Hundreds gather against family law changes

Lynda Hansen, Brisbane

Participants in the annual Pride rally at King George Square on June 12 had plenty to be angry about. The event followed the announcement of the federal government's intention to exclude same-sex couples from the definition of marriage (backed by the Labor Party) and the reactionary response to a recent episode of the ABC children's show Play School, in which a girl visited an amusement park with her two mums.

Queensland Pride started 15 years ago, and has continued to create a voice for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.

The rally was chaired by long-time GLBT community activist Gai Lemon, who encouraged the 350-strong crowd to write letters to politicians about the family law changes. Speakers included solicitor Denise Maxwell and Carmen Parsons from the Action Reform Group, who stated that GLBT rights have been systemically eroded over the last few years.

Three young activists from Open Doors, a GLBT support and advocacy group for young people, told their individual coming-out stories to the roaring cheers of the crowd. Roddy Goodbun, president of the QLD AIDS (QUAC) council, explained QUAC's serious funding problem.

Goodbun read a list of crimes against humanity by the government, including the refugee "children overboard" issue and the illegal occupation of Iraq, to draw attention to the ongoing attacks against people in Australia and overseas. He emphasised the importance of seeing the bigger picture, not just issues that directly affect the GLBT community.

Goodbun told Green Left Weekly that "what people need to take away from Pride today is to get active and inspired to continue campaigning for equality for GLBT rights".

[Lynda Hansen is the Socialist Alliance candidate for the federal seat of Griffith.]

From Green Left Weekly, June 23, 2004.

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From GLW issue 586