Barbra Q stirs a storm

Barbra Q stirs a storm

By Mark Urban

MELBOURNE — Shane Tonks alias drag performer Barbra Quicksand, is running for inner-city Albert Park in the Victorian elections as a gay, independent candidate. His relatively high media profile is stirring a storm in parts of the gay and lesbian movement.

The Gay and Electoral Lobby has achieved nothing, says Barbra. The founders of the group are ALP sympathisers, and it is a "bridesmaid of the ALP". Barbra wants to "divorce the lesbian and gay vote from the ALP", and his campaign has mobilised a group of people who have not been political before, he says.

Barbra decided to run because he was angry with the ALP government's handling of an Equal Opportunity Act amendment on sexuality. The amendment, which would add gays and lesbians to the categories covered by the act, was handled cynically by the party, which ensured its failure by tabling it the day before parliament was dissolved.

Barbra doesn't claim to represent the entire gay and lesbian community, but says there is a lot of support for an openly gay/lesbian candidate. No such candidate was forthcoming from the gay media, gay health networks or community groups, he says.

Barbra's platform includes gay/lesbian HIV issues, housing, health care, the environment, public transport, homelessness, education, human rights and opposition to privatisation.

Barbra has attracted quite a bit of attention from the mainstream media, although "some media have made up their minds from day one about lesbian/gay issues". He says the gay press has tended to misrepresent him, largely through error and omission.

Barbra hopes his campaign will encourage other openly gay/lesbian candidates in the future.

From GLW issue 72