From protest to party

Forty years of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras

By Anni Turnbull

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The year 2018 marks the 40th anniversary since the first Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, which started as a gay rights protest parade. Now the parade and associated arts festival is a much anticipated and accepted part of Sydney’s annual festival line-up. It attracts thousands of international and national tourists.

Although some of the parade floats carry political messages, Mardi Gras is now more celebration than political protest.

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Item 17: Ron Muncaster, entry no. 22, 4 March 2006 / photograph by Geoff Friend

 

Item 17: Ron Muncaster, entry no. 22, 4 March 2006 / photograph by Geoff Friend {"type":"image","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/collection-items\/item-17-ron-muncaster-entry-no-22-4-march-2006-photograph-geoff-friend","thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073351?itok=pz2IGXPx","thumbnailLarge":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073351?itok=HuJHRd2J","mediaDerivativeUrls":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073351?itok=pz2IGXPx","large":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073351?itok=HuJHRd2J","responsive__quarter_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__quarter_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073351?itok=fO9dpj_i","responsive__half_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__half_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073351?itok=CUy0zf-E","responsive__full_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__full_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073351?itok=9Sk5IUFy"},"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/digital.sl.nsw.gov.au\/delivery\/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=FL6073351&dps_func=stream","mediaMime":"image\/jpeg","transcriptUrl":null,"width":"1024","height":"683"}
Call # 9590834
Digital ID: 
IE6073344
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Item 05: John Howard parody on board Ship of Fools float, entry no. 2, 4 March 2006 / photograph by Geoff Friend.

Item 05: John Howard parody on board Ship of Fools float, entry no. 2, 4 March 2006 / photograph by Geoff Friend {"type":"image","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/collection-items\/item-05-john-howard-parody-board-ship-fools-float-entry-no-2-4-march-2006","thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073303?itok=tiDb9Tl5","thumbnailLarge":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073303?itok=I-W_8P1C","mediaDerivativeUrls":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073303?itok=tiDb9Tl5","large":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073303?itok=I-W_8P1C","responsive__quarter_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__quarter_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073303?itok=CX7VICre","responsive__half_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__half_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073303?itok=BI4zMKMV","responsive__full_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__full_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073303?itok=DgwWaAAE"},"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/digital.sl.nsw.gov.au\/delivery\/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=FL6073303&dps_func=stream","mediaMime":"image\/jpeg","transcriptUrl":null,"width":"1024","height":"683"}
Call # 9590822
Digital ID: 
IE6073296
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Item 14: New South Wales Police, entry no. 15, 4 March 2006 / photograph by Geoff Friend

Item 14: New South Wales Police, entry no. 15, 4 March 2006 / photograph by Geoff Friend {"type":"image","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/collection-items\/item-14-new-south-wales-police-entry-no-15-4-march-2006-photograph-geoff-friend","thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073431?itok=l-EpCHyX","thumbnailLarge":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073431?itok=ofa-NZss","mediaDerivativeUrls":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073431?itok=l-EpCHyX","large":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073431?itok=ofa-NZss","responsive__quarter_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__quarter_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073431?itok=-_oVN-mX","responsive__half_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__half_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073431?itok=mETZ0UX4","responsive__full_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__full_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073431?itok=C48T4wS6"},"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/digital.sl.nsw.gov.au\/delivery\/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=FL6073431&dps_func=stream","mediaMime":"image\/jpeg","transcriptUrl":null,"width":"1024","height":"683"}
Call # 9590831
Digital ID: 
IE6073424
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Item 18: Renny Roccon: Fairy Bread Man, entry no. 23, 4 March 2006 / photograph by Geoff Friend

 

