Pinkboard's SGLMG Graffiti Wall 9

Mardi Gras Logo Membership issues are back on the agenda. Should there be two grades of membership? Who should participate in the governance?

The Mardi Gras Festival is just around the corner.


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Copyright (C) Pinkboard, 1999-2000. Not to be reproduced without permission. The opinions expressed on this wall are not necessarily those of Pinkboard. Racism, sexism, libel and other offensiveness is not welcome. Pinkboard reserves the right to edit any contributions. Please use smileys to make sure your humour is understood.
Lets make this a wall of love, where we all try and understand and accept each other, despite our differences.
Wed Dec 29 11:02:45 1999
How about we work together to deal with issues that effect us all.
For example a recent study shows how homophobia is effecting Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual youth - http://www.smh.com.au/news/9912/29/national/national7.html
While another article tells how the government has given $700million to church groups for the Job Network - http://news.ninemsn.com.au/01_national/story_11766.asp
I don't know how some of you feel, but I'm really pissed off! How dare these homophobic churches be given my tax money, they are the ones who cause most of the problems around homophobia. And guess what they don't have to abide to anti-discrimination laws. These are the sort of things we should be fighting, and Mardi Gras is the best tool we have to take them on. For those of you who are wondering why I'm so angry, how about checking out the Salvation Army's views on Homosexuality - http://www.salvationarmy.org/homosexu.htm
Wed Dec 29 13:21:47 1999
At last, we have gotten to the topic that unites us all. Let's hope this is just a prelude to us all working together to overcome the bigotry that prevents us from achieving our true potential. Now this is contructive discussion.
Wed Dec 29 15:28:50 1999
"Anyone who works for an organisation like Mission Employment or the Salvation Army Employment Plus or Wesley Employment or the Catholic Church's Centre Care agency obviously would have to understand the ethos." - Employment Services Minister Tony Abbott.

I wonder if believing that same-sex love is a natural and beautiful thing, would rule me out as "understanding the ethos of the these churches"?

This issue is a very serious one for the GLBT community, the State and Churches should be seperate, but what is happening is the governement is handing over power and money to religious organisations, and not any religious organisations, but ones who have an ugly record when it comes to homophobia.
serious shit! - Wed Dec 29 17:13:32 1999


This should be a big topic for the next Mardi Gras Parade. Not sure how you would represent our outrage in a float, but I'm sure someone creative would know how.
Wed Dec 29 17:17:35 1999
It strikes me that we have two problems here! One is apathy in around 90% of the current informed members. a second concern, the fairness of election for anyone other than we already have?
Discussion - Wed Dec 29 17:41:50 1999
The difficulty in politicising the mardi gras parade is one of it's major problems. TV networks and promoters with money involved don't like to admit to the real problems we all face in a heterosexist society. Perhaps some performance would be effective. I've heard whispers of some underground activity however...
Mstery - Wed Dec 29 21:37:02 1999
There is over half a million people coming to watch, this alone with out television makes the parade quite influential.
Thu Dec 30 0:17:11 1999
Since when do we care about making "good television"??? Mardi Gras is, and always has been, a political rally. Just cause we do it with humor doesn't make it any less political.
It's a protest not a party - Thu Dec 30 1:09:06 1999
How many straight rock stars will explain gay lifestyle this time!
Bono`s sunglasses - Thu Dec 30 7:05:56 1999
When main-stream society thinks of Mardi Gras, they think of an extravagant event, with drag queens, lesbian bikies.....Wouldn't it be great if they looked to it, to get an insight into what human rights political messages the GLBT community believes important. We were getting close to this, but still everyone sees it as a freak show, possibly we need to be a little more overt in our messages of protest.
Thu Dec 30 12:50:46 1999
Welcome to the new Millennium!


Sat Jan 1 0:04:20 2000


Has someone hacked into Pinkboard, 'cause on the opening page it says "If you see this then Pinkboard is KY compliant"!!!! I think it should be Y2K don't you think??? :)
Sat Jan 1 17:07:50 2000
It says "time to be naughty"
late nineties - Sun Jan 2 12:05:31 2000
Sat Jan 1 17:07:50 2000 - your an deadset idiot.
Sun Jan 2 23:14:16 2000
Nice to see the quality of discussion has moved upwards lately.
Mon Jan 3 22:02:27 2000
With all this slagging off of Churches, I just want to say that you don't have to be atheist to be GLB or T. Various religions were/are right for the levels of understanding that existed at the time, and everyone takes time to change. They're changing.
God, Jesus, Buddah - they don't judge and neither should we. So if you believe, there's no need to hang your head in shame at what some Churches say.
The whole world, the whole planet is going through a wonderful change for the better, right now. The force is unstoppable, and the force is spiritual.
Innerpeace - Mon Jan 3 23:16:51 2000
God, Jesus and Buddah may have talked about peace and treating pple with respect, but I'm afraid that modern day churches do nothing of the sort. (Sounds kind of like '78 MG and corporate MG). It is churches and organised religion that we are having a go at, not Jesus et al.
Mon Jan 3 23:32:45 2000
I don't think anyone said that *all* churches are homophobic, some are wonderfully supportive and treat Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender people as equals to Heterosexuals. The Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) is a great example of a church that doesn't discriminate against people based on sexuality.

But the Churches that have recently been given tax payers money, do freely discriminate and make public statements against homosexuality, they have also been known to provide services to people based on sexuality.

Archbishop Pell of the Catholic church in Melbourne, has recently come out in support of organisations that attempts to 'cure' homosexuality. The Salvation Army in San Francisco lost much of its public funding because they were unable (refused) to offer equal charity services to same-sex couples as opposite-sex couples. The Salvation Army's Bethesda Hospital in Richmond army was ruled against and fined, in a case that was the first unlawful termination claim for homosexual victimisation heard by the Federal Court (1/6/98).

festival-of-darkness - Tue Jan 4 1:06:41 2000


Check out this link for the Salvation Army's view on Homosexuality:-
http://www.salvationarmy.org/homosexu.htm

Then make your own decision on whether you are happy that the government is giving your tax money to this Church.
Tue Jan 4 1:34:40 2000


Try this site if the Salvation Army site is down - http://www.sallynet.org/pos5.htm
Tue Jan 4 1:45:06 2000
This discussion is off topic. Please move it to the Off Topic Graffiti Wall.
Panther - Tue Jan 4 8:58:46 2000
Panther, perhaps since what is discussed here is to do with community and not necessarily Mardi Gras itself, which should remain separate from community, there should be a gay community discussion wall??
Just a suggestion - Tue Jan 4 9:47:10 2000
I think that the underlying topic of this wall has always remained the same. ie. politics, whether it be about MG or about the federal government. We have always been discussing what constitutes equality and how we should be treating people, so i think that this (talking about federal government) is just a natrual progression. However isn't it nice for a change that we're all on the same side?? Too bad we have to be opressed in order for that to happen.
Tue Jan 4 11:19:33 2000
Yes, funny that when things turn bad, we can work together, but when things seem good, we are prefer to exclude people from our real cool party.
Tue Jan 4 11:45:25 2000
I believe this subject is very much on topic. Is Mardi Gras not about fighting for our rights as equals, fighting against this sort of rubbish from the Salvos?
Tue Jan 4 12:10:44 2000
But doesn't Mardi Gras treat people differently based on sexuality? So how could Mardi Gras effectively fight against the Salvation Army's sexuality discrimination?
takes one to know one - Tue Jan 4 12:20:10 2000
Gay & Lesbian Rights Lobby is about fighting for our rights - not Mardi Gras!
Tue Jan 4 13:23:34 2000
Are you saying Mardi Gras has nothing to do with the fight for equal rights for Gay and Lesbian people?
Tue Jan 4 13:31:15 2000
Did we alll notice how, if only for one day, the world got together and celebrated something 'special'. The following day they were at each others' throats again. Sounds like our beloved Mardi Gras - let's hope not!
Tue Jan 4 13:50:10 2000
Gay & Lesbian Rights Lobby is as the name suggests a "Lobby Group*. Mardi Gras may not lobby the government for change, but it definately is about fighting for change, mainly through the parade.
Tue Jan 4 13:50:24 2000
I think Mardi Gras, Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby, Anti-Discrimination Board and everyone else who is against what Tony Abbott (Minister for Employment Services) is promoting, should work together before all the work we have done over the last 20 years is lost. What we have is a serious conservative backlash occurring, if we don't do something soon, things are going to get even uglier.

