Newsletter - April 2020

View this email in your browser April 2020 Message from Co-Chairs The Covid-19 pandemic has dramatically changed our personal lives – and has similarly impacted the organisational life of First Mardi Gras Inc. Social distancing rules have halted our general meetings and regular forums. So we are trying to find different ways to maintain our connections and communications with you, by producing our newsletter more frequently and posting news and interesting links on our Facebook pages and website https://www.78ers.org.au/. Our Committee will be meeting regularly by video chat and will continue to consider issues of interest and importance to 78ers. We are also looking to provide support to people who need it and identify 78ers who are able to provide practical help or phone/video chat support. You can also continue to contact us through our email address info@78ers.org.au and we’ll respond promptly. So...until the crisis stabilises, stay safe and well. We look forward to seeing you in-person on the other side! Betty Hounslow and Ken Davis Daylesford and Wagga – Saturday 7 & 14 March 2020 Helen Gollan and the 78ers banner led the Daylesford ChillOut Festival Parade with the assistance of the Trentham Youth Group. The Wagga Wagga Mardi Gras Parade was cancelled at short notice but Helen, Barry Charles and Karl Zlotkovski travelled to Wagga with the 78ers banner and attended some smaller events along with other 78ers. Hay Mardi Gras in late March was cancelled as was Newcastle Pride, planned for August. Central Coast Twist, Tamworth Pride and the Broken Heel Festival are yet to announce whether they will be going ahead later this year. Photo above left: Helen Gollan and the Trentham Youth Group at Daylesford ChillOut Festival. Photo above right, from left: Karl Zlotkovski, Helen Gollan and Barry Charles in Wagga. Providing support to our community In this time of Covid-19 and social distancing, many in our community are finding it tough. It will be a difficult few months ahead for many and with age and health related risk factors involved, we need to develop ways of staying connected. We are looking to provide support to people who need it and identify 78ers who are able to provide practical help or phone/video chat support. Here are some suggested protocols for collecting and delivering goods in these times: https://wiki.queercare.network/index.php?title=Category:Protocol. The National LGBTI Health alliance page https://lgbtihealth.org.au/ has Covid-19 and health support information including on the QLife counselling and referral service for LGBTI people. Let us know if you need: some practical help going to medical appointments, picking up shopping or medicines the support of a regular phone or video chat. Let us know if you could provide support via regular phone or video chat to 78ers. Please respond to info@78ers.org.au if you need some support or would be interested in helping out people in our community. Anne Morphett Fifty Fabulous Years! Early 70s activism. Photo Phillip Potter   This year we reach the fiftieth anniversary of visibility in the history of LGBTI people in Australia. In 1970 and 1971, with the public announcements of the formation of the Australian Lesbian Movement and the Campaign Against Moral Persecution, homosexual visibility became a reality here. Before then, there were no openly homosexual organisations, only closeted social groups. This is what makes the formation of the ALM and CAMP Inc. truly significant. Because of the bravery of our sisters and brothers back then, especially those in CAMP Inc., who first publically put their head above the parapet, all else flowed. We helped change perceptions within the community and the medical profession about what it means to be homosexual and we demanded equality. We achieved anti-discrimination legislation and homosexual law reform, fought and overcame the scourge of HIV, won relationship recognition in the immigration and refugee system, and – eventually – gained marriage equality. First Mardi Gras Inc., the Pride History Group and CAMP Goes Gold had planned a series of celebrations and events but the Corona virus will impact these plans. We are still hoping to gather on 19 September, the 50th anniversary of the