Mardi Gras – keep the flame burning

Mardi Gras season will be upon us soon. Before the frenetic fun starts, now is a good time to pause and reflect on what it all (still) means for our community.

What began as a protest to end moral persecution in 1978 has evolved over the years into a celebration of basic human rights and freedoms.

For the GLRL, Mardi Gras has always been a political statement, and it always will be. Over the past three decades, tremendous progress has been made in securing equality for gay and lesbian people and their families.

We cannot, however, become complacent and fool ourselves into believing that our work is done. To this day, there are no comprehensive protections under federal law against discrimination on the basis of sex differences, sexual orientation or gender identity (though we are hopeful this will change in 2012). We still cannot marry our partners if we want to.

Only a month ago, a young girl in Broken Hill was denied entry into a Catholic primary school because her parents were two women in a same-sex relationship.

We must be mindful that the relative ease with which many of us can live our lives is not shared by all in our diverse communities. For those living in rural areas; for many people from multicultural backgrounds or within religious organisations; and for those attempting to access aged-care, disability or hospital services, prejudice and stigma remain significant barriers.

Moreover, human rights for sex and/or gender diverse people have yet to be fully realised.

The GLRL is committed to advocating for social justice and equal rights for our community. However, we can only continue to do so with your support.

Whether you would like to volunteer with us, make a financial contribution, or would just like to tell us how you have spoken up for your rights, we would love to hear from you. The convenors can always be contacted at [email protected].

This Mardi Gras season is packed with many opportunities to get involved, from shaking collection buckets on Oxford St at our launch night, to building and marching in our float, to helping out on Fair Day, and more.

We are holding a Volunteers Information Evening at 6.30 on Wednesday, February 1 at our offices at 186 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe. We would love to see you there. RSVP to [email protected]

By JUSTIN KOONIN, NSW GLRL