Letters
CLEVER
‘Clever’ is how I would describe Graham’s letter (SSO 995). He suggests having another group marching after the police in the parade with slogans such as ‘Know Your Rights’ and ‘Stop Illegal Police Searches’.
I want people in the parade who genuinely work tirelessly for us, at times with great personal cost. People such as former High Court justice Michael Kirby, who gave such a sterling speech at the 2002 Sydney Gay Games. Then there are those who made great efforts in the 1960s and ’70s and others who put themselves on a roster to attend Parliament House in 1984 to successfully achieve law reform. And just as important are groups such as PFLAG, who have long been supporters.
Credit and gratitude need to be given where it is due, rather than to the undeserving who pay us lip service.
— Andy
FUN MUSIC
Often we hear how the bars and clubs are changing or suffering due to patron numbers dropping or because the clientele has changed.
Maybe it hasn’t changed that much, maybe they’re the ones still queuing out the front while security select the customers they want out of the line.
We visit Palms almost weekly yet were queued up out front for 45 minutes the other night when we watched 17 people get in before us, most of whom weren’t even queuing and they did not have pass-outs from being in previously.
You don’t see queuing out the front of many other bars these days as they simply don’t play the same old fun music we all love.
Great to hear Caesar’s is happening again, and eventually the Imperial. I hope they stick to the original formula they had and, like Palms, have the crowds flooding in. Has everyone forgotten the music from the ’90s and Stock, Aitken and Waterman that we all scream along too?
There’s just not enough handbags on the dancefloors these days.
— Michael
Queer in the closet
Why is it so hard for me to come out? I live in a townhouse I can’t afford. I Wear vintage RayBans indoors and have a swagger to rival Beyonce’s.
When it comes to the question, “Are you gay?” I laugh it off and quickly change the subject. The fear of judgement takes over and I bottle it all up, again.
I want to curl up and cry but I can’t, I need to but I can’t. Sometimes I feel emotionless because I push any sort of affection away. If someone gets too close, gay or straight, I will end it so my feelings don’t take control. So I don’t fall.
I have told a couple of people I trusted, thinking it was going to get easier. Instantly they changed and now I am their gay friend. I used to be M*****, now I am defined by where I want to stick my penis. Why does my sexuality suddenly represent who I am?
— Name withheld
In reference to the “Fun Music” I get on out oxford street every Saturday night, At one stage years ago when the gay clubs were full both nights of the weekend i was with a lot of people supporting our venues both nights,But found the scene got fairly boring, Venues had people with attitudes and drug problems namely Stonewall was full of pretentious queens, Arq … well you wouldnt have known it was a gay venue some nights, The midnight shift downstairs was entertaining with the people that went there but the video music was great for a change, Up stairs was full of drugged people who were out of touch on how to have a night out without the pills and G, Then i heard from friends we were going to try Palms,I was surprised at how small the place was,the amount of people in there and carefree attitude fun place it was both for music and staff, needless to say i have been going there since and always have a fun night, The staff are always busy but they get around to serving you eventually, Drinks arent the cheapest, But then again what is cheap these days,The Resident DJ Brendan looks like he would bite your head off but takes requests all night, He like most DJ’S will play what they feel is suitable for the crowd thats there that night he does a good job and the line up on the street shows it, I can shed some light on the “17 people get in before us, most of whom weren’t even queuing and they did not have pass-outs from being in previously.” I will take a stab in the dark here, I do know they prefer large groups such as 6 and upwards to advise them the week before with a time and night they are coming so security can keep numbers at a suitable level for large party groups to get quick access(we were told that earlier this year for a b’day night),Which is smart thinking if you ask me, 17 people in at one time is $$$ over 2 or 4 at a time, Anyway thats my comment done.
Clever (995) is quite right to suggest a group behind the police in the Mardi Gras Parade, in fact as one who was directly invloved in enabling the first
Clever (995) is quite right to suggest a group behind the police in the Mardi Gras Parade, in fact as one who was directly invloved in enabling the first ‘real’ presence of police in the parade which was hard fought for – particularly with the Police Executive – I actually believe they should no longer be invited to be involved until they can show initiatives that work with the community. Most would not know of and or remember the amount of work put in by a great many serving and non serving members of NSW Police in the early to mid nineties including anti homophobia campaigns,government consultation on such matters as on panic defence, policy statements – including how to police in beats, PGLLO programs – including the first full time PGLLO at Surry Hills. It took many years of work to earn the previledge to participate in the parade and after being outside the Police now for ten years I have seen nothing of work from back them in fact I haven’t seen any initiatives that first enabled this previledge all I have seen is a loss of confidence in police by the community. Its time for New Mardi Gras to stand up and justify their extension of the previledge of NSW Police participation in the parade other than the worn statement we have seen thus far.