Newsletter - December 2020

View this email in your browser December 2020 In this December edition of the First Mardi Gras Inc. Newsletter, we have: Karl Zlotkowski’s report on our Salon78 forums: Fifty Years of Visibility – Pioneers and Connections before 1978 Garry Wotherspoon’s review of the Coming Out in the 70s Exhibition at the State Library Diane Minnis on the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras AGM Ken Davis on the SGLMG Ethics Policy Sallie Colechin's report on the SGLMG 78ers Committee and Parade 2021 A review from Ken Davis of the film Women of Steel Details of the outdoor Social Lunch on Saturday 13 February, 2021 Calendar of Events. Diane Minnis Chair and speakers at Part 1 of Fifty Years of Visibility. Clockwise from top left: Betty Hounslow (Chair), Robert French, Abbie Pobjoy, Dennis Altman, Barry Charles, Gabrielle Antolovich. Photo montage: Sallie Colechin. Over the last two weeks we have held the latest of our forums, with the theme of Fifty Years of Visibility: Pioneers and Connections before 1978. Our aim was to highlight the pioneering activism of the early 1970’s, and how it laid the way for the emergence of Australia’s LGBTIQ communities after the events of 1978. This was an ambitious program. From the first we had to divide one forum into two sessions and even then, as our speakers got into their stride, we knew there was so much more to tell. And we plan to tell it. Already we’re planning more events for next year, exploring themes that surfaced in the formal presentations and the Q&A sessions that followed. Amongst these is the way that class, as opposed to gender, fed the face-off between men and women that often surfaced in the mid 70’s, and had to be worked through before a viable community emerged after 1978. And then there is the intriguing question of conflicts between activists and bar owners (the Sydney 'Syndicate’), as well as scintillating stories of high-jinks on overnight trains between Sydney and Melbourne (the ’Spirit of Progress?’). More please... We included Melbourne this time because the history of activism in Australia is not just a Sydney thing.  Half of our speakers this time were from Melbourne, or based there now, and this forum showed how strong the political and social links between the two cities were back then, even in those pre-digital dinosaur days. In Part 1 of Fifty Years of Visibility on Sunday 29 November, we heard from: Robert French – The historical timeline of early activism: late 1960s to mid 1970s Abbie Pobjoy – Australasian Lesbian Movement from 1969 Gabrielle (Gaby) Antolovich and Barry Charles – Emerging activism: CAMP Inc., Women’s and Gay Liberation Dennis Altman – US influences and the early Sydney scene. In Part 2 of Fifty Years of Visibility on Sunday 6 December, we heard from: Jamie Gardiner – UK experience, HLRC and “Equality for Homosexuals. Now.” Jude Munro – Early Melbourne Gay Liberation Diane Minnis – Early lesbian activism in Melbourne and Sydney Robyn Kennedy – Progression from early activism, CAMP Inc. 1974 onwards Ken Davis – Progression from early activism to the triggers for 1978. We would like to thank our speakers and the keen audiences for these forums on Zoom. Recordings of each part of Fifty Years of Visibility, together with slides, photos and a video clip, will be available on our website, 78ers.org.au, in January. Karl Zlotkowski 78ers and First Mardi Gras Inc. Committee Member Chair and speakers at Part 2 of Fifty Years of Visibility. Clockwise from top left: Karl Zlotkowski (Chair), Jamie Gardener, Jude Munro, Ken Davis, Robyn Kennedy, Diane Minnis. Photo montage: Sallie Colechin. From left: ACON’s Justin Koonin with 78er advisors and contributors to the exhibition – Garry Wotherspoon, Robyn Kennedy, Robert French, Diane Minnis, Ken Davis and Pam Stein. Photo: Courtesy of State Library. Most of us 78ers remember the heady times that were the seventies, when we were young and out on the streets, chanting our slogans, confronting those who oppressed us, and doing our bit to make the world a better place - and a safer place for our LGBTI sisters and brothers. So, if you are in the mood for a trip down memory lane, the current exhibition at the State Library, Coming out in the Seventies, is the place to go. The Exhibition marks the 50th anniversary of the emergence of the gay and lesbian rights movement in Australia, and, drawing on its extensive collection, the staff at the State Library have put together a most remarkable exhibition, tracing the development of this activism over the decade. There are three sections, Being Seen, Being Heard, and Being Together. The first section, Being Seen, recounts how, when homosexuality was still perceived as a mental illness, a crime, or a sin, in September 1970 The Australian newspaper (so different from the Murdoch trash of today) reported on the formation of a new group aiming to change Australia’s perception of homosexuals. This was CAMP Inc, a political group built around sexual orientation, something new for Australia, and it soon became part of a strong political movement, especially