Chris Puplick (Anti-Discrimination Board) opinion on the issue - http://www.smh.com.au/news/0001/04/features/features3.html

Tue Jan 4 16:53:54 2000


It's really quite funny reading this wall :-) Love all the talk about "anti-discrimination", "working together", "acceptance" and "equal rights". Try ticking Bisexual on a Mardi Gras application and you'll get an idea of how those words apply in you're own backyard.
Bisexual Out and Proud - Tue Jan 4 17:16:03 2000
Mardi Gras better get the issue of Bisexual discrimination resolved real soon. If we want to fight the Christian Right effectively, we don't want any chance of bad publicity, as they would love to through it back at us.
Tue Jan 4 17:36:10 2000
Will Squirtz be offering any theatre this year as an alternative to the mainstream Mardi Gras dross? Last year's plays were great.
Tony - Tue Jan 4 18:55:42 2000
What application is that? I phoned the Mardi Gras office for one, left a message, and...nada.
Tue Jan 4 22:07:15 2000
So, Mardi Gras as we know it will fail as an organisation, and Fox will step in to save the "Sydney Mardi Gras" (complete with workshops for the construction of floats etc, funding, space for the party, broadcast rights and 24 hour access to the Fox facilities at Moore Park)?
Tue Jan 4 23:12:42 2000
Tue Jan 4 13:23:34 2000 - Contrary to what the Gay and Rights Lobby may think, it does not have a monopoly on fighting for gay and lesbian rights. Nor should it. The fact that the Lobby often behaves as if it has a monopoly is one of the many things wrong with it. Scratch the Lobby below the surface, and you'll find a group that is hardly representative of the community it claims to represent. How many members does it have - a lot less I bet than the number of people who actually attended the Mardi Gras AGM. How many people attended the Lobby's last AGM. The Star didn't report the number - is that because it was embarrassingly low? How many people nominated for the Lobby committee - enough to hold an election? What about the people it forced out? Whatever happened to Sam Levy for example? What about the people it has refused membership to? Didn't it engage in that a few years ago? What about bisexuals in the Lobby - they may be able to join, but are they welcome? When was the last time the Lobby had a genuine open public forum? Compared to the Lobby Mardi Gras is a democrats paradise.
Wed Jan 5 7:16:34 2000
From a Bisexual perspective, I can tell you the Lobby sucks big time, Sam Levy was the only person to treat us with respect, and hence we turned up in large numbers to the rallies. If it was left up to Stevie, I can guarantee you we would not of bothered, as after all who wants to help an organisation run by people that treat you like scum.
Wed Jan 5 11:58:33 2000
Actually Fox will soon own Mardi gras lock stock and drag queens. The extended licences they are applying for are not for Mardi Gras but for themselves. They intend to stage their own after Mardi Gras party where homosexually challenged persons will be able to watch us performing over the fence from their new two story bars, and view the shows being telecast on Foxtel. But you probably think I'm joking ... just like everyone did about Jimmy Barnes.
The Phantom Insider - Wed Jan 5 16:03:00 2000
Sun Jan 2 23:14:16 2000 - it should be "you are" or "you're A deadset idiot". Your doesn't mean the same thing as you're or you are. And you use the word "an" only when the next word starts with vowel or an "h". PS. It said "Pinkboard is KY compliant when I looked at it".
KY2K Jelly - for when you want four digits to fit where two previously did. - Wed Jan 5 17:17:30 2000
Please don't censor me Panter, because I know it was off topic (some might even say just "off") but it was funny!!!!!!
Wed Jan 5 17:19:10 2000
*** gay sex guru ***
Wed Jan 5 17:36:23 2000
Welcome
Wed Jan 5 20:48:14 2000
I believe that the Lobby and MG both fight for our rights, they just do it in different ways. The lobby (funnily enough) "lobbies" the government to change laws which discriminate against sexual minorities. MG, on the other hand, is there to challenge the Australian communities ideas about what our communities are about. They both fight (well they're supposed to) for our rights, just in different ways. One through changing laws, the other through changing the general communities perception.
Wed Jan 5 23:08:38 2000
I think the reason that the Lobby doesn't have hardly any members is because it doesn't throw any really cool parties.
This says more about our community than it does about the lobby - Wed Jan 5 23:11:59 2000
Wed Jan 5 11:58:33 2000 - Isn't it funny how 20,000 people pay $70 twice a year each to have a really cool party to celebrate our triumph over hetersexism and homophobia and yet only 2,000 people turned up to the rallies so that we would have something to celebrate.

Funny also how bisexuals aren't allowed as members of MG (so presumably they aren't welcome the parties either)and yet they turned up in force to all the rallies.
What's going on here, I thought MG was about fighting for our rights and not just an excuse to have a party (A confused young gay man) - Wed Jan 5 23:18:09 2000


Mardi Gras was about fighting for rights - once. But those rights have now all been won. As a gay urban professional living in my modern apartment in downtown Darlinghurst I have all the rights I need or could ever want. In fact, I have so many rights, I'm never going to get round to using them all. I can walk down Oxford Street arm and arm with my latest boyfriend; I can pick up trade from any number of places whenever I'm bored with him, I can do virtually all my business with other gay men - I have a gay doctor, a gay accountant, gay dentist, gay chiropractor, gay aroma therapist, gay travel agent. The staff at the delli, the bottle shop, the clothing store where I do most of my shopping are all gay. Most of the people I work with aren't gay, but they're not homophobic towards me - the reverse in fact. They're all gay friendly and support our community. I know this because they all want me to sign their Mardi Gras membership forms and get them party tickets. Everything's really great. I can't understand why other people moan and whinge about oppression and discrimination. I don't experience it. I just don't think it exists any more. Well, maybe in some redneck outback country towns - but if people are silly enough to want to live there rather than in a great gay environment, they shouldn't complain. So I reckon we should celebrate everything we've achieved. Forget the boring politics and lets party!
Thu Jan 6 7:29:55 2000
Can I ask a question of you? Where did you grow up? And how long did it take between the time you first experienced homophobia as a child and when you finally had a chance to escape that homophobia??
Thu Jan 6 8:50:43 2000
The parade is seen as a freak show by most Australians. Just a bunch of fags in little shorts being perverts.
What do you expect when that's all that's screened on television - Thu Jan 6 8:52:34 2000
I think you will find that this year's Parade will be sold in a slightly different light. Firstly, it is a celebration and if some can't quite grasp that concept then they are the ignorant ones. Remember, the entrants in the Parade decide the "look" - MG just tries to make some sense/order of the incredibly diverse representation that the Parade attracts. It is important for the Parade to have a theme but within this 'theme' (if achievable) are many, many sub-plots of who we are. That's what makes it the most diverse Parade in the country. Only Carnivale comes close to exhibiting, to the GP, the community diversity that MG does.
Thu Jan 6 9:30:14 2000
"Firstly, it is a celebration and if some can't quite grasp that concept then they are the ignorant ones." - whose opinion is this? who are you speaking for?
Thu Jan 6 12:05:32 2000
Thu Jan 6 9:30:14 2000 - I agree that MG is only trying to co-ordinate the entrants into some kind of theme, but the community is what makes up the floats and they are the ones we have to convince to make a worthwhile contribution because don't you think we've already seen enough marching boys (Usually by the hundreds several times in every parade). It's time we all started to see our place in the greater scheme of things.
Thu Jan 6 16:50:40 2000
When do we get to find out the dj's for mardi gras party.Why should I be "forced" to buy a ticket before they sell out not knowing who is going to perfom as the dj's....which for me is the most important part of the night...ie...music selection. Can someone answer this ridiculuous riddle for me?
HeyMusicLover - Thu Jan 6 19:13:44 2000
And now we get onto another vitally important topic.... the DJ line-up for our (fundraising) party.
The above comment should be read as sarcasm - Thu Jan 6 23:11:31 2000
Athough it is off the current discussion HeyMusicLover's question is more than valid. Regardless of whether one is assisting in fundraising, I believe one needs to be entertained sufficiently at a dance party. You should not write everyone with an interest in the parties off as merely a "party boy". One may decide not to go the party because there may not be sufficient entertainment value, but then contribute in another way.

