wended my way into the city, with Gill and Barbara, to find where I my
'staging area' was, I was thinking back 30 years... I've said the story
before...but for those who haven't heard/read it before it's here:
Anyway, I was thinking back to what exactly happened on that night that
catalysed a city (and finally became the astonishing event of last
Saturday night). People marched for a reason, they were set upon (not by
rabid pseudo-Unionists [as in the Kings Cross evictions of the 1970's],
or criminals [as in the bashing of Craig Gee and his partner about 3
months ago]) but by the establishment in a sanctioned ambush of a
peaceful march.
I spent the 2 hours before last Saturday's march ferreting out friends
and compatriots in the staging areas, all along Elizabeth Street, whilst
a large number of the 78ers took respite in the ACON building in
Commonwealth Street. Mind you, getting from one side of the Liverpool St
intersection to the other was an adventure in beauracracy. I was talking
to Michale Primrose (another '78er, from Sydney Leather Pride, who was
at the Leather Pride staging area) and we both noted wryly that it was
easier to get into the first parade (though the ending would be
significantly different tonight). Still, I made sure that I took the
time to see what had blossomed from the seed of that first march. The
150 groups who marched on Saturday night were as diverse as we all were,
they stood for the same things, perhaps even moreso because so much time
has passed and there is still an equality to be achieved. These people
have managed to grow up in a climate which is suitably less restrictive
than we did (though some things still haven't changed due to religious
and political narrow-mindedness and opposition). Most people in this
city now have a firmly entrenched and visible (not to mention openly
active and supportive) Queer community, which is not hidden away in
shuttered clandestine meeting halls or back room bars. I marvelled at
the amount of preparation which had gone into each and every group I
saw... and finally ran into the rest of the 78ers, as they came down
from ACON, to take our place at the front of the march, much as we did
10 years ago for the 20th Anniversary.
I am still somewhat numbed by the response we received.
We forged up Liverpool Street to a deafening volume of cheers and
whistles. Every Parade Official and Marshall stopped to cheer us on and
applaud. I turned to Katrina and Kimberly, who were next to me, and said
that I just didn't believe it. We spent the next moment turning into
Oxford Street, which seemed a bit subdued in lighting to me, and then
the entire street roared. There was not a person who wasn't cheering for
us. Glancing behind us I could see that it was indeed for us, as the
organisers had left a suitable gap between us and the next entry, so it
wasn't for anyone behind us (I thought it might be for Margaret Cho as
well, who was on the seond float). So many people yelling 'Thank You',
every official still applauding us. Katrina (ever the rebel) nudged me
and said "Remember 10 years ago? The Sit-in Protest? Should we?" I
couldn't resist - "Damned right we should!" (so blame her ;)). We forged
up Oxford Street, paying homage to those establishments which are still
around, and some which aren't: Patches (now DCM), The Exchange Hotel,
Fitness First Gym (now Kings Steam and 34b Oxford Street), Tropicana
(now The [Midnight] Shift), Cappriccios (now NV and The Banta Room),
Club 80, Flo's Palace (now The Den), Stonewall, The Oxford Hotel, and
then came Taylor Square.
Halfway across the square, in front of the huge video-wall, and in front
of the world's media, we put the banner down, sat on the street and
started chanting: "Keep your laws off our bodies! Keep your laws off our
bodies!". I swear, the Parade co-ordinator must have had palpitations,
as this was NOT in the schedule. However, as we stopped and sat, Taylor
Square went into meltdown. The press went mad getting shots, the
marshalls and officials 'got it' and went crazy. The homage was to the
reason the parade was there in the first place. It was civil
disobedience and a pointed reminder that we still need to have changes
enacted for the equality we were marching for 30 years ago. I don't know
if the point got across, but it was made nonetheless. In the middle of
the chanting a Parade Security official came up to beside where we were,
looked over at me, turned to their offsider and said: "Damn! It's him,
we can't stop them from doing it." Smiled and walked away. Kinda nice to
be royalty for one night. :)
Then we stood up, and marched the rest of the way, hearing cheers it was
remarkably hard to distinguish one from the other, except for the odd,
clear, "Thank You!" turning down toward the Albion Street intersection
were the first of the paid viewing stands, with announcers for the
crowd. These people understood. Whereas some people may have thought
that we were marching FOR the '78ers, these people knew we WERE the
'78ers. That's when I almost lost it. En masse the people sitting in the
stands rose and gave us a thunderous standing ovation as we passed. I
still can't find the words to express what I was feeling at that moment.
Still can't.
I'm still a little choked by it all, actually. I think it then sunk in
that this was what we caused from the events of 30 years ago. This
astonishing change to the climate of this city. This was further
reinforced by 2 marching groups later in the parade (as we watched from
our area near the BGF stands). High School students marching openly IN
uniform. This was the generation we had spawned. This was actually our
legacy. It was not only our night to reflect and revel in what has
grown, but this was THEIR night, marching openly in a city which
accepted them so much more than they did us, and doubly humbling to me,
as these students were the age I was in the first march. Only,
thankfully, they have a very different ending to their first parade -
and so they should.
I didn't get a chance to dash back and re-march with Bi-NSW and/or with
Sydney Leather Pride. Even though my sash (Proud '78er) could get me
pretty much anywhere... I had my bit.. and re-marching with the other
groups would probably have been more for my ego... and to be honest I
felt it not appropriate. Other 78ers were in Leather Pride and that was
enough, and Bi-NSW? They had people there too... so to be honest, I was
more than happy to watch them stream by and cheer them on. We started
it, and they happily finished it.
I'll be back next year to march again, with Leather Pride, and/or with
Bi-Australia/NSW. AND in 10 years time (barring acts of the Gods and
aberrations of Parliament) I'll still be here - marching for the 40th
Anniversary of our coming of age. For those who came and watched, and
those who marched in our wake (not just on Saturday night, but
throughout the past 30 years)....
Thank you.
--
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