NSW POLICE: YET TO RSVP TO THE SORRY PARTY
Those who took part in the very first Sydney Mardi Gras parade in 1978, known as the "78ers", say it's time for NSW police to say sorry for their mistreatment and violence at the time.
Gail
Hewison (far left) just seconds before arrest at the first
Mardi Gras
in 1978. She said the police officer behind grabbed her by
her hair
and dragged her across the road and tossed her head first
into paddy
wagon. (Image supplied by Gail Hewison)
PRESSURE
is mounting on NSW Police to issue a formal apology for
its
mistreatment of the men and women who started Sydney’s
first Mardi
Gras parade in 1978 after similar announcements made
by the NSW
Government and Sydney
Morning Herald this
week.
On
Sunday, Coogee state Liberal MP Bruce Notley-Smith
said the
“78ers” would
receive a formal apology in state parliament tomorrow for
the mistreatment and violent treatment they
received while this
morning the Herald’s editor-in-chief
Darren Goodsir said the newspaper would apologise for
printing the names, addresses and occupations of the 53
people
arrested three days after the first Mardi Gras parade
took place
However,
many of the 78ers who were assaulted, brutalised and
thrown into jail
believe the police should also apologise for its role in
the
violent scenes during the 1978 Mardi Gras that started as
a
celebration of Sydney’s LGBTI culture but turned into a
protest after the arrests.
“This
is very good news from the [the Herald] and
I agree that it makes the police look extremely isolated and
they
need to step up to the plate on this,” said one 78er, Dr Jo
Harrison.
“I
think it is essential that the Commissioner for Police and
the
Minister for Police make a formal apology so that it
coincides with
the cross-party apology from the NSW government to be made
tomorrow.
Otherwise there will be a glaring gap relating to the events
of June
24, 1978 and the process of making an apology to those of us
who
were there will not be complete.
“I
am actually overwhelmed at the [the Herald’s] action.
So significant. Very historic moving moment.”
The Star
Observer asked
Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione if NSW Police planned
to apologise to the 78ers and when it would do so.
“At
this time, this is a matter for consideration by the whole
of
government,” a NSW Police spokesperson responded via email.
“However,
NSW Police has developed rewarding relationships with
members and
stakeholders within LGBTI communities.
“Over
the past 25 years, our Gay and Lesbian Liaison Officer
(GLLO) program
has worked with the LGBTI community to address numerous
issues
including bias crime, domestic violence and the challenges
facing
young, transgender and intersex people when seeking support.
“The
GLLO program owes its inception to dedicated individuals and
groups
who advocated to address important issues within the gay and
lesbian
community. It is the result of their commitment in lobbying
the
government and the police to establish appropriate contact
officers
within the community.”
Pride
History Group vice-president and 78er Ken Davis said many of
the
activists would value the apologies, especially those who
had their
lives ruined when they were “outed” in the Herald.
However,
he said there were many ironies around the apology.
“It’s
has been a long time coming… for me the night of the first
Mardi Gras was miraculous, the idea was to have night
time celebration, to be free and that’s when we got
attacked,”
Davis said.
“In
so many ways we have less freedom now; the police have
tasers, the
[lockout laws] have been bad for the night life.
“The
first Mardi Gras was almost spontaneous, we were celebrating
in a
public space. Now it’s highly regulated (by police) and
commercialised.”
Robert
French drove from Canberra to support the 78ers after they
were
arrested. He described the Herald’s decision
to publish their names, addresses and occupations in the newspaper
as “an act of bastardry”.
Gail
Hewison, who was one of the arrested 78ers, said she had a
false
name published in the Herald because
she was lucky to have not had ID on her when police charged
her.
Nonetheless,
she welcomed the newspaper’s apology today.
“However,
to publish a list of names on the front page as I remember
it,
was hugely homophobic, sensationalist, vindictive and mean,
considering the LGBT people marching were simply marching
for civil
rights and were not criminals,” she said.
“If
the editor of [the Herald]
from 1978 is still alive today I would like to see his name
added to the apology.”
The Star
Observer has
contacted the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras for comment.
