In this April edition of the First Mardi Gras Inc. Newsletter, we have:
- 78ers on the 2021 Mardi Gras Parade plus links to videos of 78ers marching and the full Parade
- Sallie Colechin’s report on the Kill the Bill Demonstration on 17 April
- Karl Zlotkowski and Sue Fletcher on the SGLMG 78ers Committee’s Campaign against the Anti-Trans Bills
- Britt Kissun, Barry Charles and Karl Zlotkowski on the 78ers Pawfect Dog Picnic on Sunday 2 May
- Barry Charles and Richard Thode on the Inaugural David Cooper Lecture with Dr Anthony Fauci
- Garry Wotherspoon and Sandra Gobbo on 78ers Speaking at the Department of Communities and Justice
- Barry Charles on the LGBTIQ+ Health Forum discussing Royal Commission on Aged Care
- Sue Fletcher on the NSW Police LGBTIQ Community Stakeholder Meeting
- Calendar of Events.
Diane Minnis
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The 78ers in the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade 2021 from William Brougham’s video.
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Here are the thoughts of some 78ers and First Mardi Gras Inc. Members on the 2021 Mardi Gras Parade at the SCG.
Rebbell Barnes: The Parade was really well organised and safe and exciting. The crowd could see us better. It was good to sit down at the end and be able to see and hear the singers. But I like it being on Oxford Street too.
Maree Marsh: This year was fantastic but a one-off because of Covid instead of being out on the streets where we should be. It was great to have our community so much in evidence in the audience. Mardi Gras looked after us well and the 78ers signage around the ground was wonderful!
Robert French: Walking into the SCG was a spine-tingling experience. The signage and lighting were stunning and overwhelming. A number of people I know came to the fence to interact with me and I got very positive comments on the Fifty Years of Visibility signs that we carried. In the 1980s, then Gay Mardi Gras President Murray McLaughlin suggested we should hold the event in an arena like the SCG. Maybe march from Taylor Square. It’s time to look at that idea again.
Robyn Kennedy: Marching into the ground was a fantastic and overwhelming experience. Maybe we should be thinking in future years of a day-time political rally on the streets and a night-time Parade at the SCG. I really enjoyed the Parade at the SCG but let’s not lose the street experience.
Helen Gollan: I agree with other comments about the Parade. On Oxford Street there are not nearly as many gays and lesbians as were in the SCG stands. Our goal, must be to engage with the young LGBTIQ people in the stands. It was great to see the ring of pink writing thanking 78ers around the stadium. Hope we can have a full stadium next time if we have to.
Sallie Colechin: I really liked the smaller Parade in the stadium. The feeling walking onto the ground was amazing and there was less impact of sponsor floats than I expected. It was great that we had our Fifty Years of Visibility placards, but they were too heavy for many 78ers to carry. l agree with others who suggested we should march from Taylor Square into the SCG.
First Mardi Gras Inc. Associate Member Garry Case commented: Even though the numbers of Parade participants were smaller this year, it felt like a larger event and was very well-organised and safe. The atmosphere was exciting all night.
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View from the 78ers contingent in the Mardi Gras Parade 2021 from Donald McPherson’s video.
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| Many thanks to the following photographers and videographers who have given First Mardi Gras Inc. permission to use their 2021 Mardi Gras Parade photos and videos in our newsletters and Annual Report: William Brougham, Geoff Friend, Sallie Colechin, Steve McLaren, Jim Anderson, Jane Becker, Markham Lane, Donald McPherson, Ann-Marie Calilhanna, Dan Gosse and Anne Morphett. |
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Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade 2021 from William Brougham’s video.
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The first of the ‘Kill the Bills’ rallies, organised by the Community Action for Rainbow Rights (CARR), was held on Saturday 17 April.
This was a very important stand-to-action against both of the Bills that Mark Latham’s One Nation has been trying to push through the NSW Parliament. The current Bill is the Education Legislation Amendment (Parental Rights) Bill 2020. AND we need to be on guard for the second one in NSW – an Amendment to the Religious Freedoms and Equality Bill 2020.
