Gay and lesbian pride springs out
By Kim Bullimore and Simon Tayler
CANBERRA — The ACT's first Gay and Lesbian Pride Festival — Spring Out — included a rally and march on November 13, attended by 300 people.
The rally was addressed by, among others, Chief Minister Kate Carnell, Pat Brandt from Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (P-FLAG), Tasmanian gay rights activist Rodney Croome, Kelly Jones, the editor of the ACT gay and lesbian journal Quirk, and Susan Carcary from the rank-and-file Members First ticket in Community and Public Sector Union elections.
Carnell told the rally that the "lesbian, gay, transgender and bisexual community are an integral and valued part of the Canberra community".
However, Jones attacked the territory, state and federal branches of the Liberal Party for their stance on gay and lesbian rights, saying that Carnell's words of support, coming as they do from a Liberal leader, amount to little more than words. Jones explained that the Liberals oppose the recognition of homosexual marriages and the rights of gays and lesbians.
Some of the loudest applause at the rally was given to the P-FLAG contingent. Brandt told the rally, "The kids we loved yesterday are no different today just because they have come out as being gay or lesbian".
Brandt later told 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ Weekly that parents' and friends' support is important because "there is still a lot of discrimination happening, not only in colleges, but also in high schools". P-FLAG plays an important role in "educating parents, teachers and service providers".
The rally marched with rainbow flags to Glebe Park for the Fairday Frolic. Spring Out, which includes concerts, bush dances, a Love Bus tour, film showings and a cocktail party, ends on November 21. For more information, phone 8250 7774. To contact P-FLAG, phone 6242 0590 or e-mail <pflag@hotmail.com>.