Aside from this, with Mardi Gras appearing more and more like a farcical organisation with its rediculous apparent attitudes to bisexuals, is it any wonder people are losing interest in its original goals and changing focus to only the things they are getting out of Mardi Gras, ie a party every six months??
JJC - Fri Jan 7 11:52:51 2000


It's not every 6 months. Starting with MG, it's 7 months to Sleaze. Starting with Sleaze, it's 5 months to MG.
Get it right - Fri Jan 7 13:42:54 2000
Actually, rumour has it that henceforth there will only be a party every 12 months. Save the last Sleaze for me.
EC - Fri Jan 7 14:39:56 2000
EC - What crap!
Fri Jan 7 14:50:39 2000
Really? As crap as Jimmy Barnes performing at Mardi Gras? Thought for the day: if a party costs hundreds of thousands of dollars ($300 000 now in hire fees to Fox alone) and does not make enough money to justify the huge effort and cost that go into it, is there any point in continuing to stage it? Don't ask me for the answer, ask the Mardi Gras board.
EC - Fri Jan 7 19:23:10 2000
EC - You are just a trouble maker. Do you know how many party boys you are going to send into a panic now???? I bet Sleaze tickets will be in more demand now than MG tickets are..... hang on... maybe you're just a very good MG marketing manager who'll ensure that this year's Sleaze will be sold out 6 months in advance. Good thinking then. We may as well get everything we can out of the party boys while we still can before that bad batch of e's makes the rounds soon.
Fri Jan 7 19:28:37 2000
Let`s take all take care of the slack
matthew - Fri Jan 7 20:41:28 2000
EC - Fri Jan 7 19:23:10 2000 - why not sell Sleaze Ball to Fox, and enable Fox to sell tickets to whoever they like ... but if they do that, there'll be even less reason for anyone to join Mardi Gras.
Sat Jan 8 14:03:55 2000
Not all people join MG for party tickets. Some of us actually believe in the ideals of '78
Sat Jan 8 14:41:15 2000
*** the cubs **** the right to bear arms ****
on for the exiled furrys - Sat Jan 8 14:51:56 2000
Sat Jan 8 14:41:15 2000 - True, but you're less than 10% of the total membership. If the other 90% didn't have to join to buy party tickets, they wouldn't be members.
Sat Jan 8 21:28:28 2000
Maybe the Rights Lobby should do something along those lines. You know, say something like, "if you're not a member then you can't come along to the rallies", maybe then people will think it's "kewl" and "with it" to attend the rallies and fight for your rights.
Sat Jan 8 22:54:34 2000
Sat Jan 8 22:54:34 2000 - Then no one would turn up to the Lobby's rallies.
Sun Jan 9 11:57:16 2000
Is it time for Mardi Gras to go mainstream?????????? Or is it time for it to rediscover its roots and get back to basics. The idea of Mardi Gras is for all us to join in not just the rich and beautiful. The price of party tickets and other tickets has moved the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras from the community basket into the well heeled basket. We are not all well off!! So do something about the exorbitant cost of things or Mardi Gras will become Fox Studios Festival of the new millenium.
Regional Queen - Sun Jan 9 18:52:34 2000
You heard it here first! Boy George and Culture Club are definitely playing at Mardi Gras. Was told this by Jon Moss himself, so this one is right from the source! He said the band, which is touring the UK on their reunion tour with Banarama, have already been approached by Mardi Gras to perform at the party and they all said yes. So, a world-famous gay male singer at Mardi Gras! Wow, what a novelty. The other story is the brilliant Paul Capsis is definitely opening the Mardi Gras party in a spectacular show. Believe ir or not, Capsis has never been asked to perform at Mardi Gras (maybe because his surname isn't Minogue), but at last MG have seen the error of their way and asked the internationally acclaimed and very openly queer (not to mention brilliant) Australian star to perform at the party. It's about bloody time, but it will be a hot. Am looking forward to seeing Capsis do his stuff - that is unless MG have a change of heart and decide to drag out Melissa Tkautz, Toni Pearen or Collette to perform any of their brilliant past hits. Okay, so they are not gay, haven't had a hit in almost a decade and have no affinity with the gay community either, but when has that stopped our beloved organisation before. It's must be Capsis or no one.
Veda Pierce - Mon Jan 10 0:35:42 2000
Regional Queen - I would be more than happy if the MG party tickets price went up even further if it meant that all my festival events got subsidised by party boys.
There's more to MG than just the (fundraising) party - Mon Jan 10 6:09:06 2000
Veda - if this is true, I think this little gay-boy will have finally come of age, and moved on from the gay party set altogether. Totally frustrated at Mardi Gras obvious "age" with no attempts made to please younger fags with music or entertainment, I don't think I'll bother. I was still in kindy when the Culture Club were anything. Now they're nothing, but living off their past. Whoopeedoo!
Mon Jan 10 11:30:53 2000
PS - As mentioned by someone else on the Party wall, it is about time Mardi Gras started to cater to the younger fags out there, cos when all the old lot die off, you'll have no-one to support you if you've not done anything for the young'ns!
Mon Jan 10 11:32:29 2000
a gay in the life
Mon Jan 10 12:19:03 2000
Bring on Culture club then!!!! If it means that it'll divert one young gay man from becoming a party boy then it's worth the price
Mon Jan 10 15:22:05 2000
What's wrong with party boys? Every community needs its gammas.
Mon Jan 10 20:50:42 2000
there's nothing wrong with party boys, we all need some brain dead people around to remind us how lucky we are that our brain still works, it's only when they overtake the community, become a majority of us and endanger everything that we've fought for over the last 21 years in our (r)evolution that we have to start worring
Mon Jan 10 23:34:42 2000
Gammas? Don't you mean Epsilons - with a capital 'E'?
Tue Jan 11 4:35:41 2000
Mon Jan 10 15:22:05 2000 - Working in a paid capacity for a high profile HIV/AIDS treatment organisation, and in a volunteer capacity for another, I don't really see myself as being merely a party boy. I see myself as being community focussed, as opposed to scene focussed. It just happens that one of my "hobbies" or passions is quality dance music, and dancing to same. Where is the problem in that?? I mostly go out to places outside the gay scene. I doubt I will ever become a gay party boy.
The guy who posted at Mon Jan 10 11:30:53 2000 - Tue Jan 11 10:01:30 2000
I wonder if David McLachlan will say the B word at the Mardi Gras Opening Ceremony? As I'm sure it will go a long way in helping mend the rift caused by the exclusion of bisexuals. Who knows, may be bisexuals will come to cheer this time, instead of jeer.
We are family. - Tue Jan 11 11:24:30 2000

We so aren't - Tue Jan 11 11:27:52 2000
Of course we are family, we have everything any family has:- fighting, bitterness, love, jealousy, hate, pride, shared history......hell, sometimes queerness is even thicker then blood.