in Sydney. Documents here include a copy of Carl Wittman’s A Gay Manifesto, written in San Francisco in 1969, and copies of the various gay press that appeared here – the first gay magazine CAMP INK; Apollo, Gayzette, and Gay, and publications from the various liberationist groups that soon emerged. Being Heard: Such open talk about homosexuality brought many lesbians and gay men ‘out’, and these activists fought for change, creating one of the most successful reform movements in Australian history. They made the personal ‘political’, marching in solidarity and ‘shocking the straights’ with spontaneous actions known as ‘zaps’. Newsletters, manifestos, flyers and posters spread the word about gay issues. Using humour and catchy slogans, they attracted media attention and gained public support. Graffiti affirmed that ‘Lesbians are lovely’ and ‘Gay is good’. Badges and T-shirts proudly displayed a connection to the cause. Gay and lesbian groups encouraged shared identity and offered safe meeting places. Festivals and conferences created the chance to build new fields of study. Gay Pride Week 1973 was one highpoint for Sydney’s gay rights movement, and then, in June 1978, Sydney activists joined in International Day of Gay Solidarity events around the world – our first Mardi Gras. Demos, ‘zaps’, and marches were only part of the story; there was also partying and fun. And the humour in taking the mickey out of mainstream society’s attitudes shows through in the badges and posters. In Being Together, the focus is on the gay cultural life that blossomed over the Seventies, when artists, filmmakers, photographers and performers developed unique perspectives that sparked radical individual and collective creativity. Sydney’s Feminist Bookshop promoted women’s writing, and lesbian bands made ‘wimmin’s’ music. The Exhibition has brought together a remarkable collection of books, pamphlets, posters, magazines, flyers, and photographs. It is great to see so much of our history on public display – encourage all your friends and family to go and see it. A brief online version is at https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/stories/coming-out/   Garry Wotherspoon   78ers and former First Mardi Gras Inc. Committee Member These are my personal reflections on the Annual General Meeting of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras was held on 5 November 2020 via Zoom. The AGM was notable in three ways: how SGLMG used online platforms, that all resolutions were defeated except for those conferring Lifetime Membership and that procedural motions and amendments were not allowed. At the start of the meeting, 128 members were logged on and this included holders of 449 proxies – making a total of 577 votes in the meeting. Total votes went up to 610 as more members logged in but drifted down to the low 500s in the third hour of the meeting.   SGLMG use of online platforms Members were able to view motions, vote, ask questions and indicate that they wanted to speak via the Vero platform. But Mardi Gras did not allow Zoom video to be displayed of speakers aside from the chair, Michael Woodhouse, and Board members and staff who gave reports or spoke to motions. In addition, speaking for and against motions was limited to two speakers for and two speakers against and no right of reply for the mover of the motion. All speakers to motions were limited to one minute as well. A couple of members were unable to speak when given the opportunity, possibly due to their older versions of Zoom or not realising that they had to use headphones with their particular device. Some members had trouble juggling the Vero window, where you voted and entered comments, and the Zoom window that displayed after you clicked the link on the Vero screen. With a large group using an online meeting platform, there are bound to be a few members who have trouble with the technology. But Mardi Gras’ overtight control of the meeting with no Zoom video being shown except for a few, Board and staff members and chair, wasn’t exactly inclusive.   Special Resolutions – 75% vote to be carried These five Special Resolutions proposed by the Mardi Gras Board were changes to the constitution and were that: updates be made to meet current Corporations Act requirements a 4-month waiting period for new members before they can vote proxies be limited to 20 per member the number of Directors increased to 9, with a Treasurer separately elected the Director’s terms be extended from 2 to 3 years. In an article in the November newsletter, Ken Davis and I indicated that these changes were an improvement on Mardi Gras’ earlier proposals, some of which were undemocratic. However, we said that having a separately elected Treasurer goes against contemporary governance standards for all Boards, including those of not-for-profit community organisations. That all Board members need to have the ability to understand balance sheets and profit and loss statements in order to carry out their duties as Directors. And that SGLMG can employ external finance experts, as they currently