The Sydney Morning Herald apologises to Mardi Gras founders the 78ers
February
24, 2016 - 2:03PM
Daisy Dumas
The scene outside the Central Court of Petty Sessions in Sydney where gay and lesbians demonstrated in 1978. Photo: Fairfax Media
On
the eve of the historic NSW
government apology to Mardi Gras founders the
"78ers", The
Sydney Morning Herald has
underlined its acknowledgment that discrimination
towards gay rights
protesters at the hands of police, government and media
in 1978 was
wrong and unjust.
On
June 24, 1978, more than 500 activists took to Taylor Square
in
Darlinghurst in support and celebration of New York's
Stonewall
movement and to call for an end to criminalisation of
homosexual acts
and discrimination against homosexuals. The peaceful
movement ended
in violence, mass arrests and public shaming at the hands of
the
police, government and media.
Three
days after the melee, Fairfax Media newspapers including
the Herald publicly
outed 53 people involved in the pro-equality march,
publishing their
names, addresses and occupations in the newspaper.
Subsequent
editions published the details of more protesters, including
the
names of 104 people facing charges resulting from a
homosexual rights
march the previous weekend in Sydney.
Homosexuals demonstrate in the morning march in Sydney before a street parade that would eventually evolve into the Sydney Mardi Gras. Photo: Fairfax Media
As
was common practice at the time, the press routinely
published the
full details of people who appeared in court, regardless of
the
nature of the offence with which they had been charged.
The
public lists saw many protesters further discriminated
against, in
some instances causing the loss of jobs and homes.
Apologising
to the 78ers, Darren Goodsir, editor-in-chief of The
Sydney Morning Herald,
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.
(From left) Melissa Gibson with 78ers Julie McCrossin and Ron Austin at the Sydney Mardi Gras in 2013.Photo: Supplied
"We
acknowledge and apologise for the hurt and suffering that
reporting
caused. It would never happen today."
He
said Fairfax Media has made contact with representatives of
the 78ers
so that an apology can also be made in person.
78er,
Steve Warren, said the apology had "been a long time
coming".
"We're
quite excited that the Herald is
joining in, it means a lot to the 78ers," he said.
"We
understand it was practice at the time but it caused a lot
of hurt,"
he said of the published details. "Some 78ers lost jobs,
lost
family contact and, over the years, some even committed
suicide."
He
said Sydney's gay rights movement is a shining example of
grassroots
community action leading to positive community change,
referring to
changes in legislation and the strengthening of the Mardi
Gras
tradition and its values since 1978.
On
Thursday, nearly 40 years later, the state is to apologise
for the
discrimination and mistreatment of the protesters.
A
group of 78ers will attend Parliament, when Coogee MP Bruce
Notley-Smith will introduce a motion of apology to the NSW
Legislative Assembly.
Mr
Notley-Smith said the apology "will acknowledge the
significance
of the events of that night in June 38 years ago; the
struggles and
harm caused to the many who took part in the demonstration
and march,
both on that night and in the weeks, months and years to
follow. Many
78ers are no longer with us; many have lived a life of
hurt and pain,
and many took their own lives. This apology is for all of
them."
78er
and broadcaster Julie McCrossin said she was thrilled and
emotional
that the injustice is finally being given state recognition.
"It's
a recognition that what happened was wrong and traumatic,"
she
said, adding that many 78ers had lost their lives to HIV.
"I
don't doubt I'll cry," she said. "This is emotional, this
is personal."
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/the-sydney-morning-herald-apologises-to-mardi-gras-founders-the-78ers-20160224-gn26jm.html#ixzz413ahVdmc
Follow us: @smh on Twitter | sydneymorningherald on Facebook
SYDNEY MORNING HERALD APOLOGISES TO MARDI GRAS 78ERS, 38 YEARS AFTER OUTING MANY OF THEM
The news comes a day before the NSW Government is due to make a formal apology during a parliamentary sitting.
A group of 78ers walk across the former rainbow crossing at Taylor Square in 2013. (Photo: Steve McLaren)
THE Sydney
Morning Herald has
offered a formal apology to the Mardi Gras 78ers, almost
40
years after the newspaper published the names, addresses
and
occupations of people who took part — many of whom
were not out of the closet.
In
statement released this morning, editor-in-chief Darren
Goodsir said
they have also made contact The
news comes just days after it was announced that the NSW
Government —
with bipartisan support — would
make a formal apology to the 78ers during a
parliamentary sitting on
Thursday.
