Convenors’ Report

A year of lobbying: a Committee member's perspective

Mardi Gras Developments

DISCRMN8 INVSBLE CRMNL16

Pride Week 2002

Farewells & Thanks

THE LOBBY TEAM

Female Convenor
Somali Ghosh

Male Convenor
Andrew Picklesi

Secretary
Suzy Tay

Treasurer
Luke Gahan

Committee Members
Nikki Maloney
Anthony Powell
Shane Garland
Grant Colquhoun
Paula O'Sullivan
David Scamell
Matthew Baird
Amanda Millar
Robert McGrory
Luca Balboni
Jenni Millbank

To Contact Us:
Phone: 02 9360 6650
Fax: 9331 7963
glrl@glrl.org.au

NEWSLETTER: September 2002

Mardi Gras Developments

Unless you’ve been hiding recently, you’ll probably be aware that the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Association entered voluntary administration on Friday 2nd August after losing the battle to balance its finances. These developments sadly threaten to bring about the loss of Mardi Gras just as we approach the 25th anniversary of the 1978 homosexual rights street protest that spawned it.

Predictable controversy over the former Mardi Gras Board’s alleged financial mismanagement has ensued, with the Board pointing to a massive increase in public liability insurance premiums and the downturn in ticket sales during the last 12 months as primarily responsible for the crisis.
The Mardi Gras season not only provides funds for many smaller community organisations, but also provides an important platform to build visibility and momentum for lobbying events, forums to distribute information about important issues like HIV, generates audiences for associated events and helps make our community stronger and healthier.

Faced with the momentous prospect of no Parade, Party, Fair Day or other events in 2003, community organisations, including the GLRL, have joined together in discussions with the community to determine how to preserve this important and historic phenomenon. Two community forums were held on August 24 and 31 to air debate and consider ways to move forward if that was the desire of the community.

Participants at the forums were overwhelmingly opposed to any private buy-out of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras organisation. Despite being granted a three week extension on 29 August, it was considered unlikely, and to some, undesirable, that the organisation would be able to continue trading under administration after failing to secure a private loan. The sentiment clearly expressed by the majority of those who attended the second community forum on the following Saturday was that the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Association should be allowed to go into liquidation.

By the end of this meeting a consensus had emerged around the proposal that four community organisations including the GLRL (the others being Pride, ACON and Queerscreen), could set up an interim organisation to conduct a “back to basics” parade, party and Fair Day, with other organisations potentially running auxiliary events.

Discussions are continuing as to the precise legal structure of the proposed entity, but the basic proposal is that it could consist of a board appointed by the four community groups (although appointees would be selected for their skills and not necessarily be members of those groups) and it would be of an interim nature aimed at the 2003 season only. Various committees from the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras that have already commenced work towards the festival would be likely to be absorbed by the new organisation.
The new group could also examine ways to address the issues of outstanding money due to staff of SGLMG and other creditors, and possible purchase of Mardi Gras assets. Any longer term plans would be addressed after the end of the March 2003 season.

We will keep our members up to date with developments and welcome any comments that you might have. As always, our priority is the fight for equal legal and social rights, and we believe that the continuation of the Mardi Gras protest/celebration event is an important element in the achievement of this goal.