do with the Company Secretarial function. Accordingly, we planned to put a procedural motion so that parts of the motion containing the clause that the Treasurer be separately elected could be voted on independently. My proposal of a procedural motion and an amendment were denied by the chair, on the basis that the Vero system could not accommodate this. Three further Special Resolutions, proposed by former Board members, also changes to the constitution, were that: a Director’s term be limited to six years consecutively or three elections proxy votes will not be counted in the election of Directors the wording of the Australian Electoral Commission’s proportional representation voting system be adopted to clarify and simplify the current voting system wording. None of these motions were carried by the 75% margin required and for all except two motions; the vote did not even get to 50%. The failure of their constitutional change motions is a serious setback for Mardi Gras, after the member consultation they did and the modifications they incorporated into their final proposals. There were some progressive elements of these motions including that an EGM being called to elect a new Director after a resignation, rather than an appointment by the Board. One of the resolutions proposed by former Board members to clarify and simplify the current voting system wording would have improved election vote counting for all candidates. People from the Pride in Protest group spoke against several Special Resolutions and they appear to have block voted against them all, even one that would benefit them and other candidates.   Ordinary Resolutions to grant Lifetime Membership – 50% vote to be carried Then first two Ordinary Resolutions were to grant 78er Lifetime Membership to a list of 78ers and Lifetime Membership to Teresa Leggett, a stalwart of Parade organisation for many years. In proposing the 78er Lifetime Membership motion, I said that it’s a great honour to be made a Lifetime Member of SGLMG. And that I was speaking on behalf of the elected 78ers Committee of SGLMG, who are elected by and from 78er Lifetime Members, but liaise on behalf of Mardi Gras with all 78ers. So having an elected Committee is an important issue of democracy, governance and integrity. Given the objections from a small group of 78ers to an elected 78ers Committee, I thought it essential to stress the importance of a democratically elected committee to represent 78ers. This Ordinary Resolution was carried by 565 votes in favour and 2 against. I wonder who the two members who opposed the motion are! The Ordinary Resolution to award Lifetime Membership to Teresa Leggett was also overwhelmingly carried but the vote was not announced.   Ordinary Resolutions from Pride in Protest – 50% vote to be carried And it went downhill from there – with all seven Ordinary Resolutions proposed by Pride in Protest being defeated. In summary, their motions called for: NSW Police to be barred from the Parade sponsorship with Qantas to be terminated as they deport asylum seekers Morrison and Berejiklian to be banned from attending Mardi Gras and the Liberal float be banned from Parade support of the Black Lives Matter movement; and that State and Federal government to release all prisoners on remand, remove monetary bail, defund all private prisons and detention centres, and ultimately abolish all prisons that State and Federal government abolish the sniffer dog program, end the presence of the riot squad at protests and ultimately abolish the police for the release the Memorandum of Understanding in relation to the policing of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival 2018 to the public sponsorship with ANZ and all sponsors with investments in fossil fuels to be terminated a concession, student or unwaged membership tier priced at $10 sponsorship with Star Casino and all sponsors who have a pattern of:  exploiting the COVID-19 economic recession at the expense of workers, or contributing to high rates of gambling addiction be terminated. The Pride in Protest motions received between 169 and 261 votes, but none were carried. The motion to bar NSW Police from the Parade got the most votes and the Black Lives Matter motion, received the least support. This is despite the fact that many of us support the Black Lives Matter movement. But when Pride in Protest includes abolishing all prisons and police in the same motion, this seriously limits wide support. If we could have voted on separate elements of the motion, I’m sure that the motion to support of the Black Lives Matter movement would have been carried. This gets to the crux of the Pride in Protest approach – some may remember the Spartacist League, who was active in the 1970s – they take an absolute position on questions and would rather lose a motion than get part of it through. They also held up the meeting as they handed over to speakers different to the proposers of motions listed on the meeting notice.    