formation of CAMP Inc. The State Library of NSW intends to hold an exhibition Seen and Heard: the early years of gay achievement, though there may be some social distancing limits. Unfortunately, the history conference, planned for November at UTS, will be postponed, though smaller local forums may be possible. We will keep you in touch with further developments with these events. Robert French   Keep up your First Mardi Gras Inc. membership For some First Mardi Gras Inc. members, it will soon be time to renew your membership. Our fees are modest – $10 a year or $5 a year concession – but they help maintain our incorporated community association as a representative, consultative and sustainable organisation for 78ers. Your fees contribute to the cost of running our website and email system and for hire of venues when we are again able to meet and host forums and events. With over 180 members (including 17 Associate Members), we want to continue to celebrate our history, inspire our community and fight for the future. We want to continue to: Keep in touch with each other, particularly during the Covid-19 epidemic Advocate for appropriate support and services for our ageing community Support community campaigns, including against the Religious Discrimination Act Provide a strong voice for 78ers on the elected SGLMG 78ers Committee. If you would like to renew your membership, look out in May for an email and membership form. If you would like to join First Mardi Gras Inc. or have a partner or friend who are interested in joining as an Associate Member, email us at info@78ers.org.au. Barry Charles - Membership Coordinator European Pride Organisers Association First Mardi Gras Inc. has joined the European Pride Organisers Association (EPOA) as an associate member. EPOA is the network of European Pride organisations that promotes Pride as a celebration and a vital human rights movement. We have a strong interest in global LGBTQI human rights and are keen to support campaigns such as those against regressive policies in Eastern Europe. We will be participating in the EPOA Online Global Pride celebration in June. Watch this space for links to events and displays! Garry Wotherspoon’s new book   This month, First Mardi Gras Inc. member Garry Wotherspoon’s new book has been published. 'Through the Gay Looking Glass' is a fascinating history/biography of Clive Madigan. Garry is also the author of the bestselling 'Gay Sydney: A History.' Both books are available from The Bookshop, Darlinghurst. Vale Sandi Banks 15.7.1950 – 16.3.20020 Sandi Banks has passed away peacefully after a long and brave battle with cancer. Sandi and then partner Jo Eccleston, Ken Davis and I were very active in the Gay Solidarity Group and the Drop the Charges Campaign. Our friendship was forged in this fightback against the arrests in the first Mardi Gras. Sandi was a committed activist for many years. In recent years Sandi was also a stalwart spokesperson for 78ers, calling for and responding to a Police apology for the events of 1978. Sandi was also one of five proud founding members of First Mardi Gras Inc. Only two weeks before she died, Sandi and her partner Jean travelled from the south coast to be on the 78ers bus in the 2020 Mardi Gras Parade. Sandi was buried in the 78ers t-shirt she wore that night. On 27 March a small number of us were able to farewell Sandi in a lovely ceremony in front of rolling surf. Fabian Los Shaiavo participated by video, leading us in a poignant rendition of Thank you Lord for Gay Liberation. Sandi will be sadly missed by her many friends, including me, partner Jean and former partner and long standing friend Jo. Slip away, slip away like ripples on the sea You’ll never slip away from all our memories. Donations in memory of Sandi to the Cancer Council (for research purposes) would be appreciated. Diane Minnis   Left: Sandi Banks in the first Mardi Gras. Right: Sandi in 2018. Participation Grants FMG Inc. members can apply for small grants to assist with projects that reflect FMG Inc. objectives. Grants may be used to help with: Part travel costs Part conference registration fees Administrative costs (postage, photocopying) Purchase of materials and resources. For further details email us at info@78ers.org.au.