Whether we are a dysfunctional family or not, is the question.
We are family. - Tue Jan 11 12:45:28 2000


Whether David says the B word or not won't be the question. The question is what he will talk about, how he'll be able to talk about the discrimination that people of sexual minorities are faced with and how unfair this treatment is. Truth is that he won't be able to say anything along these lines because everyone will know that we don't deserve to be treated with equality as long as we don't do the same with others
Tue Jan 11 18:12:33 2000
Regardless of the question, the amount of thought behind the ideal of Equality, and what we as many people want
should play a big part - Tue Jan 11 19:44:37 2000
Tue Jan 11 18:12:33 2000 - I hope David says absolutely nothing at all at the MG opening ceremony. because, let's face it, he really hasn't much to say.
Tue Jan 11 20:27:05 2000
I believe David is the macho image of Mardi Gras as opposed to the screaming Queen image. Thank You David , say nothing, stand there and look butch. We are rooting for you.
Regional Queen - Tue Jan 11 20:45:51 2000
The guy who posted at Mon Jan 10 11:30:53 2000 - Tue Jan 11 10:01:30 2000 - Volunteering for F&E doesn't count as altruism as in most instances those motives are far more basal and primitive.
The above post is the opinion of the poster :) - Wed Jan 12 0:02:58 2000
Regional Queen - Tue Jan 11 20:45:51 2000 - Surely the second last word of your message should not be there.
Wed Jan 12 9:40:58 2000
**** Lycra or not **** Pokeaman
Wed Jan 12 9:59:13 2000
The above post is the opinion of the poster :) - Wed Jan 12 0:02:58 2000 - I don't volunteer with Fun and Esteem.
The guy who posted at Mon Jan 10 11:30:53 2000 - Wed Jan 12 10:12:49 2000
If you don't like who is representing you on the Mardi Gras Board - do something for yourself - vote them out and stop whinging!
sick of it! - Wed Jan 12 12:33:36 2000
Sick of it! - That has proven more difficult than one would initially think. The current board are a well-connected bunch, and seem to be very good at ensuring through the organisation of proxies that they receive enough votes to be voted in.
Wed Jan 12 13:33:20 2000
I agree with sick of it. If you don't like who is on the board and are too gutless to sign your own name to crititism then P.O.Q. To stand up publicly as the leader of an organisation such as SGLMG and then listen to petty bitcheness from '2.1km' Sydney Queens is a mathmoth thing me thinks. Give the man a medal. He's done us proud.
Regional Queen - Wed Jan 12 15:34:18 2000
sick of it! - Wed Jan 12 12:33:36 2000 - The peple on the Mardi Gras Board don't represent me. I didn't vote for any of them. As for voting them out, you'd have better chance voting out the government of the Peoples Republic of China, the Government of North Korea, or the Queensland National Party when Joh ran the show.
Wed Jan 12 16:09:00 2000
q. How many Australian gay and lesbian artists on the new Mardi gras CD?
Wed Jan 12 16:29:36 2000
what percentage?
Wed Jan 12 20:41:26 2000
q (Wed Jan 12 16:29:36 2000) Don't you know that MG is no longer about gay men and lesbians???? It's no longer about solidarity. It's no longer about fighting homophobia. It's about making money now. But I reckon that some people are going to move in on their territory and cash in on the ground work that the party scene has created. Hopefully the cheap e that they are using won't have too bad an effect on the consumers
Polce insider - Wed Jan 12 21:21:37 2000
Yes and the party that is going to move in on Mardi Gras territory is a corporate giant that no one seems to be albe to kill - one Rupert Murdoch and his Fox!
so obvious - Thu Jan 13 0:36:39 2000
Actually i was referring to drug pushers (see the Party wall)
Thu Jan 13 11:08:34 2000
dealers, not pushers. Users, not junkies.
Thu Jan 13 13:50:50 2000
Lets face it recreational drug use is a part of our community. And if people can do sky diving, motorbike riding, mountain climbing as recreation without anyone judging them, why can we not take recreational drugs? The sports I mentioned have a significantly higher danger of injury or death then popping an E (or 2 or 3..) on the weekend.
I'm not a brain dead party boy. - Thu Jan 13 15:48:41 2000
users.... junkies.... what's the diff. They all wind up dead if they're lucky - if not lucky then it's just their brains that die
Thu Jan 13 17:08:44 2000
and there is a slight difference between motor bike riding and drug taking in that motor bike riding isn't chemically addictive
Thu Jan 13 17:11:10 2000
oh yeah, and motor bike riding is butch too
Thu Jan 13 17:12:00 2000
Crap! Motor Bike riding is chemically addictive (if we are to use your analysis), ever heard of adrenaline? And for your information ecstasy is not chemically additive, in fact it is impossible to be physically/chemically addicted to ecstasy, try taking it for 3 days in a row and see if you get any effects on the third day. However it can be psychologically additive, but so can bike riding, sex, being pissed on, Internet, power etc...

If you are going to make such broad statements it is a good idea to have your facts remotely correct.
I'm not a brain dead party boy. - Thu Jan 13 18:03:57 2000


Mardi Gras should fight for the rights of drug users! After all that is what most of its members are interested in....well drugs, sex and dance music anyway. If you think really hard, you might realise that prohibition is caused by very similar attitudes that cause homophobia (don't hurt your brains thinking too hard though).
Thu Jan 13 18:13:03 2000
Stuff the drugs. I want Chocolate.
Regional Queen - Thu Jan 13 19:20:07 2000
City or country Chocolate?
Thu Jan 13 21:28:23 2000
I'm not a brain dead party boy - Ecstasy is not a natural drug found in your body. Adrenaline is.

Drug users/junkies take drugs to escape reality. Adrenaline is used to enhance reality.

Ecstasy ruins your brain permanently, leading to severe bouts of depression and there is no way you can repair this damage. If you wanna ruin your brain, fine. But don't expect the rest of us to stand by while you take down an organisation that is there to fight homophobia with you.

The gay community has got some serious problems with substance abuse (tobacco and alcohol included) and some of us are smart enough to see that this is causing damage to our community. It is time MG, as well as all the other party organisations, finally said something on this issue instead of just using party culture to raise funds.
Thu Jan 13 21:49:27 2000


PS you didn't have any counter to my other point. Motor bike riding is butch.
Thu Jan 13 21:52:53 2000
Drug do enhance reality, I'm on them now and you seem like a more reasoned person then you really are.
I'm not a brain dead party boy, well not yet :-) - Fri Jan 14 0:18:13 2000
Thanks for the CD Launch - shame the crowd was sooooooooooooo inspiring. Anyway, good luck for another mad season of gay frivolity!
Fri Jan 14 11:36:12 2000
Thanks for the CD Launch - shame the crowd was sooooooooooooo inspiring. Anyway, good luck for another mad season of gay frivolity!
Fri Jan 14 11:36:13 2000
Big Congratulations to Mardi Gras for once deciding to do something a little different and less mainstream with the collection of tracks on this years MG compilation!!
Something real for a change!!! Yippeeeeeeeeeeeee!! - Fri Jan 14 11:39:41 2000
You mean there are no lesbiphobic try-hard fag hags on it?
Fri Jan 14 11:44:36 2000
You got it babe!!
Fri Jan 14 12:42:42 2000
These posts are off topic and should be moved to the Party wall. We only discuss matters of substance here.
Fri Jan 14 13:23:15 2000
Did you say substance?
Fri Jan 14 13:41:34 2000
That is absolute bollocks. This is a Sydney Gay and LesbianMardi Gras wall!! If you want substance, I suggest you look elsewhere!
Fri Jan 14 15:21:44 2000
hey man, what sort of substances are you wanting?
Fri Jan 14 15:49:18 2000
Why aren't DJs announced before tickets sell out? Because they haven't been selected. It isn't a marketing ploy - dozens of tapes and CDs are submitted by DJs all over Australian and the world and they all have to be listened to, shortlisted and voted upon. FYI DJs should be announced in next week's SSO and Q so keep an eye out.

