This queer year -” 2008

This queer year -” 2008

As we lie around after Christmas dinner patting our stomachs, here are some things worth reflecting on over this colourful past year.

If our queer year was plotted on a bar graph, November would rocket sky-high as one of the biggest months of social change the gay, lesbian and bisexual community has ever seen. Here’s hoping 2009 is known as the transgender community’s shining year.

January
Festival season kicks off the year with a bang, Midsumma pulls into town with an Arrival theme.
Ticket sales for some major events are disappointing. Organisers blame too much competition, cost of events and last-minute ticket purchases.
The Victorian AIDS Council launches a controversial campaign in a bid to halt the rise in HIV infections, using images from porn films to encourage safe sex.

February
The opening whistle is blown for the 1st Asia Pacific Outgames. Over 1500 compete in 12 sports events in Melbourne’s premier sporting venues. The four-day event includes the Rainbow Conversations Human Rights Conference.
Italian stallion, porn star Francesco D’Macho marches in Pride March and appears pretty much everywhere around town to promote safe sex.
Federal Attorney-General Robert McClelland announces the government will go beyond the 58 laws identified by HREOC that discriminate against same-sex couples and vows to change around 100.

March
Rural festival ChillOut hits a high note, drawing a 25,000-strong crowd and raising $27,00 to put back into the local community.
New Mardi Gras blows out 30 birthday candles, with the help of Cyndi Lauper and Olivia Newton-John. A collective of those who marched in the first Mardi Gras (1978) lead the parade.

April
K.d. lang causes a media storm being offered a police escort to take her to her spot on Rove Live.
Veteran newsreader Peter Hitchener comes out, telling the Herald-Sun, -œI am choosing to share with you today that part of my life I have not spoken about before: that I am gay.

May
Prime Minister Rudd shows the hand of conservatism, telling the ACT to water down its relationship bill as the Government says it too closely mimics marriage.
Melbourne falls under 2am lock-out amid protests across the wider community. The lock-out is later scrapped.
David Imrie is announced as new chair of New Mardi Gras. The organisation later announces a profit of almost $500,000 from the 2008 Festival.
Joy 94.9 FM, Gay and Lesbian Switchboard, ALSO Foundation and Melbourne Queer Film Festival move into the City Village, Bourke Street complex.

June
Hearing starts for HIV positive man Michael Neal accused of deliberately spreading the virus. Neal is later found guilty of 15 charges, including deliberately trying to spread the virus, rape and procuring sexual penetration by fraud. A sentence has not been handed down.
Launceston man Michael Cain takes the Australian Red Cross Blood Service to the Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination Commission for rejecting him as a blood donor because he’s gay.

July
Jeff Kennett draws the community’s ire by likening sacked bisexual football trainer Ken Campagnolo to a pedophile. -œIt’s the same if you have a pedophile there as a masseur, he said. Kennett claims he was misquoted, while rights groups hit back with an advertisement condemning the man and his comments.
As a result of Campagnolo’s previous case at VCAT, the Victorian Country Football League agrees to stamp out sexual orientation discrimination in the code.
The Pope rolls into Sydney for World Youth Day, his followers clashing with protesters over condoms and queers locking lips. NoToPope Coalition activists win a Federal Court battle against NSW regulations which made it a $5500 chargeable offence to -œannoy pilgrims.

August
Champion diver Matthew Mitcham wins gold at the Beijing Olympics in the men’s 10m platform in a near-perfect dive and is named the only out gay man at the Games. Mitcham is later named 2008 Sports Performer of the Year.
Australian Lesbian & Gay Archives celebrate 30 years, nominating Professor Dennis Altman and Joan Nestle as inaugural patrons.

September
Labor senator Louise Pratt openly defies her party’s opposition to same-sex marriage, using her maiden speech in Parliament to express her -œdisappointment at her party’s stance.

October
A star is born -” the inaugural edition of Southern Star hits the streets of Melbourne.
Government sponsorship body Events NSW commits to a -œsignificant investment for next year’s Mardi Gras. A deluge of hate mail surfaces after Daily Telegraph columnist Piers Akerman blasts the decision saying, -œThe reality is that the Mardi Gras was once symbolic of an intolerance to homosexuality. Now, homosexuals -” or their unelected representatives -” are intolerant of everyone else.
Human Rights Commissioner Graeme Innes launches the Sex Files blog calling for online submissions on discrimination faced by people who are sex and gender diverse.

November
Federal Parliament votes to amend around 100 pieces of legislation discriminating against same-sex couples in superannuation, tax, social security, health, aged care and employment. Greens senator Bob Brown says, -œThis is indeed historic legislation and the government is to be congratulated for putting the legislation to this parliament.
The Artificial Reproductive Technology Bill passes through state parliament, allowing lesbian and single women access to IVF for the first time, and recognising non-biological parents.
The 10th International Transgender Day of Action calls to Australians to reflect on the -œhorrors and difficulties the transgender community still faces.
Nicola Roxon is in hot water after it is revealed two of her appointed men’s health ambassadors are linked to a gay hate document. Only one of the men is stood down in the ensuing debacle, claiming he -œknew nothing.

December
Hobart City Council makes an historic apology to the Tasmanian GLBTI community over banning a gay rights stall in 1988.
Internet geeks unite in anger over the government’s proposed internet filter.
The documentary I Killed Your Faggot Son screens to raise money for completion of the project. The film follows the journey of Shane Brennen and Craig Gee through operations and recovery after being the victims of a violent homophobic attack in Sydney.

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