QNews: Vale Mardi Gras 78er Sandi Banks

Newsletter - March 2020

View this email in your browser March 2020 Mardi Gras Parade – Saturday 29 February 2020 There were about 100 excited 78ers, partners and guests in our Mardi Gras Parade 2020 78ers contingent. We carried the new 78ers The First Mardi Gras Australia banner (provided by Mardi Gras) and placards made by 78ers in the MG Workshop. The 78ers once again received a great reception from the estimated 300,000 spectators and we were able to enjoy the more spacious 78er areas at both the Parade Marshalling area and the new viewing area. The bus to Central after the Parade, however, is on the must improve list for next year! Thanks to the SGLMG elected 78ers Committee for organising the float and communicating with 78ers as well as passing on our concerns to Mardi Gras. Thanks to Sandra Gobbo for posting the photo collections to both our Facebook pages and our website https://www.78ers.org.au/. And many thanks to William Brougham for videoing the Mardi Gras Parade and our Lavender Menace forum and to Jeffrey Feng for his Parade photos of us. A big thank you to Meagan Lawson from COTA who marched with our contingent to photograph 78ers during the night. Photo Jeffrey Feng. Video of 78ers at Taylor Square William Brougham Daylesford, Wagga & Hay Mardi Gras – Saturday 7, 14 & 28 March 2020 Help carry this banner with other 78ers in the upcoming Daylesford ChillOut Festival and the Wagga Wagga and Hay Mardi Gras Parades. To join us, please contact Helen Gollan on 0427 042 810 (text only) or Barry Charles on 0404 241 308. 78ers also have plans to attend the Newcastle and Tamworth Prides and the Broken Heel Festival later in the year. A Lavender Menace? Forum – Saturday 15 February About 70 women and a number of men enjoyed the forum. Dr Sophie Robinson, Dr Sue Wills and Robyn Plaister spoke on the pivotal role of lesbians in early lesbian and gay movements.  Also marked was the 50th anniversary of the formation of the Australasian Lesbian Movement. Many fine contributions were made during the Q&A. The forum – hosted jointly by First Mardi Gras Inc. and Pride History Group – is the first in a series: 50 Fabulous Years of Liberation. Photo William Brougham. Video of Forum William Brougham Fair Day – Sunday 16 February 2020 At Fair Day, the 78ers tent was one of the coolest and breeziest places to visit. We had a steady stream of people asking about our history as well as 78ers visiting. A raffle was popular and raised funds for the pre-Parade social gathering for all 78ers. SGLMG 78ers Committee members Rae Giffen and Lance Mumby spoke from the main stage. 78er Peter de Waal also spoke on the 50th anniversary of the formation of CAMP Inc. – the Campaign Against Moral Persecution. Below: Rae Giffen and Lance Mumby speaking at Fair Day on behalf of 78ers. Photo Diane Minnis History Walks: Saturday 22 & Sunday 23 February  Robert French led two history walks during the 2020 Mardi Gras season: Saturday 22 February – 10th Anniversary ACON Spark Youth Group Walk, King’s Cross and Oxford Street. Sunday 23 February 2020 – 30th Anniversary Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence Walk: The Colony of Sydney and its Gay History. Pictured above is the large crowd who attended the SPI Walk, where Robert was canonised as Saint Robert of the Rainbow Chronicles. Reunion42: Friday 28 February, Colombian Hotel First Mardi Gras Inc. again hosted our pre-Parade social gathering for 78ers, their partners and friends at the Columbian Hotel. We had a great roll-up with a lot of catching up with old friends and interest in the raffle and lucky door prize. 78ers also collected t-shirts again provided by SGLMG. Photo below William Brougham Mardi Gras Parade 2020 Photos Photo William Brougham. Video of whole Mardi Gras Parade William Brougham Two photos above Meagan Lawson. Photo below Gordana Drakulic  Photos below Meagan Lawson, except for photo of Robert with flag, Jeffrey Feng  Calendar of Events Saturday 7 March 2020 – Daylesford ChillOut Festival Parade Saturday 14 March 2020 – Wagga Wagga Mardi Gras Parade  Saturday 21 March 2020 - First Mardi Gras Inc. General Meeting, Macleay Room, Rex Centre, 58A Macleay St (entrance near Baroda St), Potts Point Saturday 28 March 2020 – Hay Mardi Gras Parade Participation Grants FMG Inc. members can apply for small grants to assist with projects that reflect FMG Inc. objectives. Grants may be used to help with: Part travel costs Part conference registration fees Administrative costs (postage, photocopying) Purchase of materials and resources. For further details email us at info@78ers.org.au.

Mardi Gras Shorts 2020

The 78ers are the valiant group of people who gathered at Taylor Square on a Saturday in June 1978 to march down Oxford Street at a time when homosexuality was still a criminal act. #78ers #whatmatters #mardigras2020 #sydneymardigras

Thanks to William Brougham for the video. Visit his YouTube channel for many more videos of the 78ers

10 Daily: 'Police Were Dragging People On The Road': 78er Remembers First Mardi Gras

MTV: Meet The 78ers - Four LGBTQIA+ Activists Tell The Story Of Sydney's First Mardi Gras

78ers Penny Gulliver, David Abello, Sandra Gobbo and Robert French sat down to speak with MTV Australia during the lead up to Mardi Gras 2020.

Read the full article on the MTV Australia website by clicking here, and watch the video of the interviews below or on YouTube.