This second Bill echoes the divisive and dehumanising Bill currently before the Federal government – the Religious Discrimination Bill. The first NSW one regarding students and teachers takes us back to the Briggs initiative in California in 1978 – one of the reasons we organised the Gay Solidarity Day on 24 June 1978.
A couple of weeks ago we gathered at Taylor Square and heard from several speakers, before marching down Oxford Street to NSW Parliament House. There were roughly 500 people and there was a good strong vibe in the crowd, as well as mixed age ranges. The weird and very disappointing thing was that there were a lot of police present for such a peaceful gathering! There were at least 20 on foot, with a couple on horses, and a few on pushbikes. Overkill one would have thought, when there are many other tasks the police could have been attending to at that time on a Saturday in Darlinghurst and the city.
The co-convenor of CARR – April Holcombe - emceed for the rally’s speakers, and introduced 78er Mark Gillespie as well as a Christian woman who sang us a hymn. Mark gave an impassioned speech about what we did in 1978 and how relevant this kind of action is now.
David Shoebridge was there for the Greens, as Jenny Leong had a prior engagement out of town; with Labor’s Penny Sharp sending her apologies and support. David has been proactive along with Jenny Leong, Penny Sharpe and Alex Greenwich in strongly speaking against both the One Nation Bills.
The rally had a serious, enthusiastic and focused vibe. The rally started at 1pm and by 1.40pm we were heading down Oxford St towards Hyde Park – chanting all the way, reminiscent of 43 years ago. This time though the police were all being very polite and cordial in stopping the traffic, allowing us time to walk down to Parliament House.
The 78ers that were there fanned across the road carrying our white 78ers banner directly behind the CARR front banner, which led the rally. Myself, Diane Minnis, Dave Urquhart, Sue Fletcher, Toby Zoates, Diane Fieldes, Karl Zlotkowski, David Abello, Garry Wotherspoon, Barry Charles, Mark Gillespie, John Hughes and Joe Philippa were the 78ers at the event.
At Parliament House Sam Guerra presented his box of 112,000 signed petitions challenging the Latham ‘Education’ Bill.
There is another rally planned for 5 June (11am at Sydney Town Hall) as it is possible both these Bills could be supported by the religious zealots and the far right in NSW.
Two valuable links:
https://protectusall.com.au
https://www.facebook.com/sydneyCAAH.
Sallie Colechin
78er and First Mardi Gras Inc. Member
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The 78ers Committee of SGLMG has called upon the Mardi Gras Board to issue a public statement in opposition to Mark Latham’s Education Legislation Amendment (Parental Rights) Bill 2020 in the NSW Parliament.
A campaign in support of the legislation is well underway, and this campaign must be countered with widespread and concerted action by the LGBTQI community. The 78ers Committee believes that SGLMG is best placed to provide leadership on this issue, and stands ready to support the SGLMG Board in doing so.
The 78ers Committee drafted a statement saying that the proposed legislation directly attacks LGBTIQ people and would harm trans and gender diverse students by denying their existence and preventing teachers and counsellors from supporting them.
Latham Bill, Political Strategy and Sponsor Relationships
The proposed statement in opposition to Mark Latham’s Parental Rights Bill is currently on hold pending further strategy discussions between Mardi Gras and Equality Australia, in which the 78ers Committee are playing a leading role. The Mardi Gras Board had responded positively to the draft statement.
Equality Australia would like the 78ers Committee to work with them to prepare media articles so we are campaign-ready should the need arise. These articles of commentary and personal experiences would highlight the parallels between our 1978 experience and the current situation. Advice from Equality Australia was that the Latham Bill would likely fail, and that high-profile opposition should be avoided at this time, in order to deny his supporters the opportunity to wage a 'culture war' with the LGBTQI community.
There are several pieces of legislation at both the NSW and Federal level.