On
June 24, 1978, more than 500 people descended on Sydney’s
Taylor
Square for a march down Oxford St in solidarity with New
York’s Stonewall movement and to also call for the end of
the
criminalisation of homosexual acts, discrimination against
gay
people and for a public celebration of love and diversity.
The
march, which grew to 2000 people, would soon become known as
the
first Mardi Gras parade and its participants named the
“78ers”.
However,
the march ended in Kings Cross with police arrests and
mistreatment — many people were thrown in jail or were
attacked.
Three
days later, the Herald published
the names, addresses and occupations of 53 people who were
charged
with “taking part in an unlawful procession”.
Many
were also charged with hindering police, resisting arrest
and using
“unseemly words”.
This
led to people being outed to their friends and work
colleagues,
and many of those arrested lost their jobs as homosexuality
was a
crime in NSW until 1984.
Goodsir
said it was the “custom and practice of the day” to
publish full details of people who appeared in court,
regardless
of the offence they had been charged with.
“In
1978, The
Sydney Morning Herald reported
the names, addresses and professions of people arrested
during public
protests to advance gay rights,” Goodsir said in his
statement.
“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.
“We
have made contact with representatives of the 78ers so we
can
apologise in person.”
The Star
Observer has
contacted members of the 78ers for comment.
At
the time of print, NSW Police have yet to indicate if they
will also
offer an apology to the 78ers.
with
representatives of the 78ers so they could apologise in
person.
24
FEB 2016 - 2:03PM
Sydney
Morning Herald apologises for Mardi Gras coverage
Marchers at the 1978 Mardi Gras parade. (Photo: The Pride History Group) (The Pride History Group)
Hide
Grid
The
editor in chief of the Sydney Morning Herald has
apologised for the
paper's historical coverage of the first official Sydney
Gay and
Lesbian Mardi Gras in 1978.
By
Drew
Sheldrick
24
FEB 2016 - 1:58 PM
UPDATED 1 HOUR AGO
The
Sydney Morning Herald's
editor in chief, Darren Goodsir, has offered an apology to
the
participants of the 1978 gay rights march, recognised as the
first
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, for printing the names,
addresses
and professions of those arrested during the protest.
Homosexuality
was illegal in New South Wales at the time of the march and
many of
those who had their identities published lost their jobs and
had
their sexuality exposed to their families as a result.
The
apology comes the day before the NSW Legislative Assembly's
formal
apology for the ill-treatment of march participants, known
as the
‘78ers’, on Thursday. The motion is also expected to be
introduced to the NSW Legislative Council at a later time.
SMH
editor in chief Darren Goodsir's apology to the participants
of the
1978 gay rights march who had their identities printed by
the
newspaper.
“In
1978, The Sydney Morning Herald reported the names,
addresses and
professions of people arrested during public protests to
advance gay
rights," Goodsir said in the statement.
"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. We have made
contact
with representatives of the 78’ers so we can apologise in
person."
The public
demonstration and march took place on 24 June, 1978 and saw
more than
500 people assemble at Sydney's Taylor Square to call for an
end of
the criminalisation of "homosexual acts" and discrimination
against the gay and lesbian community.
The front page of 'The Star' newspaper (now Star Observer) on 7 March, 1985, detailing the retraction of a SMH front-page story on the Sydney Mardi Gras. (Photo: the Star Observer archives)
This
is not the first time the Sydney
Morning
Herald has
apologied for its coverage of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian
Mardi Gras.
In 1985, it was forced to run a large retraction - reported
as being
one of the biggest in the history of Australian newspaper
publishing
at that time - admitting "very little" of its coverage of
that year's parade was correct.
The
original front-page SMH story from 25 February, 1985 claimed
people
living with HIV were forced to watch the Mardi Gras parade
from
nearby hotel balconies like "sideshow freaks".
Victims of ’78 Mardi Gras violence finally get their apology
Crikey
FEB 24, 2016 1:07PM |
The
NSW government will finally apologise to those who were
beaten by
police in the 1978 Mardi Gras parade. But many say it’s
not enough,
writes freelance journalist Serkan
Ozturk.
A symbolic
apology to be delivered by NSW Parliament tomorrow
morning to the
participants of the very first Sydney Gay and Lesbian
Mardi Gras is
engendering “mixed feelings” from some who were there
that
fateful evening in 1978, when police violently attacked
peaceful
marchers. Many were beaten and arrested, and a Sydney
Morning Herald “name
and shame” campaign in the aftermath cost many their
jobs — and
some their lives.
