78ers

The 78ers are a group of LGBT activists who marched in the original Sydney Mardi Gras on 24 June 1978 and participated in the subsequent protests against police violence and the arrests of participants in the Mardi Gras. In 1997 a small group of people who were part of the 1978 events contributed to planning the commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the Sydney Mardi Gras parade in 1998. This group became known as the 78ers and has led each year's Mardi Gras parade since 1998.

History

The first Sydney Mardi Gras was an evening street protest in support of gay and lesbian rights along Oxford Street in Sydney on 24 June 1978.[1][2][3] The protestors were assaulted and thrown in gaol, with many affected by the trauma for years afterwards.[4][5][6] The 78ers[7] were amongst those who participated in the Mardi Gras and the protest at Darlinghurst and Central Police Stations on 25 June 1978, the protest at Central Court Sydney on 26 June 1978 where 300 protested outside the closed court in Liverpool Street and seven were arrested,[8] the gay rights march from Martin Place to Darlinghurst Police Station on 15 July 1978 where 2,000 protested and 14 were arrested[8] and the March down Oxford Street from the 4th National Homosexual Conference to Taylor Square and Hyde Park on 27 August 1978 with 300 participants and 104 arrests.[8] Most of the charges against those arrested were eventually dropped and the New South Wales Summary Offences Act, which had given Police very wide powers to arrest people, was repealed in May 1979.[9][10][11]

In the days following the Sydney Morning Herald published the names, occupations and addresses of people facing charges.[12]

In 1997 a small group of people who were part of the 1978 events contributed to planning the commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the Sydney Mardi Gras parade in 1998. This group became known as the 78ers and has led each year's Mardi Gras parade since 1998.[8]

Members

The 78ers included activists Garry Wotherspoon,[13] Kate Rowe,[14] Peter Murphy,[15] Julie McCrossin, Peter de Waal,[16] Peter “Bon” Bonsall-Boone, Robyn Plaister,[17] Robyn Kennedy,[18] Ron Austin,[19] Diane Minnis,[5] Lance Day,[20] Lance Gowland and many others.[21][22][23]

Legacy

On the 25 February 2016 the New South Wales State Parliament made a formal bipartisan apology to the 78ers when Bruce Notley Smith, the member for Coogee, moved the motion of apology in the NSW Legislative Assembly.[24][25][26][27][28][29]

On 24 February 2016 The Sydney Morning Herald published an apology to the 78ers, Darren Goodsir, editor-in-chief said "In 1978, The Sydney Morning Herald reported the names, addresses and professions of people arrested during public protests to advance gay rights. The paper at the time was following the custom and practice of the day. We acknowledge and apologise for the hurt and suffering that reporting caused. It would never happen today."[12]

On 9 August 2018 NSW Police Commissioner Michael Fuller gave an official apology on behalf of the Police Force for the actions of police during the events of 1978.[30][31]

  • Witches and Faggots, Dykes and Poofters produced by Digby Duncan, 1980.[32] A contemporary history of the events surrounding the first march by the 78ers.[33][34][35]
  • Riot[36][37] directed by Jeffrey Walker, 2018[38] A telemovie released for the 40th Anniversary of Sydney's Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.