78ers Meeting with Mardi Gras Board
Two 78er Committee representatives, Karl Zlotkowski and Sue Fletcher, met with the Board on 31 March to discuss the statement and future strategy. The board had responded favourably to the 78er offer of active support for political campaigns.
The 78ers Committee offer to support Mardi Gras in strategic discussions with corporate sponsors was also supported in principle. It was noted that Mardi Gras’ developing partnership with WorldPride 2023 would need to be taken into account.
Our message to the Board was that the 78ers Committee want to see sponsors support the community, when we are under political attack such as through the Mark Lathan Anti-Trans Bill. We provided examples of the different forms this support could take including: financial, multi-platform advertising and political lobbying.
Mardi Gras gave a commitment to provide the 78ers Committee with an update by the end of April.
Karl Zlotkowski and Sue Fletcher
78ers and First Mardi Gras Inc. Committee Member and Member
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Come along to our Pawfect Dog Picnic, bring your dog, your partner or yourself and catch up with old friends and other 78ers.
Location: Hawthorne Dog Park, near Café Bones.
Date: 1-4pm, Sunday, 2 May 2021.
Featuring:
- A Dog Show: Dress up your best friend and be judged on your good taste.
- Photos with Celebrity Dalmatians Tassie, Jax and Ralf: Thanks to Steve Wiggins. $5 donation to First Mardi Gras Inc.
- Picnic Games: Friendly contests between 78ers and other attendees. We recommend masks and will provide hand sanitiser and latex gloves where needed for the games.
What is there and what to bring:
Ample shade trees and grassed area. Doggy facilities include drinking stations and the park is gated and fenced to allow your companions, human or animal, to run free.
Bring your picnic lunch or Café Bones serves a variety of snacks, light meals, coffees and other drinks.
There is some seating, but you could bring a picnic chair or an umbrella if it is hot.
The area is wheelchair accessible from Hawthorne Light Rail.
How to get there:
The Hawthorne Dog Park is located near Hawthorne Canal, between Darley Road, Leichhardt and Hawthorne Parade, Haberfield. Access the area from City West Link. Parking is available in Canal Road.
It is adjacent to the Hawthorne Light Rail Stop – 25 mins from Central.
Britt Kissun, Barry Charles and Karl Zlotkowski
78ers and First Mardi Gras Inc. Member and Committee Members
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On 14 April 2021, The Kirby Institute at UNSW held the Inaugural David Cooper Memorial Lecture. Given the current COVID situation it was conducted by video link and recorded for later viewing.
Associate Professor David Cooper was a pioneer in HIV research and treatment since the early 80s.
He was recognized all over the world for his expertise. As well as carrying out ground breaking research, he treated patients at St Vincent’s Hospital Immunology Clinic in Sydney.
David passed away in January 2018 and colleagues at the Kirby Institute, with strong support from his family, have initiated this annual lecture series.
The inaugural lecture was in the form of a Q&A with Dr Anthony Fauci, Director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and chief medical advisor to the U.S. President; a position Dr Fauci has held for every US President since Ronald Reagan.
To have Fauci as speaker was a great tribute to the work of Dr Cooper and recognized their long association as friends and fellow clinicians going back before the advent of HIV/AIDS in the early 1980s.
He spoke about the way the research around immunology stemming from the treatment of HIV has informed and contributed to the fast development of vaccines for COVID-19.
The programme included moving tributes to David Cooper by Neal Blewitt, former ALP Federal Health Minister and former Coalition Senator Peter Baume, who together orchestrated the bi-partisan national response to HIV/AIDS in the 1980s.
Here is a link to the broadcast: Inaugural David Cooper Lecture | Dr Anthony S. Fauci | UNSW Sydney (centreforideas.com).
Barry Charles and Richard Thode
78ers and First Mardi Gras Inc. Secretary and Treasurer
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On the afternoon of Thursday 15 April, two 78ers, Sandra Gobbo and Garry Wotherspoon, took part in a webinar for the NSW Department of Communities and Justice Pride Digital Drop-In Group.
