Mall and back to the Town Hall.
As this was the day after the 44th Anniversary of the first Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, a 78ers speaker was called for and I volunteered. As well as mentioning the impact the first Mardi Gras on those involved and the upsurge of activism that followed, I spoke about LGBTIQ+ legislative reforms in Australia.
I noted that only our public activism, alliances with unions and other social justice movements, and Labor in power have produced LGBTIQ+ reforms and cited a list of examples. Though marriage equality did come during a Liberal/National government, the voluntary postal plebiscite inflicted much damage on our community. The score of reforms would be Labor: 100+ vs. Lib/Nat: 1 (grudgingly).
The part of my speech, about Labor's role in legislative reforms, was criticised by one of the CARR speakers.
We don’t expect reforms to be handed to us on a platter by Labor governments, without public mobilisation. Successful mass action means bringing together people with different political allegiances, around clear demands that enable unity. ALP or Greens or Independent or socialist supporters should feel a welcome part of queer rights actions.
And just to follow up the events of 1978:
- Darlinghurst Police were well known as a law unto themselves at the time.
- In May 1979, the NSW Summary Offences Act, which gave Police very wide powers to harass and arrest people, was repealed after our massive Drop the Charges campaign.
- In 1982, grass roots action, along with research and lobbying, led to an amendment to the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act, making it unlawful to discriminate against a person on the ground of homosexuality
- In 1984, following a long campaign by activists, Premier Wran presented a Private Members Bill to amend the Crimes Act in NSW to decriminalise sexual acts between consenting adult males.
Diane Minnis
78er and First Mardi Gras Inc. Co-Chair
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InterPride is deeply saddened by the vicious attack on fellow LGBTQIA+ members in Oslo, Norway. At least two people were murdered, and 21 others were injured in an incident at the famous LGBTQIA+ club known as “London Pub” at 1:15 AM local time (Oslo) on Saturday, 25 June. Investigators have confirmed that this was a hate crime.
Members of InterPride around the world feel disbelief and profound grief. Unfortunately, attacks motivated by hatred have become frighteningly frequent during Pride season, including at Pride events.
InterPride is also heartbroken to hear that Oslo Pride was forced to cancel its Pride celebrations because of this tragedy. These celebrations were to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Norway decriminalizing homosexuality. Coming together for Pride is vital for the global LGBTQIA+ community to celebrate our identities and fight for our rights.
Millions of LGBTQIA+ community members worldwide are facing violence. We have a shared responsibility to stand by and support one another and work together to make the world a safe place to be our authentic selves.
InterPride stands united in solidarity with Oslo Pride and the global LGBTQIA+ community during this challenging time. Our hearts go out to the families and friends who have lost loved ones through this act of hatred. We will continue to fight for the right to be seen and heard and for equality worldwide.
InterPride Statement
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78ers Robert Farlow, Christine Devine and their partners have lost everything in the floods. They and other LGBTIQ community members need our support in this extremely challenging time for them.
Tropical Fruits Floods Fundraiser
Tropical Fruits are our queer family in the Northern Rivers. We have all seen the terrible impact of the floods.
If you want to know more about them and what they do, go to: https://tropicalfruits.org.au/.
If you are able to support their fundraiser campaign, go to Tropical Fruits Flood Fundraiser.
Donate $5.00 – the price of a coffee, or maybe you could add a zero! |
78er Barbara Karpinski was ejected by NSW Police from the stands of the SCG during the Mardi Gras Parade, apparently because she was displaying a hand-drawn pro-Ukrainian sign.
Support Displaced LGBTIQ Ukrainians
Since Russia launched its devastating invasion of Ukraine, over two million Ukrainians have fled the country. The Organization for Refuge, Asylum and Migration needs your help to:
- Ensure LGBTIQ Ukrainians can access safe longer-term housing options
- Support partner organisations in neighbouring countries to deliver services to displaced LGBTIQ people.
Donate to LGBTIQ refugees (oramrefugee.org)
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78er badges are $5 each and postage is $3.09 (total $8.09). If you want to order more than one badge, the postage is still $3.09 for up to five badges. To order badges, email your name, postal address and the number of badges required to info@78ers.org.au. Then make your payment by funds transfer. Please use your name as the reference for your deposit. Alternatively, you can post a cheque.
CAMP badges are $3.50 each plus $3.00 packaging and postage. To order and obtain pricing for multiple badges, contact Robyn Kennedy at rk.am@bigpond.com. Please include your name, address and number of badges requested. Banking details for direct deposit will be provided. |
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Calendar of Events
- Bendigo Queer Film Festival – 15-17 July 2022 Home - Bendigo Queer Film Festival
- First Mardi Gras Inc. General Meeting – 4pm, Saturday 30 July 2022, by Zoom
- First Mardi Gras Inc. Social Lunch – 12pm, Sunday 7 August, Terminus Hotel, 61 Harris Street Pyrmont, RSVP: info@78ers.org.au
- Broken Heel Festival, Broken Hill – 8 to 12 September 2022 https://www.bhfestival.com/home
- Coastal Twist Arts and Cultural Festival – 27 September to 3 October 2022 https://coastaltwist.org.au/whats-on/events/
- Newcastle and Hunter Pride Festival – has been rescheduled to 7 October to 6 November 2022, see website for details Newcastle Pride Festival - Newcastle, NSW | HUNTERhunter
- ACON Parramatta Pride Picnic – 10:30am-7pm, Saturday 22 October 2022, River Foreshore Reserve Parramatta Pride Picnic | Facebook
- Rainbow on the Plains Festival, Hay – 25-27 November 2022 http://www.haymardigras.com.au/
- Sapphire Coast Pride, Bega Valley www.Facebook.com/groups/sapphirecoastpride.
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