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ISSN 1446-4896

At our monthly membership meeting on Thursday 12 September Gay Solidarity Group voted to change its name to Lesbian and Gay Solidarity. Formed in early 1978, GSG has had women members for much of its life, though the original name was retained for historical reasons. The new name is meant to reflect and encourage increasing participation in the group by lesbians.

The outing by Queer Nation and ACT UP's protests against Franca Arena took place simultaneously by pure coincidence. At the sane time the local media, stimulated by news of overseas outings, were looking for a story. They eagerly pounced on Queer Nation, mixed up ACT UP with the whole business, conveniently ignored the facts, and indulged in yet more media queer bashing.

It is clear that sections of the gay and lesbian communities decided to run for cover while pointing a finger at Tony Westmore, willingly scapegoating him in a cowardly attempt to ward off the straight and gay media's ire.

A particularly vicious campaign is being carried out to crucify Tony Westmore. Gay businesses, more worried about money-making than about the interests of gay men and lesbians, have rushed to condemn the politics of outing. Pity they're never so upfront in other instances.

Whether we agree with Queer Nation's actions or not is irrelevent. What does matter is that we defend Tony Westmore from those who have other agendas than gay and lesbian rights, and from those who value maintaining a respectable look for consumption by a virulently homohating straight media above all else.

The Sydney Star Observer's role in the hounding of Tony is especially glaring. Its publication of Tony's place of employment was despicable.

In the past other organisations carried out their own outing campaigns. Except that then the straight media ignored them. It is hypocritical of them now not to come out and state their defense of Tony Westmore.

As all the facts come to light gay men, lesbians and other queers will remember those who, rather than close ranks in solidarity, chose to join in straight society's attack on queer militants.

"NO" TO ANTI-ABORTION BILL

Lesbian and gay activists swelled the ranks of the energetic march against Fred Nile's bid to restrict access to abortion on Saturday September 7. Toward the front of the 3000-strong march were banners from Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby, ACON Women, and Gay Solidarity. The ever-present black robes of the Order of Perpetual Indulgence attracted Sunday newspaper attention. Though the bill was shown to lack support in parliament on Thursday September 12, gay and lesbian groups intend to join the reproductive rights rally called for 11am Saturday September 28 at Sydney Town Hall.

The 13th Annual International Lesbian and Gay Conference, planned for June in Guadalajara in Mexico, was cancelled due to opposition from right-wing organisations, the mayor and the police in the city. An embarrassed Mexican government helped ILGA carry out an "unofficial" conference in Acapulco. Only 40 out of an expected 300 delegates managed to change their schedule and proceed to Acapulco.

On the 16 July the Tasmanian Upper House rejected legislation to repeal the state's anti-homosexual laws. However Tasmanian activists have not given up the fight. Public debate in the media is just as intense as ever. The defeat has also sparked off moves to reform the Upper House itself.

Following quickly on last year'a Sydney conference, the Melbourne conference (18 - 21 July) attracted 800 participants. The politics of sexuality was not touched on. However a workshop on the global politics of AIDS presented by Ken Davis provided a focus for gay and lesbian activists and others.

Once again a sizeable contingent of gay men and lesbians added to the numbers, colour and singing at the Hiroshima Day march and rally. Notwithstanding adverse international events (the imperialists' successes in the Gulf War; the USSR's falling in behind the USA) the number of demonstrators was not down on previous years' attendence.

The Enola Gay/OPI contingent made sure that gay and lesbian concerns as well as demands for money for AIDS, not for War were publicised. A popular chant, full of typical gay humour, was: Cruise for Men, not Cruise Missiles,

The New Left Party Gay and Lesbian Group organised a talk by Ken Davis (GSG) on South Africa. Ken talked about his visit there in June. He had been invited to participate in an AIDS conference organised by the Confederation of South African Trade Unions (COSATU). He also attended part of the ANC conference. While In South Africa he also had the opportunity to meet Simon Nkoli, founding member of GLOW - Gays and Lesbians of Witwatersrand. Simon will be in New Zealand early next year and we hope to have him visit Sydney end Melbourne.

On August 31 the Gay and Lesbian Holocaust Memorial Project organised an education Seminar on the origins of the pink triangle. Prof.Konrad Kweit (German Studies UNSW) talked about the Nazi treatment of homosexuals, Jews and others and about the history of the yellow and pink triangles. Kitty Fischer, a survivor of Auschwitz, talked about her experience and her unexpected encounter with a prisoner with a pink triangle. Bruce Grant gave a quick review of anti-violence work done by the GLRL and about the present anti-violence project.

Also on August 21st an inter-campus conference was organised for gay and lesbian tertiary students. Some of the workshops were: coming out; dealing with discrimination; ACT UP; coalition politics; anti-harrassment campaigns; gay studies; gays and lesbians from non-english speaking backgrounds. One hoped-for outcome will be increased co-operation among campuses. Another aim is to publish an inter-campus newsletter.

Following pressure from ACT UP and people with HIV/AIDS, the Anti-Discrimination Board agreed to carry out a survey of discrimination against people with HIV/AIDS. This had been resisted by both the ADB and the Attorney General. The ADB was forced to change its position after some embarrassing zaps by ACT UP.

the gay and lesbian organisations at Sydney University - FLOSS and GLOSS -organised a seminar on outing as part of a sexual orientation week. David Skidmore, a member of ISO (International Socialist Organisation) and LAGS (Lesbian and Gay Solidarity) was invited to speak on behalf of LAGS. The seminar took place on Monday 16 August.

Melbourne's monthly newsletter of gay and lesbian activism is available from PO Box 108 North Carlton VIC 3054 for $15 ($5 concession) for one year.

Contact Michael Aaronson by writing to GPO Box 3716 Sydney 2001 or phone 13 2222 and ask to page 810240.

LAGS meets every second Thursday of the month (i.e. once a month) at the Newtown Neighbourhood Centre opposite the station. Meetings are due: October 10 & November 14.

CURRENT NEWSLETTER AND ARCHIVE OF PREVIOUS NEWSLETTERS

Mannie has a personal web site: RED JOS: HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISM

Mannie's blogs may be accessed by clicking on to the following links:

MannieBlog (from 1 August 2003 to 31 December 2005)

Activist Kicks Backs - Blognow archive re-housed - 2005-2009

RED JOS BLOGSPOT (from January 2009 onwards)

This page updated 18 SEPTEMBER 2014 and again on 26 APRIL 2017

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