Letters to the Editor
SERIOUS THREAT
How things have changed in 30 years. Or have they?
In 1978 police arrested 56 people, marching for the right to freedom, at the first Mardi Gras. In 2009 police arrested 18 people inside Sleaze Ball. While those 56 arrests laid the foundation for the Mardi Gras we have today, how much longer is our community is going to support dance parties that are now open slather for police with sniffer dogs.
The NSW Ombudsman has reported on the ineffectiveness of this approach to drug control. On a weekend when a police officer is critically injured and a glassing is reported at a gay venue, I question police tactics and the use of taxpayer money at a private event.
Mardi Gras has faced serious crises during its 30 years, but this one has the potential to take down the organisation once and for all. As important as having significant state government funding is, there is no guarantee it will continue.
I hope the board of New Mardi Gras is taking seriously this threat to one of the main sources of serious income for the organisation, and a central part of Mardi Gras’ events both financially and culturally, so they don’t continue to be jeopardised by unnecessary police action.
It raises the question: ‘What if they gave a party … and nobody came?’
— Murray McLachlan, President, Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, 1986-1989
SLEAZEY
Police with the power to request prescriptions and/or other ‘documentation’ from HIV postive people attending a dance party. Now that’s SLEAZEY!
Spectacular, New Mardi Gras. Whatever is next for the best gay destination in the world?
— Daniel
Legal Tent
I did not attend Sleaze Ball this year but I hear reports of illegal searches by aggressive police and, for the first time, physical searches by the security personnel at the party.
As dance parties have evolved, progressed, regressed and become part of mainstream society we are seeing more attempts by the police and their controllers to curtail these events (both gay and straight).
Being searched can be very invasive and intimidating and most partygoers are not aware of, or in a position to, act on their rights when confronted with aggressive police or security.
It is important to be aware of what rights security personnel and the police have with regard to physical searches of your person.
If you feel you were illegally searched, you should immediately consult a lawyer. If you were charged, you might have grounds for the case being dismissed and even you you were not charged there may be grounds for other action, including civil suits.
Maybe it is time legal services are supplied at the party. Along with the great work done by people such as the ACON drug rovers and the staff in the medical tent, it may be time to set up a legal advice tent as well.
Being searched, illegally or legally, not only destroys your night out but can cause anxiety and stress for weeks to come. Having legal advice and legal representation available at the party to help those having problems with the police or security could only be a step in the right direction.
It would be great to see lawyers, in and outside the party, who step in to represent people immediately they are confronted with the prospect of a search.
— Graham
CONGRATULATIONS
As the other Victorian entrant, and second placeholder in the competition [Mr Leather Australia New Zealand] I would like to congratulate Josh for a job well done and wish him well in all the preparations required for what will be a pretty full-on next level — being IML in Chicago next year.
It was a great competition to be a part of, and the day and a half spent with the other competitors before the night was a terrific opportunity to bond with like-minded men from across Australasia.
— Peter Fitzgerald (Laird Leather Man 2009)
Wow… you guys have got some great sides to this story but you all know that somewhere in the middle there has got to be some room for smooth sailing. I’m not gay, and I don’t agree with sniffer dogs in nightclubs or parties, or even the Mardi Gras… but the issue was a whole lot simpler before the new generation of nasty drugs like ice and ghb and similar stuff that has the potential to cause bad vibes, violence.. etc. Don’t worry about a legal tent.. you need your own party police to do the work for them to make sure that everyone is safe. So you need the police, and I’m pretty sure most of them would rather not crash your parties if they could spend their time catching people that are actually endangering lives… but can they leave anybody alone and trust that there will be no trouble? Unfortunately in this world human nature seems to dictate that when anyone has too much rope they snap and jerk on the end of it before too long. Make your own party police.. have strict rules (VOICE OF KINKO THE CLOWN: reeeeeeally reeeeeeeallly)… collect everyones ID as they walk in and give them a badge with a number… this way nobody can leave without getting the OK from the party police… the party police can find anyone really easily… and the boys in blue can easily find their “persons of interest” if they are looking for someone… party police eject anyone not wearing their number… give them good reasons not to have to police you and they may just pop in for a boogie at the end of their shifts… or then again, maybe I live in a fantasy land… but I have some gay friends that will party until they literally pass out or lie down on the footpath somewhere and have a nap… and I worry about them… back in my party days I was always the one that looked out for all my friends and we always avoided trouble… but there was usually some around if anyone was looking for it. There are good and bad straight people, good and bad gays, good and bad police, there are two flavors everywhere. Do you guys really believe you don’t have any rotten apples in the Mardi Gras barrel? If it’s true I’ll jump the fence.