As for Culture Club - they're not appearing and neither is Boy George. The internationals for the Party (entertainment and DJs) are far more up with it than that. Keep your ears to the ground boys.

And one last thing - Arrivals Party will have at least one international DJ from the UK. It's selling faster than the Party to the internationals so be quick if you want to sample some multicultural fare...
someone with their ear closer to the ground - Fri Jan 14 16:59:24 2000
My multicultural arse!!
Fri Jan 14 18:00:30 2000
Great post, Thu Jan 13 21:49:27, great post. I couldn't say it better myself, so here's a bit of yours again: :-) <>

But you have to remember that most of the party organisations *want* everyone to be on E. After all, it fills their dance floors. And if the truth be known, I'd bet that half if not more of the MG board have taken it if not still do. That isn't necessarily a criticism of them, it just demonstrates how far into mainstream gay culture E has reached. What I think is really sad is that people feel that they have to take it at all in order to have a good time. What's wrong with getting high on life? Are people's lives so awful, so shallow, that they have to escape from them with an E, even if it means long-term damage?

MG *could* be a bit of a beacon for the gay "community" on this. Will it?
free spirit - Fri Jan 14 18:47:37 2000


a second concern,
Fri Jan 14 21:27:09 2000
lets ban Drugs and Alcohol at the party. Lets drink Milkshakes and snort fresh air only. Get real this is the nauties. Country Chocolate goes futher.
Regional Queen - Fri Jan 14 21:44:15 2000
Regional queen - Why are you out there past George St?? Don't you know that nothing happens out there!!! Come into the ghetto where the only things that count happen!! Get with the times baby!!! There's no longer any need for you to live out in the wilderness
The above post is the sarcasm of the poster - Sat Jan 15 1:51:18 2000
More Soma! More Soma! More Soma!
Sat Jan 15 7:00:04 2000
The wilderness is where the real people live. Mardi Gras is the time when we all trek to Sydney to join in with all the city folk and observe the 'attitude' that Sydney exudes. Get over the attitude because Mardi Gras has outgrown it. It is the nauties and Sydney Queen attitude is out and Regional realism is in. But we still like your sex venues......
Regional Queen - Sat Jan 15 20:07:34 2000
I thought that that drugs were a Sydney queen attitude (referring to your post on Fri Jan 14 21:44:15 2000), and that you were all for realism. Were you being sarcastic in your comment? 'cause it didn't show
Sat Jan 15 20:22:43 2000
Drugs are not only a Sydney attitude. They are all around us but the Sydney scene glamafies it and normalises it to an extent that to belong in the Sydney scene you need to take drugs. It appears to many of us that without drugs the 2.1km Sydney Queen getto that the Mardi Gras parade will move through would wither up and die. Does our community have a drug problem or not. And if it does is Mardi Gras to blame (or credit)??
Regional Queen - Sat Jan 15 22:02:14 2000
I wouldn't say that MG is to blame for the drug problem. But I do think that they have a responsibility (along with Pride, Acon and every other organisation that raises funds through dance parties) to address the problem. There was that case in the US last year were a major organisation (I think it was the NY Gay men's health service) cancelled one of their major parties because of all the drugs and consequently all the barebacking that frequently accompanies drug taking, that was taking place at their parties. Now if i recall correctly some other group held a dance party instead and reaped the financial reward, so maybe that is what is happening here. Maybe if MG stops having a party on the October long weekend or Pride on NYE or Acon on the Queens birthday, then some other organisation will come along and fill the spot and then those organisations will have achieved nothing except losing out on the funds they would have raised had they held the party. Still I think it's a stand they should take (on drugs - not cancelling the parties)
Sat Jan 15 22:12:43 2000
Hang on guys, do none of you believe in the concept of "if it hurt no one.....". Our opponents believe that there is a risk involved with our lifestyle (being Gay), and this is reason to oppress us, and why there has been (is) laws against our sexual behaviour. This is not very different to criminalising drug use and treating drug users as less then human. The safest and least oppressive method is to educated about responsible use, so that individuals may manage the risk (including not to use), not just of the drugs them selves, but including issues such of unprotected sex.
reasoned point of view - Sun Jan 16 2:05:17 2000
Everything is relative, the "if it hurt no-one..." argument too. Makers of snuff movies like that argument. I thought that opponents of gays per se were against us because they feared us, nothing more - they don't understand us, therefore we must be wrong. That there is a risk involved is just one of their arguments. But generally, reasoned, you're right, I reckon, in that greater understanding is always the way forward. If people were all more understanding towards one another anyway, then they wouldn't want E's in order to feel full of love. Why can't this analysis be turned around? People take E's to feel good, to feel loving. Why not just be loving? Mg could use that argument, couldn't it?
Sun Jan 16 3:11:46 2000
I have trouble understanding the fuss about e. The "legal" drugs...alchohol and tobacco....are at least if not more harmful to the body than drugs like e, and the social cost and fall out from abuse of legal drugs is staggering. The direct medical evidence of the harm caused by misuse is overwhelming. Yet, because they're socially acceptable, no one criticises their use. In my opinion, e is no different to the "legal" drugs....used responsibly, it makes you feel nice, with the unique effect of making you feel more friendly towards virtually every other person. For a short period of time, everything is good and peaceful - and it feels terrific, especially in a shared environment like a party. Misuse happens - yes. Some people are idiots and try to push it too far - yes. But in no smaller or greater proportion than what happens with the legal drugs in broader society. For me, the point is that using recreational drugs - like e - has nowhere near the social impact (in terms of health problems and social problems such as violence) caused by misuse of mainstream drugs. I'm sure everyone saw the newspaper reports of police comments re NYE, where they said they had the most peaceful NYE in memory, and they believed an increased use of e probably contributed. Lastly, I can't see how this is a SGLMG or Pride or ACON problem. What can they do to stop it? Drug use is a persohal decision. Even if they could stop it, I believe the result would be less support for the parties, which in turn would put stress on their viability. Anyway, this is just my personal opinion. Can I hear you snoring already ?? : )
jeffgg - Sun Jan 16 9:16:16 2000
Then again, it may be a combination of many things? And having Organisations at our disposal ... with vested interest, should show signs of Care!
Live - Sun Jan 16 10:32:49 2000
We're heading off topic here, perhaps, but. This still relates to the hoped for discouragement of drug-taking at the SGLMG parties.... A whole lot of people are criticising use of tobacco and alcohol. Have a look at a cigarette packet if you think otherwise. Or drink and drive regs. And that's just a part of the criticism they get, continually.

There are so many reasons why this NYE was to be a peaceful one. Consider that the overwhelming majority of people at the NYE events generally were not on E. It was the millenium, you know! Not just any old NYE! "Eternity"! Couple the immensity of that on its own with the increasing level of spirituality amongst people in general (yes, really), which itself is not unconnected to the turn of the millenium, and you have the most peaceful NYE in memory. It was the non-drug-inspired desire for happiness amongst people at large that heightened the night's feeling of one-ness. E's were and are unnecessary.


