Left-wing queer group kicks off in WA

November 27, 1996
Issue 

By Neil Gray

PERTH — Queer Radicals — a new lesbian and gay activist group which started as a way to get a left-wing political presence into the Perth Lesbian and Gay Pride Parade in November, decided after its first meeting to become an ongoing queer activist group. The group regularly gets 15 people to meetings.

Queer Radicals has decided to hold a public forum on December 5 at 7pm at the Court Hotel to discuss what the group should be and do.

On December 7, QR has organised a rally at noon outside Perth Cultural Centre, James St, followed by a march through the city to the Liberal Party headquarters in Murray Street, to protest the failure of the equal opportunity amendments to get through the Liberal-dominated state parliament.

The group wants to take advantage of the pre-election environment to highlight the glaring homophobic prejudice displayed by the conservative state government.

After the Decriminalisation of Sodomy Bill was passed in WA with its homophobic preamble and unequal age of consent in 1989, activism was replaced by lobbying at the top by a few representatives of the gay community. These people continue to do a wonderful job but we can attain only limited results without pressure from queers in the streets.

A desire to be accepted like everyone else has led some of the gay and lesbian community into trying to be good capitalists. Big business is just as happy to take our "pink dollars" as it is to use us as scapegoats when they need to divert people's attention from the economic and social crisis their system produces.

One of the main concerns of QR is that the group should be out there showing the general community that lesbian, gay and queer people exist. It's important to break down homophobia amongst the public as well as fight the government.

We want to create a queer presence in other campaigns that we support. We attended the anti-racist rally here on November 23 with our banner and placards. Wherever people are gathering to fight for good causes, we want to have a presence.

Conversely, we want to ask for assistance from the broader progressive movement. In the end the goal is to attain full acceptance and equality for queers, and that can be achieved only by pro-activeness. Phone 272 5549 or 041 993 0088 to get involved.

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