Item 18: Renny Roccon: Fairy Bread Man, entry no. 23, 4 March 2006 / photograph by Geoff Friend {"type":"image","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/collection-items\/item-18-renny-roccon-fairy-bread-man-entry-no-23-4-march-2006-photograph-geoff","thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073183?itok=mLCey6yX","thumbnailLarge":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073183?itok=AKgHP9LX","mediaDerivativeUrls":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073183?itok=mLCey6yX","large":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073183?itok=AKgHP9LX","responsive__quarter_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__quarter_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073183?itok=0MSlzwvY","responsive__half_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__half_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073183?itok=SKRZxylq","responsive__full_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__full_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073183?itok=UKPf4MO6"},"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/digital.sl.nsw.gov.au\/delivery\/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=FL6073183&dps_func=stream","mediaMime":"image\/jpeg","transcriptUrl":null,"width":"683","height":"1024"}
Call # 9590835
Digital ID: 
IE6073176
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About this item: 

Item 06: Young children in the I Believe: Rainbow Babies and Kids group, entry no. 3, 4 March 2006 / photograph by Geoff Friend

Item 06: Young children in the I Believe: Rainbow Babies and Kids group, entry no. 3, 4 March 2006 / photograph by Geoff Friend {"type":"image","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/collection-items\/item-06-young-children-i-believe-rainbow-babies-and-kids-group-entry-no-3-4-march","thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073151?itok=SgAjg0lS","thumbnailLarge":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073151?itok=nDxB3aYu","mediaDerivativeUrls":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073151?itok=SgAjg0lS","large":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073151?itok=nDxB3aYu","responsive__quarter_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__quarter_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073151?itok=Svf0tV7D","responsive__half_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__half_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073151?itok=JAALd32V","responsive__full_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__full_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073151?itok=CzT1aAHH"},"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/digital.sl.nsw.gov.au\/delivery\/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=FL6073151&dps_func=stream","mediaMime":"image\/jpeg","transcriptUrl":null,"width":"1024","height":"683"}
Call # 9590823
Digital ID: 
IE6073144
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About this item: 

Copyright status: In copyright - Life of photographer plus 70 years
Copyright holder: Geoff Friend
Approval for reproduction required: Please acknowledge: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy Geoff Friend

Item 23: Parade participants in IKEA hardhats and 'Proudly Supporting Diversity' T-shirts, 4 March 2006 / photograph by Geoff Friend {"type":"image","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/collection-items\/item-23-parade-participants-ikea-hardhats-and-proudly-supporting-diversity-t-shirts","thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073335?itok=0ARlVzfL","thumbnailLarge":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073335?itok=0-xqfnqA","mediaDerivativeUrls":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073335?itok=0ARlVzfL","large":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073335?itok=0-xqfnqA","responsive__quarter_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__quarter_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073335?itok=KH3U1s0O","responsive__half_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__half_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073335?itok=jP-rj_h9","responsive__full_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__full_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073335?itok=voYpdXim"},"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/digital.sl.nsw.gov.au\/delivery\/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=FL6073335&dps_func=stream","mediaMime":"image\/jpeg","transcriptUrl":null,"width":"683","height":"1024"}
Call # 9590840
Digital ID: 
IE6073328
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About this item: 

Item 35: Miss Wagga Wagga, entry no. 68, 4 March 2006 / photograph by Geoff Friend

Item 35: Miss Wagga Wagga, entry no. 68, 4 March 2006 / photograph by Geoff Friend {"type":"image","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/collection-items\/item-35-miss-wagga-wagga-entry-no-68-4-march-2006-photograph-geoff-friend","thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073399?itok=4xGV_nDL","thumbnailLarge":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073399?itok=EypnBNwV","mediaDerivativeUrls":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073399?itok=4xGV_nDL","large":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073399?itok=EypnBNwV","responsive__quarter_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__quarter_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073399?itok=8zcfkWxl","responsive__half_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__half_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073399?itok=pyq-QscT","responsive__full_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__full_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073399?itok=zilwBDs6"},"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/digital.sl.nsw.gov.au\/delivery\/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=FL6073399&dps_func=stream","mediaMime":"image\/jpeg","transcriptUrl":null,"width":"683","height":"1024"}
Call # 9590852
Digital ID: 
IE6073392
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About this item: 