Reunion 42

T’was the night before Mardi Gras, when all through the house all the 78ers were gathering…. for Reunion 42! Happy Mardi Gras everyone 🏳️‍🌈

Photos from Anne Morphett, Helen Gollan & William Brougham.

A very happy Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras from the Mardi Gras 78ers. #sydneymardigras #sydneygayandlesbianmardigras #whatmatters

Thanks to William Brougham for the video. Check out his YouTube channel for more great videos.

SBS: Outrage as businesses accused of 'exploiting' Sydney's Mardi Gras

Article: 'How do I convince the Home Office I'm a lesbian?'

This is a powerful story about the trials and tribulations of seeking refugee status on the grounds of sexuality in the UK. Amnesty International confirms that similar problems can exist here.

Image: BBC

Angel fled Zimbabwe in fear of her life after police found her in bed with another woman five years ago. It's taken most of the time since then for her to convince the Home Office that she is gay and will be persecuted if she returns. But how do you prove something you spent your life trying to hide?

Click here to read the article from the BBC

Fair Day 2020

Thanks to Steve McLaren for capturing these great images of the 78ers at Fair Day 2020.

Video: A Lavender Menace? Australia's Early Lesbian History.

About 70 women and a number of men enjoyed the forum. Dr Sophie Robinson, Dr Sue Wills and Robyn Plaister spoke on the pivotal role of lesbians in early lesbian and gay movements.

Also marked was the 50th anniversary of the formation of the Australasian Lesbian Movement.

Many fine contributions were made during the Q&A. The forum – hosted jointly by First Mardi Gras Inc. and Pride History Group – was the first in a series: 50 Fabulous Years of Liberation.

A panel and audience discussion titled 'A Lavender Menace? Australia's Early Lesbian History'. The event was hosted by First Mardi Gras Inc and Sydney's Pride History Group on Saturday February 15, 2020.

Thanks to William Brougham for the video. Check out his YouTube channel for more videos.

