History group needs new members

Sydney’s Pride History Group is seeking new committee members in time for its annual general meeting on December 12.
The group is particularly looking to recruit younger members of the GLBT community, as they are concerned that the history of gay Australia may be slipping between the generational cracks.

“GLBT communities in Sydney are losing the ability to pass our memories to the next generation,” the group’s John Witte said.

The Pride History Group committee meets monthly, and every second month they hold a public talk on an aspect of Australia’s GLBT history.

The committee also publishes books, maintains a website and helps out on the group’s current research projects.

Witte said there were no prerequisites to becoming a member, but “listening would be the greatest asset” as one of the group’s main activities is interviewing older community members.

“If you can listen to what the interviewees are saying with an open mind and respect for their memories you will be able to capture some good history.”

The Pride History Group has a busy year ahead, hosting the 11th Annual Homosexual Histories Conference in September, and celebrating GLBT activism in the 1970s through an event as part of the 2010 Mardi Gras Festival.

info: Visit www.pridehistorygroup.org.au