Sandra and Garry joined the webinar to share with the group their experiences of that first Mardi Gras on Saturday 24 June 1978, the night that ended in so much violence. They were also able to answer questions from those who were taking part in the webinar.
It was apparently a great success, if some of the responses are any indication. Here are some comments from the audience:
- sensational listening to Garry and Sandra. Cheers.
- love and gratitude Garry and Sandra - thank you for your grit and forging a path for so many of us to live our truth.
- Thank you Sandra and Garry you are very inspiring.
- Yay such a win!!! Well done to everyone involved.
- Thanks so much Sandra and Gary, inspiring.
- Thanks Sandra and Gary! It was a great pleasure to listen to you speak about your experiences and views.
- Thank you both for what has evidently been a life-time of work to move the community at large towards greater inclusivity and equity.
- Thank you Sandra and Garry for your continued leadership for our community.
- Thank you Sandra and Garry for leading the way. In 1978 you were, and in 2021 you still are, absolutely inspirational.
- Thank you Sandra and Garry!!
- Thank you so much, what a joy to hear about your experiences!
At the webinar, the host, Michael, announced that the Department had just released a new gender transition policy and guide. It’s great to know that such progress is being made, helped along by a new generation of young activists in a government department.
Garry Wotherspoon and Sandra Gobbo
78ers and First Mardi Gras Inc. Members
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First Mardi Gras Inc. regularly receives speaking requests. If you would like to join our Speakers Panel and volunteer for in person and/or online speaking events, email us at info@78ers.org.au.
We also occasionally have requests to photograph 78ers. Four 78ers recently took part in a photoshoot for the Aged Care and Disability Commission.
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On 24 March, a web forum was held by LGBTIQ+ Health to discuss the impact on queer communities of the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Aged Care. Speakers were:
- Chair of the Aged Care Sector Diversity Subgroup Committee: Samantha Edmonds
- Federal Department of Health Dementia Support Planning: Robert Day
- Aged and Community Services Australia: CEO Patricia Sparrow
- Royal Commission Advisory Group: Transgender Senior Kathy Mansfield
- Older Persons Advocacy Network: CEO Craig Gear
- Council for the Ageing: Deputy CEO Corey Irlim.
The first thing to note is that even though the Commission Advisory Group included a Transgender advocate, there was no specific mention of LGBTIQ+ people in the final report.
Instead we are considered included in Recommendations 21(d) and 30 “designing for diversity and individuality”. Diversity in this context includes Indigenous Australians, people with disability in all their individual differences, ethnic and religious minorities, and our communities.
To say this is disappointing would be understating my reaction.
Even then, Clause 30 only focused on “training and cultural awareness” of diversity. Even the spokesperson for Aged and Community Services Association (which represents the non-profit aged care facilities) said they need detailed day to day guidelines on policies and actions for aged care workers. And that we also need legislation that requires aged care providers to accept their responsibility to provide recognition and tailor care to people of diverse communities. But then added the usual rider: “We don’t want to be over-regulated”!
We surely have enough information now to know that Aged Care in this country (and from my discussions during InterPride, around the world) is totally dysfunctional. See this week’s report on “non-profits” siphoning off funds to controlling religious organisations. The same thing happens with Employment “Service Providers” no doubt with the NDIS.
Other issues brought up in the forum, but insufficiently addressed in the Royal Commission Report itself were:
- There are no collated data collections on LGBTIQ+ persons and their experiences in Aged Care – so monitoring any change will be difficult.
- The voices of those vulnerable should be heard – not elites. More personal stories should be collected.
- The Report is not constructed from a human rights based approach.
These issues relate to all minorities. Indigenous Australians were better responded to in the report but only marginally.
The take-out is that aged care providers should be made to explain their efforts to change the current situation. This is not in the report.