Newsletter - February 2020

View this email in your browser February 2020 Saturday 15 February 2020 To explore the pivotal role played by lesbians in the early lesbian and gay movement and mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Australasian Lesbian Movement, the Pride History Group and First Mardi Gras Inc. are hosting this forum. 2-4pm, Beneledi House, 194 Glebe Point Road, Glebe (next to the Library, corner Wigram Rd). Fair Day Sunday 16 February 2020 Mardi Gras is again providing a large 78ers tent for us at Fair Day. A wide variety of people come in to talk to 78ers about our history and we have a leaflet we can hand out. A couple of 78ers will be interviewed on the main stage around 12.45pm. The tent is a chill out space for 78ers and many of us are wearing our 78ers t-shirts. No bottled water will be on sale, so bring a plastic water bottle that you can refill at several points around the park. Toby Zoates with visitors to the 78ers tent. Photo Anne Morphett History Walks Saturday 22-23 February 2020 Robert French is leading two history walks: # 10:15 am, Saturday 22 February 2020 – ACON Spark Youth Group History Walk: for under 26ers, King’s Cross & Oxford Street. # 9:45 am, Sunday 23 February 2020 – SPI History Walk: The Colony of Sydney and its Gay history. Why was Sydney referred to as ’sodom in the south’? What was the status of lesbians? Where was Sydney’s first beat? These are just some of the questions to be answered on the SPI Walk. This will be the 30th Anniversary SPI History Walk and the 10th Anniversary Youth Group walk. https://www.mardigras.org.au/program. Sydney Star Observer photo of Robert French at the First Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence History Walk in 1990 LGBTQI+ Elders Dance Club 2pm, Saturday 22 February Mardi Gras has invited 78ers to this free social event for rainbow elders, creating a space that is safe and inclusive (and with afternoon tea). It’s at the Seymour Centre (Corner City Road and Cleveland Street, Chippendale). MG are also offering 78ers two free tickets to Fuck Fabulous, 8pm that night at the Seymour Center. Reception@mardigrasarts.org.au. Reunion42 Friday 28 February 2020 First Mardi Gras Inc. is again this year hosting a pre-Parade social gathering for 78ers, their partners and friends. The event will be upstairs at the Colombian Hotel from 5-8pm. There will be: complementary finger food, cash bar, raffle, retro music, lift access and fun! Let us know if you are coming along at info@78ers.org.au. Parade Saturday 29 February 2020 Two emails have now gone out from the elected Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 78ers Committee about this Mardi Gras season. You can still register for the Parade float and go in the draw for a Party ticket by responding to the next email, later in February. If you ordered a 78ers t-shirt before 2 February, your t-shirt will be posted out next week. Later orders will be listed for next year’s print run. Mardi Gras asked that this year 78ers carry placards about What Matters to us. Lance Mumby and Karen Askew had a fun day painting placards in the Mardi Gras Workshop. 78ers who have registered for the Parade will be sent an email with Assembly instructions in the week before the Parade. Happy Mardi Gras! Regional Mardi Gras Saturday 14 & 28 March 2020 78ers will be travelling to Wagga Wagga and Hay to march in their 2020 Mardi Gras Parades. We also have plans to also attend Newcastle and Tamworth Prides and the Broken Heel Festival later in the year. To join us in Wagga Wagga and Hay, please contact Helen Gollan on 0427 042 810 text only or Barry Charles on 0404 241 308. From left: Bob Harvey, Barry Charles and Helen Gollan at Tamworth Pride 2019 Calendar of Events 15 February 2020 – A Lavender Menace? Australia’s Early Lesbian Movement Sunday 16 February 2020 – Mardi Gras Fair Day Saturday 22 February 2020 – Spark Youth Group History Walk led by Robert French Saturday 22 February 2020 - LGBTIQ+ Elders Dance Sunday 23 February 2020 – SPI History Walk led by Robert French: The Colony of Sydney and its Gay history Friday 28 February 2020 – Reunion42: 78ers Pre-Mardi Gras Drinks Saturday 29 February 2020 – Mardi Gras Parade Saturday 14 March 2020 – Wagga Wagga Mardi Gras Parade  Saturday 21 March 2020 - First Mardi Gras Inc. General Meeting Saturday 28 March 2020 – Hay Mardi Gras Parade Participation Grants FMG Inc. members can apply for small grants to assist with projects that reflect FMG Inc. objectives. Grants may be used to help with: Part travel costs Part conference registration fees Administrative costs (postage, photocopying) Purchase of materials and resources. For further details email us at info@78ers.org.au.

Queer Stories: Mystery Carnage – Logical and Biological

Public TALK: Lavender Menace? Australia's Early Lesbian Movement - Feb 15, 2020

A Lavender Menace? Australia's Early Lesbian Movement

You are invited to join Pride History Group and First Mardi Gras Inc., a community organisation for 78ers, for a public forum discussing Australia's early Lesbian movement.

This event is the first in a series planned for 2020 to celebrate 50 Fabulous Years of Liberation.
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WHEN: 2 - 4pm, Saturday 15 February 2020
WHERE: Benledi House, 194 Glebe Point Road, Glebe (next to the library on the corner of Wigram Road)
RSVP: info@78ers.org.au or via this Facebook event page
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FORUM OVERVIEW:

Given the dominant patriarchal approach to history, it’s unsurprising that the role women played in the early lesbian and gay movement is often given minor consideration to that of men.

Yet lesbians played a pivotal role, despite being faced with misogyny and sexism, even from some homosexual men. The place of lesbians within the Women’s Liberation Movement was also initially contested by some of their sisters. Against these odds, gains in the areas of the status of women, lesbian mothers and opposition to the harmful practices of psychiatry were many.

To explore these issues and mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Australasian Lesbian Movement, the Pride History Group and First Mardi Gras Inc. a community organisation for 78ers, are holding a joint forum – A Lavender Menace? Australia’s Early Lesbian Movement.

Speakers will include lesbians who were pioneers members of CAMP and other early lesbian and gay groups.