Procedural motions and amendments not allowed This is a real issue for democracy in the Annual General Meeting of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras as no notice was given that procedural motions and amendments would not be allowed. In previous years, it was possible to move both procedural motions and amendments to motions. On their social media this year, Mardi Gras made the point that members could not vote on resolutions ahead of the AGM, as amendments to motions were made at the meeting. Yet when I tried to do this, I was told by the chair, that the Vero platform could not accommodate procedural motions or amendments. Surely the Vero voting system could be set up to either vote on a motion as a whole or vote clause by clause. And there must be a way to leave blank sections where amendments could be entered and voted on. If neither of these functions could be included, Mardi Gras needed to make it clear, prior to their AGM, that procedural motions and amendments would not be allowed.   This impasse between the majority of the Mardi Gras directors and Pride in Protest will mean that it will be difficult to amend the SGLMG constitution – even with progressive and helpful changes. Pride in Protest’s approach of proposing similar motions to each Mardi Gras AGM, and their elected Directors repeatedly hammering these issues, will continue to alienate some members. Both of these situations ensure that SGLMG is unable to respond to members and changing circumstances and takes their focus away from a Parade that we want to remain a worldwide beacon for LGBTIQ rights. A more nuanced and open debate on key strategic questions is needed.   Diane Minnis 78er and First Mardi Gras Inc. Co-Chair Smoking Ceremony, Mardi Gras Parade 2020. Photo: Josephine Ki. SGLMG released its Draft Ethical Charter (sglmg-draft-ourethicalcharter-v2.pdf (mardigras.org.au) on 13 November 2020 for member feedback online or to membership@mardigrasarts.org.au. These are my personal reflections. A comprehensive ethics policy should cover all aspects of internal governance, human resources, due diligence, accountability, information management, communications, financial management and investment, relations with members, community, governments, and sponsors. The focus of this draft charter is on partnership and sponsorship. A key note in the draft is about transparency, for example about agreements with sponsors, so members know exactly what the benefits to the Mardi Gras are, and what our obligations or trade-offs are. Certainly SGLMG needs both private and public sector sponsors, but ultimately the parade in particular relies on the unpaid contributions of thousands of people and community groups, over many decades, and this is the social capital that SGLMG is entrusted to safeguard, and not sell for a pittance. The most obvious and urgent ethical question is about the presence in the parade of big business or government sponsors, which can easily dilute the queer, community and grassroots identity of the parade. This is also a question, though maybe less urgent, about Fair Day. At the SGLMG AGM on 5 December 2020, motions about excluding police, ANZ, Qantas, and Star Casino, were defeated, but they won significant minority support. Last year a resolution against participation by Gilead pharmaceuticals was carried. Opponents of the motions demanded the parade be inclusive, but for thirty years the Mardi Gras committee has chosen which groups to prioritise, include or exclude, as of course it must. Across the world, pride parades are grappling with policies to regulate which government and corporate entities can gain prominence in the displays. The ethics of parade participation is an old question. When the Mardi Gras moved to summer in 1981, the committee decided to exclude from the parade people or floats that are racist or sexist. The Coors beer boycott in USA was the background to the mobilisation in California in 1978 which led to the request for solidarity and the establishment of gay Solidarity Group and the march and late night first Mardi Gras on 24 June 1978. The parade has and always should welcome groups of workers or employees in particular companies, services or industries, or unions, but that is distinct from floats whose purpose is advertising and promotion for big business within the parade. Many sponsor floats may be welcome and not contentious e.g. Opera Australia. Since SGLMG is now a serious company, like mainstream corporate entities, it needs a comprehensive ethical screening policy. A narrow definition about whether companies or government departments are superficially good with LGBTIQ people is not enough to manage risk, since LGBTIQ people may also be indigenous, workers, shareholders, people with HIV, people with disabilities, refugees, or concerned about the climate crisis. It is easy for a company or service to promote its diversity education program while screwing all its workforce. It is easy for a company to market to the gay community, while ripping off all its consumers. Reflecting on popular international consumer and investor boycotts over last two decades, that gained support in Australia, let’s ask questions about