It
was June 24, 1978, and a number of activities had been
planned by the
city’s leading gay groups of the time, including CAMP, the
Gay
Solidarity Group and the ADHOC organisation, which drew most
of its
members from the University of Sydney’s Camperdown campus.
The
plan was for a morning political march to kick off the day
and a
celebratory party-like parade to end the evening. The
inspiration to
call the parade a “Mardi Gras” came from CAMP activist Marg
McMann, who along with fellow activist Ron Austin believed a
more
relaxed and less overtly political night-time event might
bring new
people into the struggle.
Contrary
to some popular myths about Mardi Gras, it was not held
as some kind
of homage to the 1969 Stonewall Riots in New York but
was
instead designed as a show of solidarity following a
request
from activists in San Francisco who were fighting the
Briggs
initiative — which was a referendum in the United States
at the
time to remove anyone who supported gay rights from the
American
school system (draw your own conclusion about modern
parallels).
After
a day of marching and political meetings, a few hundred
brave souls
met at Taylor Square, many in colourful costumes. Their
numbers
quickly swelled as the flair and colour of those marching
and
chanting enticed scores of others from the streets and bars
to join
them. When they turned off Oxford Street into College Street
their
numbers were easily pushing more than 1000, and police were
becoming
antsy.
“One
guy ran past me, and I will never forget it,” Austin
recalled
to Crikey.
“I assume from the way he spoke that he had never come
out before
or taken part in a march or anything like that. He came
to me and
said, ‘I’m out now and going all the way’. That was the
general
attitude. You never saw such enthusiasm.
“It
was almost like there were all these underlying emotions and
a
release of tensions — tensions that had been held by people
for
years. People who wouldn’t walk down the street holding
hands, and
all of a sudden they were doing it.”
Although organisers
had a permit for the march, the atmosphere of the parade
began
to darken when it got to towards Hyde Park. With police
attempting to confiscate Mardi Gras’ first lead float — a
truck owned by activist Lance Gowland with a makeshift
speaker on top
blasting out gay-themed hits — a sudden callout was made
to head to Kings Cross.
Their
numbers thinned, and 78er David Abello remembers the
remaining few
hundred parade-goers eventually being hemmed in by dozens of
“big,
burly, thick-necked” police officers around El Alamein
fountain.
From
that point on, it was hell for leather, with fisticuffs,
bruises,
batons and beatings amid a volley of men and women being
thrust into
the back of paddy wagons.
In
the end more than 50 were arrested, with some such as Peter
Murphy
viciously beaten in the bowels of the notorious Darlinghurst
police station.
It
was Murphy who first wrote to the NSW government in the
1990s calling
for an official apology from both the politicians in
Macquarie Street
and police.
“I
had recently been consulted about a possible
parliamentary apology
after years of no response, but the last I heard about
it was three
months ago, so I was surprised to hear the news over the
weekend,”
he told Crikey this
week. “I have no clue what the apology will include, but
I will be
there on the day. I’m not sure how I will react but I do
hope this
is the beginning of a process, not the end of it.”
Fellow
78er Ross Duffin says the NSW government isn’t the only
one
that needs to atone. “One of these is The
Sydney Morning Herald, who
published the names, addresses and occupations of people
arrested but
not yet gone to court.”
Abello
said the Herald’s
campaign had long-lasting and tragic consequences. “Some
people couldn’t get a decent job for years — their
careers stopped,” Abello told Crikey.
“Others had their family find out they were gay and
basically
disown them. And a few others, they died from suicide
sadly.”
Darren
Goodsir, editor-in-chief of The
Sydney Morning Herald,
responded with an unreserved apology:
“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. We have made contact with representatives of the
78’ers so
we can apologise in person.”
Duffin
also wants an apology from the NSW police.
One
of Australia’s leading historians of gay culture, Garry
Wotherspoon — also a 78er — says the parliamentary
apology is just the first step.
“It
would be great to have a royal commission into the gay
deaths at
beats, but that would be most profitably pursued after the
Scott
Johnson inquest, when details of police homophobia and lack
of
interest in solving those cases gets a good airing. And the
suggested
federal marriage plebiscite will bring all the issues of
religious
exemptions to public awareness,” he said.