Newsletter - December 2019

View this email in your browser December 2019 Annual General Meeting Saturday 23 November  Management Committee members elected at the AGM of First Mardi Gras Inc. were: Co-Chairs: Betty Hounslow and Ken Davis Secretary: Diane Minnis Treasurer: Richard Thode Committee Members: Karl Zlotkowski, Barry Charles, Robert French, Rebbell Barnes. Many thanks to outgoing Secretary, Sandra Gobbo, for all her hard work, and to Garry Wotherspoon for his wise contributions to the committee. The First Mardi Gras Inc. Annual Report was presented at the AGM. Download and read a copy here.  Social Lunch Saturday 7 December Join us for an end of year social lunch on Saturday December 7, 2019, 12 noon at the Terminus Hotel, 61 Harris St Pyrmont. RSVP to: rebbellabarnes@gmail.com. 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. Calendar of Events Saturday 7 December 2019 – Social Lunch, 12 noon, Terminus Hotel, 61 Harris Pyrmont Mid December 2019 – email from SGLMG 78ers Committee to all 78ers to nominate for Parade float Early February 2020 – Community BBQ to discuss supporting isolated older LGBTIQ people Mid February 2020 – Salon78 forum Sunday 16 February 2020 – Mardi Gras Fair Day Saturday 22 February 2020 – Spark Youth Group History Walk led by Robert French Saturday 22 February 2020 - LGBTIQ+ Elders Dance Sunday 23 February 2020 – SPI History Walk led by Robert French: The Colony of Sydney and its Gay history Late February 2020 – 78ers Pre-Mardi Gras Drinks Saturday 29 February 2020 – Mardi Gras Parade Saturday 14 March 2020 – Wagga Wagga Mardi Gras Parade  Saturday 21 March 2020 - First Mardi Gras Inc. General Meeting Saturday 28 March 2020 – Hay Mardi Gras Parade Participation Grants FMG Inc. members can apply for small grants to assist with projects that reflect FMG Inc. objectives. Grants may be used to help with: Part travel costs Part conference registration fees Administrative costs (postage, photocopying) Purchase of materials and resources. For further details email us at info@78ers.org.au.

End of Year Social Lunch - Saturday December 7, 2019

Join us for an end of year social lunch on Saturday December 7, 2019 at 12 midday at the Terminus Hotel in Pyrmont (61 Harris St, Pyrmont). RSVP to Rebbell Barnes via email rebbellabarmes@gmail.com

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There is a light rail stop at John Street Square, just across the road (steps / lift access) that goes to Central Station (inbound), or to the inner west suburb of Dulwich Hill (outbound). A regular bus service (389) runs from Pyrmont along Harris St to King St in the CBD before heading through Paddington to Bondi Junction and North Bondi. The bus stop is located on the corner of John and Harris St on the opposite side of the road to The Terminus Hotel.

Terminus Hotel @ 61 Harris St, Pyrmont

Annual Report 2018/2019

The First Mardi Gras Inc. Annual General Report was presented at the Annual General Meeting this weekend. Download and ready a copy here.

