The rally started outside Gloria Jeans, in response to the
company’s support for Mercy Ministries which separates female couples and
promotes male control of female bodies. Rather than engage with their critics,
Gloria Jeans shut for the night, and activists wondered if they could chase it
out of Newtown
like they did McDonald’s.
Karl Hand from the MCC (Metropolitan Community
Church) apologised for
homophobia perpetrated by the Christian churches, and pointed out that such
hatred is not Christian. Greens Senator Kerry Nettle emphasised the importance
of equality under the law, including the current taboo territory of marriage.
Rachel Evans from Socialist Alliance, reflecting on Rudd’s “honeymoon
period”, said, “We’d like a honeymoon of our own!” adding, “We
don’t want to mimic marriage, we just want the real thing!”
Rachel also told the rally of the release, a mere 30 minutes
earlier, of queer refugee Ali Humayun, locked up in Immigration Detention for
over three years and freed after a year-long public campaign by CAAH (Community
Action Against Homophobia).
The rally then proceeded down King Street to the I Have a
Dream mural, where 78-er (from the first Mardi Gras rally in 1978) Irene
Doutney addressed the crowd, pointing out how many countries still persecute
gay people, many with the death penalty. Chris Harris,
Greens Councillor of the City of Sydney,
spoke of his Council’s support for the GLBTIQ (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual,
Transgender/Transsexual, Intersex/Intergender, and Queer/Questioning)
community, including recently reinstating the GLBTIQ Community Liaison Officer.
This writer then addressed the crowd with an “I have a dream” speech,
pointing out how far the dream had come true, and urging all to keep dreaming
and working for a more humane society, free of discrimination based on sex,
gender, or sexuality.
Finally, Principal
Gould of Macquarie Grammar Private School proudly spoke of his school’s
non-discriminatory policies, and exhorted others to do no less.
Some governments are now moving to redress anti-gay
discrimination, but the laws are not yet passed, and marriage remains
forbidden, according to both of the old parties (ALP and Liberal) so rallies
like this are important to charge up energy for change.
Source:
South Sydney Herald June 2008 www.southsydneyherald.com.au