Sun Jan 16 10:55:24 2000


Yeah, and illegal drugs don't get a battering every single day in the papers or on the tele... what drugs are you on?? Puh-lease!
Sun Jan 16 13:54:42 2000
The line between drug use and abuse is fine and easy to step over. We have to be continually on guard that we don't start depending on drugs whenever we want fun. The fact that the parties run from midnight to dawn, a time when most of us are usually asleep, means we are already in an altered state.
Sun Jan 16 13:59:22 2000
I don't think many of you have any idea why people take drugs recreationally. To put it simply, some people find drugs fun, just as some of us find sex, a good book or driving fast fun. People do not take drugs recreationally to escape from reality, the party drugs such as E, ACID and Speed are not the best for this purpose, in fact Alcohol which is easily accessible is far better and cheaper for the purpose of escaping reality.

How many of you would also agree that Mardi Gras should do something about our wine industry, after all they are promoting a drug that is abused by many individuals? Hang on, isn't Killawarra, Stolichnaya and Hann Ice major sponsors of this years Mardi Gras festival? I guess if Mardi Gras wants to make a concerted effort to ward people of illegal drugs, they should make the same effort with the legal ones, not quite sure how the sponsors would feel about this though.

But then again Mardi Gras is kind of famous for its double standards and hypocrisy, look at where bisexuals stand.
open your eyes. - Sun Jan 16 17:12:26 2000


Sun Jan 16 13:59:22 2000 - you said "The line between drug use and abuse is fine and easy to step over" - would you also say that the line between a beer drinker or wine connoisseur and alcoholic is a fine line?
no double standards! - Sun Jan 16 17:19:21 2000

Any one for coffee?

Sun Jan 16 17:21:42 2000
Sun Jan 16 3:11:46 2000 - you said "Everything is relative, the "if it hurt no-one..." argument too. Makers of snuff movies like that argument." - Excuse my ignorance, I don't know any makers of snuff movies, but doesn't someone get killed in a snuff movie? My opinion might be different to yours, but death of a healthy individual usually means they were hurt in someway.

Your attempt at linking drug users to snuff movies, is just the same as our enemies attempt to link homosexuality to paedophilia. This might be a great method to sensationalise an issue and to create ignorance and hate towards a specific group of people, but it certainly doesn't carry a great deal of logic.
does not compute. - Sun Jan 16 17:39:24 2000



No thanks, I prefer a cigerette break

Sun Jan 16 17:46:37 2000

You guys have given me a head ache, anyone got a Panadol?

Sun Jan 16 17:49:22 2000
So has any progess been made regarding the membership issue or was MG's statement late last year just an attempt to calm "undesirables" down so that they don't make a fuss during the festival???? Well if anyone from MG reads this (and they do no matter whether they admit it or not) they should take note that it is only a few weeks away from the festival and that they had better get moving with real progress regarding membership reform because no simple statement of intent will stop the new (r)evolution.

The membership issue will get resolved one way or another, it's just up to MG to decide whether the gay community comes out of this unscathed or not.
Sun Jan 16 20:09:58 2000


Over to you David?
Sun Jan 16 20:28:45 2000
Quite a few of us bisexuals, will be watching closely at what is said and done at the festival launch. What we plan for the time during the festival and what we will be doing come the parade will be determined by whether we feel the issue of bisexual inclusion will be actively pursued, or whether we feel the initial statement by Mardi Gras was just to keep us silent for the festival.
Sun Jan 16 20:55:24 2000
It won't only be bisexuals who will be watching what is said closely. There are plenty of gay men and lesbians who completely support the inclusion of our bisexual brothers and sisters and we are prepared to give full support all efforts needed in order to see that bigotry on the basis of someone's sexual orientation is eradicated from our community.
Sun Jan 16 21:21:30 2000
It was said at the membership meeting that not much more could be done before Mardi Gras. I agree that there have been no press releases or similar, but that is about all that could be achieved at this extremely busy time of year. The Festival, Parade and Party leave *no* time for MG volunteers (including the board) to do anything else.
Panther - Mon Jan 17 9:07:01 2000
How convenient
Mon Jan 17 10:18:38 2000
It doesn't take much of an effort to make some comments at the festival launch and at other relevent events.
Mon Jan 17 15:31:01 2000
The time for "comments" is up. They've had a whole year in which to deal with things and they haven't done anything. It's time for action now and that is all that will be acceptable.
Mon Jan 17 16:16:27 2000
no gays or lesbian artists on the new MG cd. shame shame shame
Mon Jan 17 16:56:24 2000
Both the DJs are Australian, aren't they?? It's a Dance Album, for god's sake
Mon Jan 17 17:43:03 2000
It won't only be bisexuals who will be watching what is said closely. There are plenty of gay men and lesbians who completely support the exclusion of bisexual men and women. Let them have their own festival.
Mon Jan 17 17:57:31 2000
bigot!
Mon Jan 17 18:30:23 2000
Of course there are many gay men and lesbians who support the exclusion of bisexuals, being gay or lesbian doesn't mean you are not a bigot. That is why some of us will not feel any guilt when/if we cause a lot of trouble that will have a negative impact on all queers.
Mon Jan 17 18:35:31 2000
oh happy f***ing Mardi Gras. sheesh
Mon Jan 17 21:51:54 2000
keep bi's out !!
anti bi takeover - Mon Jan 17 21:54:06 2000
Can someone please explain why they're bothered if I want to get off my face on e at a party and then bareback my boyfriend? This is our choice!!
Drugs & Sex are not my life! - Mon Jan 17 21:59:51 2000
Is the above post a feeble attempt by MG to keep the topic of bisexual exclusion? Good luck you're gonna need it.
Mon Jan 17 22:20:14 2000
Is the above post a feeble attempt by MG to keep the topic off bisexual exclusion? Good luck you're gonna need it.
Mon Jan 17 22:20:21 2000
Mon Jan 17 17:57:31 2000 - Please leave your name and address next time that you pop onto this board because I'd like to send around some homophobic cops around to your place to start beating the crap out of you. That way you could find out what it was really like at the original '78 MG because you obviously don't know what MG is really all about. Think of it as your history lesson - the practical component.
Mon Jan 17 22:23:35 2000
gay in the life
coming out soon - Mon Jan 17 23:17:16 2000
"Drugs and sex are not my life" - in case you are for real, just carry on as you want to, but don't expect society to take any care of you at all or to pay for the combination therapies that you're much more likely to need. And if you do need them, who should you blame? But of course, society would do something to try to help you, as it does for most of those who attempt suicide.


Tue Jan 18 0:11:13 2000


This drug taking/barebacking topic is just a ruse to keep the topic diverted off the more contraversial topic of bisexual inclusion (wow this really is a crazy world seeing as they are resorting to these tactics)
Tue Jan 18 0:20:29 2000
The topic of bisexual inclusion is not progressing at all. All we see here is threats to disrupt Mardi Gras.
Panther - Tue Jan 18 8:38:38 2000
As for barebacking - Seeing people having sex without condoms sends the message to other people that it is OK to have sex without condoms. So they do it without knowing or understanding the consequences, and they become infected with HIV. What people do in private is their own business, but when they are in public they must be mindful of their effect on others.
Panther - Tue Jan 18 8:46:20 2000
Panther, What do you expect bisexuals to do? It has been almost a year since this all came up and N O T H I N G has been done. Do you expect bisexuals to just sit back nice and passively like good little boys and girls while the MG board and all those who control it re-write history?? Let's never forget that there were bisexuals at the first MG and that they have always been a part of it. This is just like europeans coming to australia in the 1700's and saying that this was "empty" land when we all know it wasn't, they invaded an occupied land and then re-wrote the facts to make them look like the good guys. It's exactly the same thing here. Don't let the same thing happen again. Bisexuals are and have always been a part of MG and if they have to resort to disrupting MG events then it is more an indication of the level of bigotry within our own community than anything else. And let me tell you that alot of gay men and lesbians will completely support them all the way.

btw thanks for editing my previous post out completely. It's obvious that you don't know what happened at the original MG either - homophobic cops beat the crap out of anyone who was identified as "other".
Tue Jan 18 11:25:08 2000


Panther - Threats are the only thing Mardi Gras and many gay men and lesbians understand, we have been trying for years to get them to change the bigoted policies, but nothing! It is not until the shit hit the fan and we got some publicity around the issue last year, that anyone paid any attention to our plight.