ethical and reputational risks about advertising floats in the parade from big businesses: Associated with corruption, crime, child abuse, money laundering or terrorism (anyone remember the Banking Royal Commission?). That are anti-worker, anti-union, or profit from systematic wages theft, child labour or slavery, including in supply chains (how about a 7/11 or an Amazon float?). That commit crimes against indigenous people in Australia or elsewhere, (a Rio Tinto float anyone)? That destroys environment, food security, water access, biodiversity, or accelerate the climate crisis including mining, carbon energy, nuclear, big polluter, over fishing, terminator seeds and deforestation companies (an Adani float anyone? A palm oil company float?). That adversely impact on health: such as tobacco, asbestos, alcohol, gambling, armaments corporations, or profiteering Big Pharma. Associated with regimes that are highly repressive, or maintain illegal occupations (e.g. Poland, Russia, Zimbabwe, Uganda, China, Myanmar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iran, Israel, Morocco….). That fund the political campaigns of authoritarian anti-worker, anti-environment, sexist, racist, heterosexist and transphobic leaders, like Trump or Duterte or Bolsonaro.  Associated with religious groups that are repressively sexist, heterosexist or transphobic, such as Scientology, Mormons, Wahhabis. Salvation Army, Falun Gong… (an Amway float anyone? Remember Gloria Jean?). Security and transport companies that imprison or deport refugees (a SERCO float anyone?). Media companies that are consistently racist, sexist, heterosexist and transphobic (a Sky news float anyone?). In order to safeguard the value and character of the parade, SGLMG needs a more rigorous and comprehensive ethics policy.   Ken Davis 78er and First Mardi Gras Inc. Co-Chair The 78er Committee managed to sail smoothly through the last month, with exciting announcements from SGLMG regarding our COVID-19 safe parade for 2021 at the Sydney Cricket Ground. This ensures that the yearly celebration of our lives and the reminder through our history that there are still battles to be won is not interrupted after 43 years. The 78ers have still been given pride of place in the parade around the stadium behind our First Nations People, and allowance for seating afterwards to watch the parade with each 78er being allocated 4 tickets in the stands. The SGLMG AGM saw another member of the Pride in Protest group being elected to the Board. We discussed the proposed Pride in Protest gathering at Taylor Square on the day of the parade at the Sydney Cricket Ground, March 6 2021. The 78ers Committee in no way supports this action, as we see it as divisive. We aim to ensure that our ongoing communication with the SGLMG Board remains transparent and cordial. Our float in the 2021 Parade will celebrate the Fifty years of Visibility of our community with a strong salute to those pioneers amongst us who stood proudly pre-1978. Also, excitingly at our last meeting, we welcomed newly elected members to our committee – Penny Gulliver, Richard Riley and Karl Zlotkowski. They join Sallie Colechin, Diane Minnis and Helen Gollan who were elected last year for two years. We warmly thank Rae Giffen (one year), Lance Mumby (two years), and Kate Rowe (three years) for their input and participation in the committee over the last year. We have certainly harnessed our use of Zoom for Committee meetings and it is proving a valuable communication tool, especially for those of us in rural areas. Stay safe all.   Sallie Colechin 78ers and First Mardi Gras Inc. Member On 19 November 2020 in Warrawong, I attended the hometown premiere of Women of Steel which features 78ers Louise Casson and Diana Covell. Other 78ers such as Mystery Carnage helped make the film. The story is the struggle from 1980 for women to get jobs in the steelworks, winning battles against one of Australia's biggest firms AIS/BHP. This was biggest class action victory for the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act. Check out the film’s website for further screenings. Women of Steel (2020) | Australian film (womenofsteelfilm.com).   Ken Davis 78er and First Mardi Gras Inc. Co-Chair Join us for a social lunch on Saturday 13 February, 2021 at 12 noon in the outdoor area of the Terminus Hotel, 61 Harris St Pyrmont. RSVP to: info@78ers.org.au. There is a light rail stop with lift access in John Street Square and the 389 bus runs from Park St near Town Hall and stops across the road from the hotel. Calendar of Events Coming out in the 70s: Early Gay and Lesbian Activism in Australia Exhibition at the State Library – Saturday 28 November 2020 to 16 May 2021 Parade registration for 78ers email – mid-December 2020 First Mardi Gras Inc. General Meeting – 4pm, Saturday 30 January 2021 by Zoom First Mardi Gras Inc. Social Lunch – 12noon, Saturday 13 February 2021, Terminus Hotel, 61 Harris St Pyrmont (outdoors) MG Fair Day (not yet approved by NSW Health) – Sunday 21 February 2021 MG Parade and Party – Saturday 6 March 2021 (Party not yet approved).