Where were they before and how can they be identified? Because male homosexuality was criminalised, much can be discovered from the press and crime reports. Still, Australian queer people did not suddenly emerge in the 1960s and 70s, the years of gay liberation. Being on the front page of the newspaper no longer meant you might be going to jail. Part of the power of Mardi Gras for older generations was that it removed queer sexualities from the “secret” confines of semi-legal bar and club locations and private parties to the public street. The public face of Mardi Gras, which began in 1978 with a protest parade, is remarkable in a nation that has been deeply prejudiced toward gay and lesbian people. It’s not quite the same in the era of COVID, but a contained version of the famous street parade will be beamed into living rooms on Saturday. LGBTQI people are enjoying what some call “gay or lesbian Christmas”.
It’s Sydney Lesbian and Gay Mardi Gras festival time.