I can tell you know I'm willing to do almost anything to get attention around this issue, and so would you if you have worked in the bisexual community and realise how much suffering bisexuals go through. We have closet rates at about the same as gay and lesbians had in the 60's, suicide and depression amongst those who are confused about their same and opposite sex attraction is equal if not greater then gays and lesbians, unfortunately bisexuals have few people they can turn to for help, mainly because we have gained practically zero advance in our liberation despite many of us being involved in activism and being beaten in 78. Why is this so you may ask, well it is simple, the majority group of the queer community (gays and lesbians) has done their best to keep us oppressed and to insure that they own all of the playing field when it comes to issues of sexuality.

Panther, what do you expect us to do? Stand back and continue to watch other bisexuals suffer! Why can we not be given a piece of what gays and lesbians take for granted? While you argue about what djs are playing at the party, we are trying to help people with basic concept that you can be bisexual and be out and proud about it. There are many bisexual people, I should know, but how many are to f*cking scared to come out? (yes the same can be said about gays and lesbians, but no where near the same percentage) Main-stream society looks upon us as perverted freaks, and gay and lesbian community gets great delight out of discriminating against us, possibly it makes them feel more liberated.

I thank all the gay men and lesbians out their that support us, unfortunately it just feels like you are a minority, I really hope something happens that proves me wrong about this.
Tue Jan 18 12:12:04 2000


bisexuals are cool
Tue Jan 18 15:46:07 2000
Tue Jan 18 11:25:08 2000 - I don't remember editing anything out on this wall recently.

As to doing something constructive, I would suggest that you make yourselves very visible and campaign for bisexual inclusion. You will need to present lots of excellent reasons why bisexuals should be included. It is the members you have to convince and the members who will decide. Mardi Gras is the perfect time to get access to the members.

In fact I would not be at all surprised in the effect of threats or action against the festival would be to turn people against bisexual inclusion.
Panther - Tue Jan 18 19:41:14 2000


Reasons why bisexuals should be included in MG??? ummm..... they were kind of there at the first MG...... they've always been a part of MG...... the word "gay" included all people who slept with members of the same sex even part of the time in '78 (read Frontrunner and you'll see what I mean)... they get discriminated just as much as gay men and lesbians do, simply on the basis of their sexuality (from both the straight community as well as the gay community)..... they have fought homophobia just as much as any of us.... they have contributed so much to where MG and our community is today... because WE ARE ONE
Tue Jan 18 20:44:07 2000
This is the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Graffiti Wall - that's right bi's "gay" & "lesbian" not bi freaks - so keep out!
Gay & Proud - Tue Jan 18 21:58:09 2000
to "We are one" ...yep its ture you are one alright! What complete crap you posted!
Gay & Proud - Tue Jan 18 22:01:28 2000
Panther: so barebacking is ok in public but not in private? Just like drug taking then?
Gay & Proud - Tue Jan 18 22:06:15 2000
Gay & Proud - You have made me feel something I haven't felt for a long time - ashamed at being gay. You are a bigot and a disservice to our community.
Tue Jan 18 22:10:18 2000
Firstly, I don't give a "F" for society, it's dominanted by the sexist values of hetrosexism. I live for my queer self and now. Secondly Panther are you really saying if I want to screw in public I need to be mindful of their effect on others!! Would you say the same about my e taking at the SGLMG party? I think not. Too many queens in Sydney love to pass judgement without getting the facts. Barebacking is ok...yes ok and even better when on E!
Drugs and Sex are not my life - Tue Jan 18 22:12:27 2000
I can't wait for Fred Nile and the Daily Telegraph to get a hold of this ridiculous situation that this community finds itself in. It'll be worth it losing all my rights to see bigots like "gay & proud" get what he deserves.
Tue Jan 18 22:13:21 2000
Im proud to be a diservice. Keep Bi's out of our Mardi Gras.
Gay & Proud - Tue Jan 18 22:14:58 2000
Fre Nile for MG president!! only joking, lol
Gay & Proud - Tue Jan 18 22:16:21 2000
"Our MG"???? ... funny how bisexuals were there when the cops started beating the crap out of us and have been with us all the way as MG developed. When did it become "your" MG???
Tue Jan 18 22:17:44 2000
If I remember it was actually the Gay Mardi Gras you bi dumb ass, that's before the dykes took over and now the bi's want to jump on too. Whos next paedophiles?
Gay & Proud - Tue Jan 18 22:25:42 2000
Yay! Dolly Dunn for pres!
Tue Jan 18 22:32:26 2000
Gay & Proud - Tue Jan 18 22:25:42 2000 - Actually I'm gay. And if you read my earlier posting in 1978 the word "gay" included lesbians and bisexual men and women. So if it was called "Gay MG" then that included bisexual men and women. And it's nice to see that you don't like lesbians either - that'll win you lots of friends.
Tue Jan 18 22:36:31 2000
Another post re-writing history from a bi standpoint. Gay never did mean anything other than gay men. Check this out with the early SF groups or GLF in London who Sydney (slowly) followed! ps. I don't hate lesbians - just accord them their own right to be dykes not "gay women" - unlike bi's who want to shag them!
Gay & Proud - Tue Jan 18 22:40:56 2000
" that's before the dykes took over" - that doesn't sound too much like you like them.
Tue Jan 18 22:47:32 2000
Hello!!!! Bi dumb ass - is the Gay Mardi Gras not now called the Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras? Is the attendance at the AGM not now dominated by women? Is the parade now not led by the dykes on bikes? Has it not in recent years had two female Presidents? Is there not a conecert of the female voice at this year's festival? Yes they have taken over & good on them...most of them want to keep you bi's out too! Good on them for getting off their arse and keeping it Gay and Lesbian - yes that means not bi!
Gay & Proud - Tue Jan 18 22:55:07 2000
As I keep on trying to tell you I am GAY
Tue Jan 18 22:59:08 2000
yeh and Im a Dyke on a Bike...lol. Create your own MG bi dumb ass!
Gay & Proud - Tue Jan 18 23:01:28 2000
I wonder if any of your offensive comments will get edited from the board or if they don't come under the definition of "offensive language" - you stupid dumb ass queen.
A very ashamed gay man - Tue Jan 18 23:09:12 2000
Hey "a very ashamed gay man" - if I was you I'd be ashamed too! Be Gay & Proud! There's nothing offensive in posting an honest opinion. Remember many bigots around the world think just being gay is offensive, if you want to stop free speech then you're in bed with the bigots too! Hey Panther - surely all this bi talk is off subject anyhow as this is the Sydney "Gay" & "Lesbian" MG Graffiti wall :)
Gay & Proud - Tue Jan 18 23:15:59 2000
"you bi dumb ass" - Tue Jan 18 22:25:42 2000

"Create your own MG bi dumb ass!" - Tue Jan 18 23:01:28 2000

That's an opinion?? It's not an opinion it's just vile language. And it will get edited from this board even if I have to go to the Anti-Discrimination board.
What works for the nameless one.... - Tue Jan 18 23:46:18 2000