Jo
Harrison, another 78er, says the apology has to be backed up
with
monetary compensation: “As far as I am concerned, an apology
without concrete action and … compensation in some form
attached to it is hollow and meaningless. Just like the
apology to
the stolen generation. Oh sorry, but forget about
compensation or not
having your communities shut down or your legal services and
health
services gutted. It’s the same.”
NSW
Police told Crikey in
a statement that an apology from the force was “a matter
for
consideration by the whole of government”.
21.2.2016
78er
Julie McCrossin is thrilled to learn that the NSW government
will
apologise for the discrimination and mistreatment that she
and other
gay rights activists suffered in 1978.
M.SMH.COM.AU
Top
of Form
Comments
Paul
Chrystal Where
is SMH's apology for ruining the lives of these people by
publishing
their names and occupations?????
Ken
Davis yet
again the SMH gets it wrong, the picture of the morning
march is not
the Mardi Gras that night taht was attacked, and it was not
a morning
street march that "evolved" into the Mardi Gras, plus SMH
seems to not apologise for publishing the names and jobs and
ages and
addressers of arrestees on 26 June 1978 , thereby causing
endless
pain
Nick
Henderson I
just spoke to the journalist, she corrected it and said she
would get
their archives to update the details for future - that said,
I have
approached them about other captions previously, to no
avail.
Nick
Henderson But,
bam - she has changed it... I just refreshed.
Joseph
Carmel Chetcuti Publishing
names in the format that the names of those arrested were
published
was not unusual.
William
Brougham I
also notice that the only 78'er to be quoted in the article
is Julie
McCrossin. The impression the article gives is that 78'ers
are
thrilled by the state apology. Some may well be such as
Julie
McCrossin. Having heard from and spoken to a few
78'ers there
are clearly mixed feelings with some feeling that it does
not go far
enough and that wider apologies, practical actions,
restitution and
compensation are needed beyond Thursday's apology.
Joseph
Carmel Chetcuti William,
in many ways this is a reflection of the political divisions
that
existed in 1978.
William
Brougham Yes
that is what I suspect though to suggest that 78'ers are
thrilled
based on one interview seems a bit shrill and hollow. More a
case of
"a 78'er says she is thrilled".
Bottom
of Form
'Thrilled and emotional' 78ers to take to Parliament for state apology
NB – note change to picture caption
February
21, 2016
Daisy Dumas
Homosexuals
demonstrate in the morning march in Sydney before a
street parade
that would eventually evolve into the Sydney Mardi Gras. Photo:
Fairfax Media
After
a wait of nearly 40 years, "78er" Julie McCrossin says
she is thrilled and emotional to learn that the NSW
government is to
apologise for the discrimination and mistreatment that she
and other
gay rights activists suffered in 1978.
The
commentator and broadcaster said she understood that she
and a
group of 78ers - organisers of Sydney's first Mardi Gras -
will
attend Parliament on Thursday, when Coogee MP Bruce
Notley-Smith will
introduce the motion of apology to the NSW Legislative
Assembly.
The
scene outside the Central Court of Petty Sessions in
Sydney where gay
and lesbians demonstrated in 1978. Photo:
Fairfax Media
On June
24, 1978, more than 500 activists took to Taylor Square in
Darlinghurst in support and celebration of New York's
Stonewall
movement and to call for an end to criminalisation of
homosexual acts
and discrimination against homosexuals. The peaceful
movement
ended in violence and public shaming at the hands of the
police, government and media
Remembering
the attacks and imprisonment of many activists at the rally,
Ms McCrossin said the events around Sydney's first Mardi
Gras
were "cruel and inhumane" and left many traumatised.
"If
we get an apology, I think it's a wonderful and important
community
event. It's a recognition that what happened was wrong and
traumatic," she said, adding that many 78ers had lost their
lives to HIV.
Melissa
Gibson with 78ers Julie McCrossin and Ron Austin at the
Sydney Mardi
Gras 2013. Photo:
Supplied
"The
most important thing is that the young people right now who
think
they might be LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender,
or queer) know they are part of the community and that
discrimination by law against us, let alone by the
representatives of
the law, the police service, is wrong."
That
the bipartisan apology will come from the coalition
government, she
said, was particularly exciting.
