A snap action called to protest NSW Police raids on gay bars in Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, drew 100 people to Taylor Square on September 20.
The Cops Out of Gay Bars action was called after police, with sniffer dogs, raided gay bars on the queer strip twice in three months, intimidating people and carrying out strip searches under the pretext of looking for drugs.
In the first raid on June 13, one person was found with drugs. No one was charged with possession of drugs on the second raid on September 12. Queer rights activist Rachel Evans, one of the organisers, said over the two raids, 158 patrons were searched, 70 drug detections were made and one charge of supply was laid.
The rally heard from First Nations person Carolyn Ienna, Dennis Newsome, drag performer Kiama Blowhole, Timothy Roberts from NSW Council for Civil Liberties, Jonny Hawkins, writer and DJ and advocate for Divine Playhouse, Mark Gillespie, a ‘78er, Taite Collins, partner of slain man Collin Burling, Izabella Antoniou, Greens Inner West Councillor. Evans and Newsome MCed the protest.