Oh and Billy the last time I saw police on Oxford street in the last century they were in a group of twenty and had plenty of sniffer dogs with them.Looked like they were looking for an ecstasy tablet.I wonder if they found one?
Andy, what century are you living in???
andy
when you have been strip searched by two police in a locked disabled toilet, when the police hide their badges from you, when they will not let you stay and comfort or observe their behaviour to young and distressed patrons who are arrested and not yet proven of any misdemenour, when they illegally confiscate your sleaze ticket, and you have no recourse about it as Supt Adney denies publicly that what you saw ever took place, you might have a different opinion about policing
i dont get the msg you get, i get a different msg, that drugs are part of life across the straight and gay world
the right to self determination, in putting into and doing with my body what i choose, in a way that harms no one (drug dancing, not drug driving) is what a right i continue to claim
no one i think is saying drugs are mandatory but being realistic they have been round, in various forms, forever and are fun for many of us
the ex pres i think was saying that criminalising personal drug use is crap, and that an event like mardi gras or sleaze that has drug use and a zero tolerance policy at the same time is ulitmately contradicory, and in need of further complete explanation by NMG, and is a contradiction that ultimately could bring NMG down (yes, too many uses of the word Ultimately, but you get my point)
information, on policing, on agreed nmg and police protocols, on what to expect at the party, on what NMG can and cant say about policing, is not TOO much to ask is it, its simply information that an educated and adult member of the community , any community, deserves, a community member like me
and homo was illegal only 25 years ago in nsw, can we apply the comparison to drugs, a personal victimless choice?
and using the words Silent Majority, there is not any way of confirming what any silent majority thinks, so it is a bit meaningless to use that as support for your argument
and Billy, if i run with your example, of whats good for the body, then alcohol and ciggies and caffeine and prescribed drugs, those ‘sanctioned’ drugs would also be off the list. consistency is not too much to ask for
illegal doesnt mean wrong if it hurts no one
thx
Billy,, couldn’t agree more. But then, you and I possibly aren’t doing anything that could get us into trouble, so, I suppose you and I go to Sleaze worried only about how good it will be! The glowing message all too often in the community seems to scream out: “Its not just OK to take drugs, its MANDATORY, and so we should be free from Police hanging around us when we do (Oh, but Constable could you help our friend who just got bashed/stolen from/is missing etc etc!).
I’m over this sheep-like drug mentality, coz, I’m sorry kids, there are MANY more of us (GLBT’s) outside the pink triangle, and whether attached or single, we are doing well in life. Moderate to zero drugs, and happy to see the Police as a whole package. Not use them only for certain things, that’s just off. When a Mardi Gras past President makes a strong comment that he wants illegal activities to be ignored, many of us more silent majority simply walk away. I would hope he would report his stolen car to the train station or someone who’s services he does approve of.
I’ll get sniffed, searched, groped and felt up all over by a uniformed person thanks. (Hang on, didn’t that used to happen upstairs at the old Newtown and a few other places???? Seems it was ok then!!)
Seems the Police cant win,just a few months ago and all last year there were petitions running around to get more Police on Oxford Street,and when they start arresting drug users who happened to be gay theres an outcry.
No wonder they dont give a rats about the violence on Oxford Street,is a dammed if you do,damned if you dont.
Why do you need to take drugs to have a good time,is this good for your body?
Anyone who believes they were subject to an illegal or unnecessarily intrusive search should make a complaint to the Ombudsman. I understand this can be done anonymously if you wish. The same applies to any police behaviour experienced or otherwise witnessed that you found objectionable. Any partygoers who were unhappy with the level of policing or police attitudes or behaviour should write to their local MP particularly if prepared to put their name to a letter.
I was interested to read the statement of the Co-Chairs of Mardi Gras, including that the police had “violat[ed] the privacy of the medical area”.
“I did not attend Sleaze Ball this year but I hear…”
Love it.
Well I went to Sleaze and had a great night.
I agree the dogs are a waste of space, the politicians smoke and mirrors response to the public to show them that there tough on crime where the reality is our society is awash with drugs and they know they cant stop it.
But as for aggressive behaviour by the police… I didn’t get sniffed by a dog nor see any rude security or police. Just people having fun.