Item 08: Sydney Stingers Water Polo Team, entry no. 5, 4 March 2006 / photograph by Geoff Friend

Item 08: Sydney Stingers Water Polo Team, entry no. 5, 4 March 2006 / photograph by Geoff Friend {"type":"image","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/collection-items\/item-08-sydney-stingers-water-polo-team-entry-no-5-4-march-2006-photograph-geoff","thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073223?itok=ms94DqOE","thumbnailLarge":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073223?itok=FAZByg59","mediaDerivativeUrls":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073223?itok=ms94DqOE","large":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073223?itok=FAZByg59","responsive__quarter_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__quarter_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073223?itok=LRr5nQGE","responsive__half_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__half_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073223?itok=CxpIPBWC","responsive__full_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__full_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073223?itok=Avm0W8gf"},"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/digital.sl.nsw.gov.au\/delivery\/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=FL6073223&dps_func=stream","mediaMime":"image\/jpeg","transcriptUrl":null,"width":"1024","height":"683"}
Call # 9590825
Digital ID: 
IE6073216
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Item 01: Dykes on Bikes warm-up event, 4 March 2006 / photograph by Geoff Friend

Item 01: Dykes on Bikes warm-up event, 4 March 2006 / photograph by Geoff Friend {"type":"image","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/collection-items\/item-01-dykes-bikes-warm-event-4-march-2006-photograph-geoff-friend","thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073215?itok=FnMiEGeK","thumbnailLarge":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073215?itok=V1wQT8So","mediaDerivativeUrls":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073215?itok=FnMiEGeK","large":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073215?itok=V1wQT8So","responsive__quarter_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__quarter_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073215?itok=UCZ-iG1P","responsive__half_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__half_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073215?itok=oynCHVCA","responsive__full_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__full_hd\/slnswrosetta\/FL6073215?itok=kR3ekHZv"},"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/digital.sl.nsw.gov.au\/delivery\/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=FL6073215&dps_func=stream","mediaMime":"image\/jpeg","transcriptUrl":null,"width":"1024","height":"683"}
Call # 9590817
Digital ID: 
IE6073208
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Mardi Gras is now celebrated in early March but the original protest took place on June 24, 1978. On this day more than 500 activists took to Taylor Square in Darlinghurst in support and celebration of New York's Stonewall movement. The protest called for an end to discrimination and criminalisation of homosexual acts. This peaceful movement ended in violent mass arrests and public shaming at the hands of the police, government and media.

At the time, the Sydney Morning Herald reported the names, addresses and professions of people arrested. In some instances, protesters lost jobs and homes. For some individuals, the trauma ended in suicide.

The original protesters, known as the ‘78ers, received a formal apology in NSW Parliament on Thursday, 26 February 2016 over the discrimination they suffered at Sydney's first Mardi Gras in 1978.

“For the mistreatment you suffered that evening, I apologise and I say sorry,” said Bruce Notley-Smith, the member for Coogee, as he moved the motion of apology in the NSW Legislative Assembly.

Caption Item 08: Peter 'Bon' Bonsall-Boone (left) and Peter de Waal, both in orange shirts, listening to Members of Parliament endorse the apology in the Legislative Assembly, NSW Parliament House, Sydney, 25 February 2016 / photograph by Geoff Friend ,
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A week later the NSW Police and the Sydney Morning Herald apologised for the violence and hurt they inflicted on the 1978 protestors.

The forty years since the original parade have seen a gradual yet significant shift in legal rights and social acceptance for the LGBTQI+ community.

The Library holds significant photographic, manuscript, poster, serial and oral history material relating to the history of the gay rights movement. This includes archives from organisations such as the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, Lesbians on the Loose and Blackout.  The personal papers of activists Dorothy McRae McMahon, John Jenner, Stephen Auburn, Craig Johnston and Garry Wotherspoon have also been collected by the Library.

Anni Turnbull, Curator, Research and Discovery, State Library of NSW

Love letters

In the current era of instant digital communication, letters between long-distance lovers have a particular poignancy.