References
  1. Johnston, Craig; Reyk, Paul van (2001). Queer city : gay and lesbian politics in Sydney. Annandale, N.S.W. : Pluto Press. ISBN 9781864031928.
  2. "Gay Sydney : a history / Garry Wotherspoon - Details". Trove. Retrieved 2019-06-15.
  3. It was a riot : Sydney's first Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, 78ers Festival Events Group, 1998, ISBN 978-0-646-35115-5
  4. Trounson, Andrew (22 June 2018). "40 years: The protests that began Mardi Gras". Pursuit. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  5. Russell, Stephen (14 February 2018). "Never forget: The 78ers and the origins of Mardi Gras". Topics. SBS. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  6. Abelló, David. "In Memory of Now: A Queer History of the Present" (PDF). UTS. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  7. "Who are the 78ers?". First mardi gras. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  8. "78ers". Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Ltd. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  9. "Summary Offences (Repeal) Act 1979 No 62". NSW Legislation. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  10. "Law Reform Victories After 1978". First mardi gras. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  11. Wade, Matthew (21 February 2018). "'We were traumatised that night': '78ers on the first Mardi Gras protest and police violence". Star Observer. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  12. Dumas, Daisy (24 February 2016). "The Sydney Morning Herald apologises to Mardi Gras founders the 78ers". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  13. "INTERVIEW: Garry Wotherspoon on Mardi Gras and the history of gay Sydney". FBI radio. 5 March 2016. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  14. "Kate Rowe - The 78ers: The First Mardi Gras". Tom & Mikey. 28 February 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  15. Breakfast, ABC News (2018-02-23). "Mardi Gras sheds violent past, but still 'a lot to be done' for gay rights". ABC News. Retrieved 2019-06-21.
  16. Cage, Carolyn (20 February 2018). "We asked the 78ers for their best advice for the next 40 years". SBS Topics. Retrieved 2019-06-21.
  17. Schwartzkoff, Louise (2018-02-15). "Riot recounts the birth of the Sydney Mardi Gras and the gay rights movement". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2019-06-21.
  18. "Robyn Kennedy and fellow 78ers during Mardi Gras rehearsals on March..." Getty Images. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  19. Brown, Michelle (14 April 2019). "Mardi Gras legend who famously asked 'why don't we have a street party?' dies aged 90". ABC News. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  20. "Lance Day in Sydney 78ers Prepare For 40th Anniversary Mardi Gras Parade". Zimbio. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  21. Kerin, Lindy; Code, Bill (25 February 2016). "First generation Sydney Mardi Gras bashing victims get government apology". ABC News. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  22. "Who are the 78ers?". First mardi gras. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  23. "78ers show their pride". The Senior. 20 February 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  24. "Legislative Assembly Hansard – 24 February 2016". www.parliament.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  25. Dumas, Daisy (25 February 2016). "NSW Parliament apologises to the 78ers who began the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  26. Kerin, Lindy; Code, Bill (25 February 2016). "First generation Sydney Mardi Gras bashing victims get government apology". ABC News. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  27. Power, Shannon (25 February 2016). "Legacy of Mardi Gras founders the 78ers celebrated during NSW Government apology". Star Observer. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  28. "Series 3: New South Wales State Parliament apology to the 78ers, 25 February 2016 / photographed by Geoff Friend". State Library of NSW catalogue. Retrieved 2019-07-02.
  29. "Item 10: NSW parliamentarians applauding the 78ers and their supporters in the Legislative Assembly, NSW Parliament House, Sydney, 25 February 2016 / photograph by Geoff Friend". State Library of NSW catalogue. Retrieved 2019-07-02.
  30. "Police Commissioner apologises to 78ers". Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Ltd. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  31. Barber, Laurence (10 August 2018). "NSW Police Commissioner delivers apology to Mardi Gras '78ers". Star Observer. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  32. Witches, faggots, dykes and poofters, 'One in Seven' Collective, 1980, retrieved 21 June 2019 – via Trove
  33. Epstein, Debbie; Sears, James T. (1999), A dangerous knowing: sexuality, pedagogy and popular culture, Cassell, ISBN 978-1-4411-9351-3
  34. Bennett, James (2011), Making film and television histories: Australia and New Zealand, New York: I.B. Tauris, ISBN 978-0-85772-086-3
  35. Groenewegen, Stephen (26 February 2018). "The first Sydney Mardi Gras". National Film and Sound Archive. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  36. Riot, Universal Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, 2018, retrieved 21 June 2019 – via Trove
  37. "Riot". IMDB. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  38. Dunks, Glenn (2018), "Pride in protest: The ABC's 'riot' and the birth of Mardi Gras", Metro Magazine: Media & Education Magazine, no. 197, pp. 42–47, ISSN 0312-2654
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