Lance Gowland

Lance Gowland (1935–2008) was an Australian LGBT rights activist, unionist, peace activist and Communist Party member. He was a member of the Campaign Against Moral Persecution (CAMP) and as one of the organisers drove the truck in the first Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.

Lance Gowland
Born(1935-11-04)November 4, 1935.
DiedOctober 6, 2008(2008-10-06) (aged 72)
NationalityAustralian
OccupationLGBT rights activist, unionist, peace activist and Communist Party member
Known forMember of the Campaign Against Moral Persecution

Early life

Lancelot Joseph Gowland was born on 4 November 1935.[1][2] He was the second son of George and Winifred Gowland.[2] From an early age Lance became involved in the Eureka Youth League and the anti apartheid and peace movements.[2] He attended Westmead High School.[2]

Activism

Gowland travelled to Europe, the United States and Israel and became involved with the British Communist Party and the peace movement.[2] He witnessed Martin Luther King Jr. delivering his I have a dream speech in 1963 on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington.[2] He participated in Australia’s first public demonstration for gay liberation, the International Women’s Day march in 1971.[2]

Gowland drove the truck leading the first Sydney Mardi Gras[2][3][4][5][6][7][8] Gowland's experiences were recreated in the telemovie "Riot".[9] Gowland was involved in organising the second Mardi Gras parade in 1979,[2] and remained involved until 1984, the year homosexuality was decriminalised in New South Wales.[2][10]

A member of the Campaign Against Moral Persecution (CAMP), Gowland volunteered for the telephone counselling service established by Peter de Waal and Peter Bonsall-Boone.[2] Gowland was active in the communist organisations in Sydney[11] and built support the gay rights issues.[12]

Gowland was one of the group known as the “78ers” who participated in the events in Sydney in 1978 including the first Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade, protests at Darlinghurst and Central Police Stations and Central Court, and marches through the city.[13][14]

Career

Gowland worked on the Snowy Mountains Scheme and as a public servant.[2]

Personal life

Before realising he was gay, Gowland married and had three children.[2] He remained close with his children and grandchildren after he separated from his wife and subsequently survived his long-term partner, Dr Jim Walker.[15][2] Gowland died on 6 October 2008.[16]

References
  1. Chetcuti, Joseph (2018), Sydney's first gay Mardi Gras : what brought it on and how it changed us, Lygon Street Legal Services, ISBN 978-0-648-22530-0
  2. Witte, John; Pollard, Ruth (21 October 2008). "Gay rebel won fights against injustice 1935-2008 Lance Gowland". Sydney Morning Herald.
  3. "78ers". Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Ltd. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  4. Henderson, Nick (20 February 2018). "Sydney's Mardi Gras: 40 years of pride and protest – in pictures". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  5. Harris, Gavin; Witte, John (26 January 2018). "What happened at Sydney's first Mardi Gras?". Kings Cross Arts & Cultural Festival Inc. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  6. Johnston, Craig; Reyk, Paul van (2001). Queer city : gay and lesbian politics in Sydney. Annandale, N.S.W. : Pluto Press. ISBN 9781864031928.
  7. "Gay Sydney : a history / Garry Wotherspoon - Details". Trove. Retrieved 2019-06-15.
  8. "Decisions for issue Vale Ronald Patrick Austin". City of Sydney Meetings. 10 May 2019. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  9. Schwartzkoff, Louise (15 February 2018). "Riot recounts the birth of the Sydney Mardi Gras and the gay rights movement". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  10. "The Making of Mardi Gras 1979-81". Radio National. 12 June 2018. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  11. Piccini, Jon, (editor.); Smith, Evan, 1981-, (editor.); Worley, Matthew, (editor.); Taylor & Francis (2019), The far left in Australia since 1945, Routledge, ISBN 978-0-429-48734-7CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  12. Reynolds, Robert Hugh (2002), From camp to queer : re-making the Australian homosexual, Melbourne University Press, ISBN 978-0-522-85022-2
  13. "78ers". Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Ltd. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  14. "Who are the 78ers?". First mardi gras. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  15. "Driving force 78er dies". Star Observer. 2008-10-09. Retrieved 2019-06-24.
  16. Chetcuti, Joseph. "The three amigos". Sydney gay and lesbian mardi gras. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
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