Call for lesbian and gay men to fight Howard's attacks
By Samantha Lazzaro and Nick Everett
BRISBANE — Four hundred people rallied here on June 29 as part of the annual Pride Festival. The theme of this year's rally and festival was "One Community" in recognition of the lesbian and gay communities' support of people living with HIV and AIDS.
The One Community campaign was launched by the Queensland Aids Council on June 1 in conjunction with Queensland Positive People.
Queensland Association for Lesbian and Gay Rights (QALGR) spokesperson Shane Wilde condemned the Howard government's funding cuts to services on which the lesbian and gay community depend. He also criticised the proposed industrial relations changes, saying that they will have a negative impact on lesbians and gays in the workplace.
On cuts to Social Security and privatisation of CES case management, Wilde stated that lesbian and gay job seekers may now be the target of "conservative homophobic case managers who will not be bound by anti-discrimination legislation". Wilde also warned that planned federal industrial legislation will threaten the rights of lesbian and gay workers, who will no longer have the protection of the Industrial Relations Commission in cases of employer discrimination.
Wilde told the rally, "The lesbian and gay community now needs to stand behind the rights of trade unions in recognition of the assistance they have provided in winning anti-discrimination legislation for lesbians and gays". He urged people to participate in the ACTU-organised August 19 pre-budget rally and to attend a planning meeting, hosted by QALGR, in response to the Senate Inquiry on Sexuality Discrimination on July 23 at Queensland AIDS Council.
Speaking on behalf of the Community and Public Sector Union's Lesbian and Gay Caucus, Jocelyn Gray argued that the community needs to "link up with other movements", such as the women's, trade union and environment movements. She sited the example of ACT UP in the United States, which has had a "radicalising influence" on the women's movement. "Linking queer activism with trade union activism will help build one community. We should not see ourselves as just queer activists but also social justice activists", she stated.
The rally was followed by a loud and proud march to Musgrave Park, where a fair was held. The crowd of around 2000 people were entertained by the Mint Patties, the Rainbow Boot Scooters and a Pet Show.