Newcastle Pride Festival

Newsletter - August 2019

View this email in your browser Protest Religious Exemptions Bill: No right to discriminate! Saturday 3 August 2019, 1pm Taylor Square Under current Australian law, religious schools, hospitals and aged-care facilities have the right to fire staff and expel students on the basis of their sexual orientation, gender identity and marital status. A YouGov Galaxy Poll in October 2018 found that around 80% of people oppose the right of religious schools to expel LGBTI students or sack LGBTI teachers. Despite huge support for LGBTI rights, including amongst religious Australians, the Liberal government wants to further entrench and broaden discrimination in a so-called ‘Religious Freedoms’ Bill. We will be joining the protest on Saturday August 3 with the 78ers banner. Newcastle Pride 17-26 August Newcastle Pride is presenting the second annual Pride Fair Day on Saturday August 24, 11am-6pm at Newcastle Foreshore Park, Carriage Sheds, Wharf Road, Newcastle East. Over 7,000 people attended the inaugural Fair Day in 2018 with an atmosphere filled with energy, love, community and diversity. With loads of retail and community stalls, food vendors’ the Sea of Hearts installation and non-stop centre-stage entertainment, this year promises to again be memorable event. See https://newcastlepride.com.au/events/ for other Pride events, including the Serving In Silence Exhibition and Not Silenced Forum. A few First Mardi Gras Inc. members will be at Fair Day, email info@78ers.org.au to meet up. Tamworth Pride 6 October 78er Robert (Bob) Harvey is one of the organisers of the inaugural Tamworth Pride to be held on Sunday 6 October 2019. The team are planning a march leading to Fair Day (in Bicentennial Park) and afternoon events – including live entertainment, games, competitions, amusements, and information and food stalls. If you want to hire a stall at Fair Day, contribute to organising Tamworth Pride or march with the 78ers contact Bob Harvey on bobharvey69@icloud.com   From left: Bob Harvey, Greg Reading and Barry Charles at the 2019 Mardi Gras Parade. Photo courtesy of Greg Reading. WorldPride NYC June 2019 Marking 50 years since the Stonewall uprising, New York City hosted 2019 WorldPride. On Sunday 30 June, about 25 78ers, with partners, family and friends led the 200-strong Sydney contingent in the march. It was huge and went for 12 hours with 100,000 marchers and 3.5 million spectators! There were many other events, including a Human Rights Conference, exhibitions, Governor’s reception and star-studded opening and closing ceremonies. Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras sponsored Maurice Goldberg and Matthew Aberline's Live 4 Love installation at the Oculus building and blow-up sections were carried in the march.   78ers leading the Sydney contingent in the World Pride march in New York. Photo: Matt Akerston. London Pride July 2019 On Saturday 6 July, a small but enthusiastic group, organised by Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, marched in London Pride. Marchers included 78ers, Mardi Gras Board members and volunteers and Aussies living in London. The contingent featured sections of the Live 4 Love installation and banners promoting Mardi Gras’ bid to host 2023 WorldPride in Sydney.   London Pride Sydney contingent. Photo: William Brougham.   Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras – Bid for 2023 WorldPride in Sydney WorldPride is the largest gathering of LGBTQI communities globally, and is held every two years in a host city. If Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is successful in its pitch to InterPride – the international association of pride organisations that decides the location – it will be the first time WorldPride is held in the Southern Hemisphere. 2023 is the 45thanniversary of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and the 50th anniversary of the first nationally coordinated LGBTIQ demonstrations in Australia.  WorldPride 2023 would include major events (in addition to the Mardi Gras season's usual events) such as an 80,000-person daytime pride march, an international LGBTQI human rights conference and a Bondi Beach concert for 30,000 people. The bid’s outcome will be decided by InterPride member organisations at the AGM in Athens in October 2019. Mardi Gras Board Member and 78er Robyn Kennedy is part of the committee leading the bid process and will be speaking about the bid at the next First Mardi Gras Inc. General Meeting on Saturday 7 September, 2019. The next First Mardi Gras Inc. General Meeting is being held on Saturday 7 September, 2 - 4pm at East Sydney Arts and Community Centre, corner Burton and Palmer Streets Darlinghurst. Social Dinner Tuesday 27 August Our Social Dinners have been in hiatus over the winter months but we are planning a dinner on Tuesday 27 August at 6.30pm at Paddo RSL, 220 Oxford St Paddington. To join us, contact Rebbell Barnes on rebbellabarnes@gmail.com or just turn up. Did you know 78ers are eligible for Lifetime Membership of Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras with no membership fees? SGLMG opens applications for Lifetime Membership each year around July/August, with the applicatons approved at the SGLMG AGM later in the year.   Keep an eye out for the applications to open or email 78ers@mardigrasarts.org.au to find out more details. Paper Tigers Exhibition: posters from the long 70s The National Art School Gallery in Darlinghurst is holding this exhibition from 30 August to 12 October. The exhibition examines the dynamic, street-level convergence of cultural activity and social activism reflected in Sydney's mostly hand-printed posters of the late 60s, 70s and early 80s (the long 70s).  The 1970s was an important time of out and loud gay and lesbian activism in Sydney and this story is told in the exhibition. The Sydney Bi+ Network is a recently formed grassroots organisation dedicated to improving the wellbeing of bisexual/pansexual/multi-gender attracted people across Sydney. On 22 September at 2pm they will be hosting an event at Redfern Town Hall called BiLines – a storytelling event followed by a panel discussion. Facebook event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/610000086154899/ If you are interested please contact the Sydney Bi+ Network: Email: syd.bi.network@gmail.com  Website: sydneybiplusnetwork.org

3CR Radical Radio: Stonewall 50th anniversary