"I
don't doubt I'll cry," she said. "This is emotional, this
is personal."
Mr
Notley-Smith said the apology "will acknowledge the
significance of the events of that night in June 38 years
ago; the
struggles and harm caused to the many who took part in the
demonstration and march, both on that night and in the
weeks, months
and years to follow. Many 78ers are no-longer with us; many
have
lived a life of hurt and pain, and many took their own
lives. This
apology is for all of them."
Penny
Sharpe, Shadow Minister for the Planning, Environment
and Heritage,
said: "The tenacity of the 78ers paved the way for three
decades
of law reform. It will be an important moment in the history
of NSW
to see recognition of their contribution and an apology for
the
treatment they received for standing up for what is right."
Ms
McCrossin acknowledged that the state and police now played
a large
role in Mardi Gras and had taken steps towards equality, but
added
that she looked forward to the day when religious leaders
apologised
for discrimination of the LGBTQ community within Catholic,
Anglican,
Jewish Orthodox and Muslim circles.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/thrilled-and-emotional-78ers-to-take-to-parliament-for-state-apology-20160221-gmziin.html#ixzz40sJeDsab
Follow us: @smh on Twitter | sydneymorningherald on Facebook
'Thrilled
and emotional' 78ers to take to Parliament for state
apology
February
21, 2016 - 2:40PM
Homosexuals
demonstrate in Sydney in what would evolve into the Sydney
Gay and
Lesbian Mardi Gras. Photo:
Fairfax
Media
After
a wait of nearly 40 years, "78er" Julie McCrossin says
she is thrilled and emotional to learn that the NSW
government is to
apologise for the discrimination and mistreatment that she
and other
gay rights activists suffered in 1978.
The
commentator and broadcaster said she understood that she
and a
group of 78ers - organisers of Sydney's first Mardi Gras -
will
attend Parliament on Thursday, when Coogee MP Bruce
Notley-Smith will
introduce the motion of apology to the NSW Legislative
Assembly.
The
scene outside the Central Court of Petty Sessions in Sydney
where gay
and lesbians demonstrated in 1978. Photo:
Fairfax
Media
On June
24, 1978, more than 500 activists took to Taylor Square in
Darlinghurst in support and celebration of New York's
Stonewall
movement and to call for an end to criminalisation of
homosexual acts
and discrimination against homosexuals. The peaceful
movement
ended in violence and public shaming at the hands of the
police, government and media.
Remembering the attacks and imprisonment of many activists at the rally, Ms McCrossin said the events around Sydney's first Mardi Gras were "cruel and inhumane" and left many traumatised.
"If
we get an apology, I think it's a wonderful and important
community
event. It's a recognition that what happened was wrong and
traumatic," she said, adding that many 78ers had lost their
lives to HIV.
Melissa
Gibson with 78ers Julie McCrossin and Ron Austin at the
Sydney Mardi
Gras 2013. Photo:
Supplied
"The
most important thing is that the young people right now who
think
they might be LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender,
or queer) know they are part of the community and that
discrimination by law against us, let alone by the
representatives of
the law, the police service, is wrong."
That
the bipartisan apology will come from the coalition
government, she
said, was particularly exciting.
"I
don't doubt I'll cry," she said. "This is emotional, this
is personal."
Mr
Notley-Smith said the apology "will acknowledge the
significance of the events of that night in June 38 years
ago; the
struggles and harm caused to the many who took part in the
demonstration and march, both on that night and in the
weeks, months
and years to follow. Many 78ers are no-longer with us; many
have
lived a life of hurt and pain, and many took their own
lives. This
apology is for all of them."
Penny
Sharpe, Shadow Minister for the Planning, Environment
and Heritage,
said: "The tenacity of the 78ers paved the way for three
decades
of law reform. It will be an important moment in the history
of NSW
to see recognition of their contribution and an apology for
the
treatment they received for standing up for what is right."
Ms
McCrossin acknowledged that the state and police now played
a large
role in Mardi Gras and had taken steps towards equality, but
added
that she looked forward to the day when religious leaders
apologised
for discrimination of the LGBTQ community within Catholic,
Anglican,
Jewish Orthodox and Muslim circles.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/thrilled-and-emotional-78ers-to-take-to-parliament-for-state-apology-20160221-gmziin.html#ixzz40s9OTBjk
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