Last night, City of Sydney’s Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, joined state MP Alex Greenwich in the 45th Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, riding in an Audi A5 Cabriolet.

This year Sydney also hosts World Pride, making it a very big deal for the LGBTI community. The event started as a protest against the treatment of LGBTI citizens way back in 1978.

Bashings went uninvestigated and police harassment was common. Recently, the 1988 murder of a talented American-born mathematician, Scott Johnson was finally brought to an end. Scott was at a local beat, and was pushed or thrown from a cliff, to his death on the rocks below. For decades his death remained listed as suicide. Activism has since demanded more assiduous investigations, and many senseless acts of violence have warranted another look.

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ABOVE: 2023 Sydney gay and Lesbian Mardi gras –  Lord Mayor Clover Moore, Alex Greenwich MP (photos thanks to Clover Moore and Alex Greenwhich)

Mardi Gras and the Changing views on Homosexuality

That first rag-tag “Mardi Gras” protest has developed into Australia’s largest LGBTI event, and one of the biggest in the world. Those brave pioneers are now known as the ‘78ers.

Mardi Gras now has state and corporate sponsors, with participants including dancers, performers, LGTBI friends and family, members of the armed forces, and perhaps more importantly, police and politicians. It was the latter who were once responsible for the very carnage against which the first protest took place. Forgive, just do not forget.

Community standards have changed, and with sympathetic politicians and active lobbying, laws changed to decriminalise homosexuality, and outlaw bigotry and homophobia. First, sexual acts between consenting adult men were decriminalised, followed 30 years later by the legalization of same sex marriage, a proud day for us all.

New South Wales may now be the known as the centre of gay Australia, but it wasn’t always so progressive. Queensland, where I was born, was even worse, and in fact, was openly hostile. The religious-extremist ultra-right conservative Premier, Joh Bjelke-Petersen passed legislation to “ban sexual deviants” from being served drinks in bars. That is hardly conducive to meaningful and lasting change, and after he was discarded, a Labor government set about mending the relationship with the LGBTI community.

Anti-Homosexuality legislation was gradually removed from Australian statutes, with South Australia leading the way in 1975. The ACT followed soon after, then Victoria in 1980, the NT in 1983, NSW in 1984, WA and QLD in 1990, and finally Tasmania in 1997. As an ex-Queenslander, for half of my life I was effectively illegal.

The Current Times

Lord Mayor Clover Moore is a long-time supporter of the LGBTI community, and of Mardi Gras and its events. She has a long history with the parade, marching when no other politicians would. Alex Greenwich is one of several gay politicians currently serving, but is arguably better known for his LGBTI activism prior to taking the state seat of Sydney. Both are independent of party politics, which allows the pair to champion causes free of lobbyist influence.

Each year, a marque generously makes a car available for Clover and Alex to ride in. Past supporters include Renault, Holden, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi. It is Audi who was able to provide a carriage this year.

Our thanks extend to Audi, and in particular, Claudia Muller, for an outstanding effort and for their Audi A5 Cabriolet.

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