We will have to demand that diverse identity culture be recognized and supported. Just non-discrimination is not enough.
When asked if the Federal Department of Health will include diversity advocates in their planning for legislative change, the spokesperson waffled and said no framework for the future has been established.
Our community will have to campaign to force the ‘diversity’ mention in the Royal Commission Report is converted to practical outcomes and legislation.
It is sad that the generation that spent a great part of their lives fighting for Queer rights have now to fight the same battles for visibility and acceptance and respect in old age.
Barry Charles
78er and First Mardi Gras Inc. Secretary
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The NSW Police Force (NSWPF) holds LGBTIQ Community Stakeholder meetings each quarter. The meeting is to provide an opportunity for LGBTIQ community and NSW Police Force updates. They work well as an exchange of information. Assistant Commissioner Galina Talbot is the host.
The most recent meeting was on Wednesday 21 April at the Sydney Police Centre in Goulburn Street, Surry Hills.
There was discussion about the Anti-Trans Bill and the recommendation from Equality Australia to not take any overt action at this time. Follow up questions for NSWPF included an update on the ‘egging attacks the night of Mardi Gras’. At this time the cars in question have not been identified, but NSWPF will be calling out for more information to assist them identify the perpetrators.
Questions were also asked regarding access to Gay and Lesbian Liaison Officers (GLLOs) in regional areas and outer Sydney. This initiative from NSWPF is helpful for our community, but as long as we can have access to the GLLOs when required. AC Talbot advised that they have a large intake of Officers undertaking GLLO training this year and they have restructured the course to include online components making it more accessible to regional officers. This was further discussed when the Officers from Western NSW gave their report on what they were doing in Wilcannia (a long way from the inner-city LGBTIQ communities).
The meeting was well attended with representatives from a range of community organisations and NSW Police Force areas.
Four 78ers – Sue Fletcher, Diane Minnis, Peter Murphy and Wanda Kluke – who worked with the NSW Police Force on an anti-homophobia video attend these consultations.
LGBTIQ attendee organisations: Sydney World Pride, Inner City Legal Centre, City of Sydney, Pride in Diversity, Alex Greenwich’s Office, Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, Inner West Council, ACON, Twenty10, Pride in Justice, Pride in NSW, Bobby Goldsmith Foundation, Penny Sharpe’s office, NSW Trans and Gender Diverse Criminal Justice Advisory Council, Rainbow Families, GLLO Advisory Committee.
NSWPF attendees: AC Talbot (Chair), A/Commander Crime Prevention Command, Western Region Sponsor, Sexuality, Gender Diversity & Intersex, Specialist Command Region Sponsor, South Western Sydney Region Sponsor, Central Metropolitan Region Sponsor, A/Manager PDT, Aboriginal Coordination Team, GLLO Advisory Committee, Wellington ACLO & GLLO, Orana Mid Western PD, Senior Policy and Projects Officer, Sexuality, Gender Diversity & Intersex.
Sue Fletcher
78er and First Mardi Gras Inc. Member
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Calendar of Events
- 78ers Pawfect Dog Picnic – 1-4pm, Saturday 2 May 2021, Hawthorne Dog Park near Café Bones
- 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
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Eliminating LGBTQ Ageism, telling our own stories – 10.30am, Wednesday 19 May 2021, Redfern Town Hall, 73 Pitt Street, register: loveproject.org.au or rgluyas@acon.org.au
- First Mardi Gras Inc. General Meeting – 4pm, Saturday in late May 2021, TBC
- Salon78 Forum: Why did Mardi Gras Move to Summer? – late June 2021 TBC
- WorldPride Copenhagen – 14-21 August 2021 (subject to Covid and travel restrictions), bookings opened in April
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This Is Me Festival from Newcastle Pride – 5 August to 5 September 2021 2021 Events - Newcastle Pride
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Broken Heel Festival – 9-13 September 2021 GET TICKETS HERE — Broken Heel Festival (bhfestival.com).
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