Gay history call-out

Gay history call-out

The Pride History Group will celebrate the 40th anniversary of Australia’s gay and lesbian movement with a special conference in September.

Into The Streets, to be held at the University of Technology on September 24-25, will examine the history, politics and evolution of the queer movement in Australia.

Pride History Group wants to hear from people who would like to present a paper or speak at the conference.

info: Visit www.pridehistorygroup.org.au or email Pride History Group before June 30 to express your interest.

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One response to “Gay history call-out”

  1. Australian Gay Rights Timeline Written By Gay Activist Paul Mitchell:

    1788 English imperialism meant that we “inherited” the sodomy law [called “buggery”]; gay men were put to death in Australia until 1900 (under the NSW Crimes Act 1900 No 40). NOTE: Lesbianism was never a criminal offence in the English Empire – because Queens Victoria “did not believe that women did such things”.

    1900 gay male sex was reformed under the law from the death penalty to life imprisonment.

    1950 gay male sex was reformed under the law from life imprisonment to just 25 years imprisonment.

    In 1969 Stonewall riots in New York City made news in the gay community here in Australia.

    In 1972 gay male sex was made legal in SA under the “great reformer” Don Dunstan – age of consent equal at 16.

    In 1975 campaign for moral persecution (CAMP) formed in other states/territories to get rid of oppressive laws against gay male sex.

    In 1978 the ACT gay male sex was made legal – age of consent equal at 16.

    In 1981 Victoria gay male sex was made legal – under a Liberal Government (but with an unequal age of consent set at 18). [Almost 30 years ago]

    1982 NSW becomes the first state to outlaw discrimination on the basis of homosexuality. In 1984 after a 6 year long Mardi Grass campaign gay male sex made legal (but with an unequal age of consent set at 18 proposed by the Illawarra member who was a hypocrite). The Northern Territory gay male sex made legal (also with an unequal age of consent)

    1986 HIV/AIDS kills millions worldwide regardless of sexuality or/and gender to the present time in 2010. NOTE: HIV is not a “gay disease”.

    1990 Both Western Australia (with an unequal age of consent set at 21) and Queensland gay male sex made legal. [20 years ago]

    1994 the ACT becomes the first place in Australia to recognize same sex couples in property and inheritance law and the Keating Labor government passes a sexual privacy law to override the Tasmanian section 123 of the criminal code.

    1995 most states (except Victoria and Western Australia) have anti-discrimination laws on the basis of sexual orientation/gender identity.

    1997 Victoria equalizes the age of consent for gay men and Tasmania after an 8 year debate finally repeals section 123 of the criminal code and allows gay male sex.

    1999 Both NSW and Queensland recognize same sex couples in property and inheritance law.

    2000 Victoria adds “sexual orientation and gender identity” to the Equal Opportunity legislation.

    2001 Victoria recognize same sex couples in property and inheritance law.

    2002 Western Australia changes over 90 laws ranging from age of consent, anti-discrimination laws, parentage laws, property, inheritance, visitation, adoption (yes adoption for the first time). Queensland makes changes to over 40 laws and NSW also make changes to over 20 laws to recognise same sex couples.

    2003 NSW and NT age of consent for gay men now equally set at 16 and also the NT recognizes same sex couples in property, visitation, co-parenting lesbian recognition and inheritance law.

    2004 Tasmania becomes the first place in Australia to allow civil unions [registered partnerships]. ACT passes a law allowing gay couples the right to adopt children.

    2007 SA recognize same sex couples in property, superannuation and inheritance law.

    2008 Victoria and the ACT allow civil unions [registered partnerships]. NSW allows co-parenting lesbians recognition and changes to 60 laws. Over 100 laws amended at a federal level by the Rudd Labor government that recognizes same sex couples in property, visitation, Medicare, aged care, superannuation, co-parenting lesbian recognition and inheritance law. (No federal anti-discrimination laws and no marriage).

    2010 NSW allow civil unions [registered partnerships]. Tasmania and Victoria recognise co-parentage of lesbian recognition and superannuation for same sex couples under the Superannuation Amendment Bill 2010 passed in Victoria just last week. 10 countries now allow gay marriage (Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Canada, Nepal, South Africa, Portugal, Spain, Belgium, and the Netherlands). NOTE: Nepal’s Supreme Court in 2008 declared that same sex couples have the right to marry, but no law has passed to clarify as of 2010. NSW might allow gay adoption???? [Watch this space].