Chantel Henwood
Vulnerability
Feature
Violence on Oxford Street: Can you heal among the people who hurt you? Sydney’s Mardi Gras has a violent history and this violence remains entangled within the lives of LGBTIQ+ people to this day.
by Chantel Henwood
SOURCE: Fairfax
Police brutality, political injustice and violence. These things are not often associated with the festival that sprinkles biodegradable glitter through Sydney’s streets each year. However, Sydney’s Mardi Gras festival has deep roots in protest, and these three themes remain entangled within the lives of LGBTIQ+ people to this day. The origins of Mardi Gras have a historical significance in the fight for LGBTIQ+ equality. With the first march In June 1978, 26 years before homosexuality would be legal in Australia. The group marched in solidarity with the San Francisco Freedom Day Committee fighting a bill that would allow schools to fire LGBTIQ+ teachers in Californian state schools for “advocating, imposing, encouraging or promoting” homosexual activity. However, when their parade permit was revoked, attendees were met with violence at the hands of police, brutally beating and arresting 53 demonstrators.
If this seems familiar, you may be aware of the group Pride in Protest who have been vocal about their rejection of the bill submitted by One Nation NSW leader Mark Latham. If passed, the Bill will prevent teachers from educating students on the existence of trans and gender diverse identities, and could revoke the teaching license of those who support trans and gender diverse students. The group made headlines when NSW Police revoked a permit for a Mardi Gras alternative event bringing the festival back to its protests roots. After pressure from the LGBTIQ+ community, an appearance in court, and overwhelming public support from The Greens, Labor and Independent MP’s, NSW Health granted an exemption allowing the event to go forward. Despite a strong and intimidating police presence, an estimated 3,000+ people attended and marched through Oxford Street, demanding an end to LGBTIQ+ injustice. 51