Keep burning those books "What works for the nameless one...." - isn't it funny how so called anti-discriminators hate free speech! Im sad :(
Gay & Proud & Sad - Tue Jan 18 23:56:33 2000
"you stupid dumb ass queen." A very ashamed gay man - Tue Jan 18 23:09:12 2000 isn't this offensive too? oh, but oh no you agree with that comment don't you "What works for the nameless one..." so of course that's ok! Btw ...I find it offensive that bi's want to disrupt our gay & lesbian Mardi Gras in the pursuit of their own selfish and confused agenda!
Gay Proud & Sad - Wed Jan 19 0:02:05 2000
Gay Proud and Sad - I find it sad and offensive that bisexuals have been placed in a position where they feel this is their only avenue. I wish they would realise that idiots like you are actually a loud but small minority, and that most gays and lesbians are ashamed or dissapointed with what is happening with Mardi Gras in regards to bisexuals.
Gay, Proud & supporting our Bisexual brothers and sisiters. - Wed Jan 19 0:28:40 2000
Gay & Proud is a bi plant. Ignore her.
Wed Jan 19 1:51:16 2000
Wed Jan 19 1:51:16 2000 - Yeah, and some of the other people posting on this wall are noxious weeds.
Wed Jan 19 5:28:41 2000
In 78 MG was about protesting the laws regarding the right to have sex with somebody of the same gender. Having sex with somebody of the same gender was an offence that was punishable. There was never a case for punishining people who have sex with the opposite gender. In fact, sexual unions involving the opposite gender are sanctioned under the law. Bisexual couples who where the couple are of opposing gender may marry, are entitled to tax advantages, may be considered defacto after two years of co-habitation and may have children both in natural circumstances and artificially in some places. none of this is currently available to gay men and lesbians or indeed, to the same-sex bisexual unions. This does not make it a bisexual cause but a same-sex cause which Mg was fighting and is still fighting.
Wed Jan 19 10:42:07 2000
Wed Jan 19 10:42:07 2000 - Yes same sex love and gender identity was the issue, and what we all are fighting for in 78. This has changed though, and is now a gay and lesbian issue, i.e. it is now all about 2 specific identity, which means bisexuals and to a lesser extent trannies, have been excluded.

Oh and if you think it is easy being out as bisexual and having a female partner, then you are a f*cking bigoted idiot! And what about bisexual couples of the same-sex, should they call them selves gay or lesbian so they will be treated with some respect by bigoted f*cking fools like you? As for me, I'm not monogamous, and have a male and female partner (all bisexual), what rights do I have being in a polyamorous relationship, no laws cover me yet! I cop homophobia from main-stream society and biphobia from gay and lesbian community, not to mention the hate I receive for having multiple relationships. Using your stupid analysis, I am more oppressed then you!

Mardi Gras currently fights for Gay and Lesbian identity full stop! This is because the majority queer group of gays and lesbians has taken over the movement and pushed out anyone who doesn't fit their narrow definition......you should all be ashamed of your selves!!!!
Wed Jan 19 11:21:17 2000


Panther - you said that if we bisexuals continue to threaten Mardi Gras we will end up with people against us, this may be true, but since you have joined in the threats, I feel I have the right to ask which side of the fence you sit on? So do you want to Include or Exclude bisexuals?

You see we have no options left other then to cause trouble, if we do not have anyone supporting us. Do you want to make a stand and let everyone know you are for bisexual inclusion, or are you too scared of what your friend will say, or do you think it will effect your homepage count, or do you just believe that bisexuals should be excluded?
Wed Jan 19 11:39:27 2000


Bisexuals are troublemakers and do a lot of harm to the gl community.They never were part of Gay Lib in the 1970s, as someone else here said they just try to rewrite history. Were bisexuals at the stonewall roits? No they were tuck up safely in bed with their partner of the opposite sex.
Bi is Bad - Wed Jan 19 11:48:31 2000
Bisexuality doesn't really exist.
Gay & proud - Wed Jan 19 11:58:49 2000
Is it true that bisexuals plan to blockade this year's parade? I think this is silly and will turn everyone against them.
Wed Jan 19 12:12:55 2000
It is untrue that bisexuals plan to blockade the parade, this is usually left up to Fred Nile...........but stop giving us ideas!

By the way, why can none of you bigots come up with any sensible counter arguments, or do you rely on pack mentality and gossip to get the job done?
Wed Jan 19 12:21:22 2000


The reason we don't answer your moronic bi freak questions is that you are confused sick people who should be locked up in mental institutions.
Wed Jan 19 12:32:17 2000
Here's a sensible counter argument: we don't want bi's in the Sydney "Gay" & "Lesbian" Mardi Gras. You really don't get it do you? It's our MG not your's - create your own. The reality is if Bi's get accepted so will Str8s which basically means the death of the parade, party and the whole bloody organisation.
Gay & Proud - Wed Jan 19 12:59:27 2000
Gay and Proud - Do you mind Transgender people being apart of Sydney "Gay" and "Lesbian" Mardi Gras?

Well to bad if you do, as they are already included, and guess what, most trannies are heterosexual! But you are too bigotted and stupid to realise any of this, and as you said if you had your way Lesbians wouldn't be included either.
Wed Jan 19 13:15:52 2000


Wed Jan 19 12:32:17 2000 - you don't deserve a response.
Wed Jan 19 13:21:02 2000
GLBT - Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender. This is the model most International and overseas organisations have embraced. Why is it that Australia's premier organisation is incapable of moving to this model, why are we so behind the rest of the world.
Wed Jan 19 13:25:01 2000
So now you're trying to rewrite my comments as well as gay history!!! Re-read my comments. Im happy to have lesbians in MG & they do most of the work lets face it. I treat lesbians as dykes in their own right not "gay women" I want to shag - unlike most bisexuals. And as for the comment about trannies being hetero's - wow thats a new one, lol. I think you're a bit confused doll between transgender, transsexual & transvestite :) Also as for GLBT being the model overseas - who cares, maybe that's why they have such a crap record in most overseas countries with regard to gay and lesbian rights cos the bloody bisexuals are pursuing their own selfish and confused agenda at the expense of ours!! Be bisexual in your own organisations not ours!
Gay & Proud - Wed Jan 19 13:50:38 2000
To quote you Gay and Proud - "If I remember it was actually the Gay Mardi Gras you bi dumb ass, that's before the dykes took over and now the bi's want to jump on too. Whos next paedophiles? " Now who is rewriting history? Do you deny writing this on Tue Jan 18 22:25:42 2000

The reason overseas organisations are using the GLBT model, is because they realise they need as many people as possible to fight against homophobia, the problem in Sydney, Australia is that ghettoised fools such as your self think you have all the rights you need, and that you can now discriminate against other groups, namely bisexuals. We were there in the beginning, it is not until fools like you started thinking you don't need us any more, that we got excluded.

I'm confused about transgender, transsexual & transvestite!???! I think you are the one who is getting transgender people confused with drag queens, the fact is that most transgender people are heterosexual, and I don't think anyone would deny this, except for a bigoted fool like you who is unable to answer my initial question. Why is it Ok for transgender people to be included when they are not Gay or Lesbian and not bisexual????? You see if a M-F trannie only f*cks men, they are heterosexual, I know your small brain might have difficulty with this concept, but if you try really hard you might work it out, we can only hope.
Bi & Proud - Wed Jan 19 14:27:31 2000


How narrow minded are you Bi & Proud to think that transgendered people are not gay or lesbian too. Ever heard of a m to f trannie who f*cks women - yep she's a dyke too!! But oh no you militant bisexuals f*ck everything don't you, including f*cking up g&l organisations. Bisexuals were never there at the beginning of the first lesbian and gay movements (and no Im not talking about Sydney '78...lol). We've never needed you and don't now. Answer a simple question...why can't you create your own Bisexual Mardi Gras? bts...drag queens are entertainers you fool not a sexuality.
Gay & Proud - Wed Jan 19 16:18:34 2000
Fight against Homophobia? look at your own comments and tell me where your fight against homophobia starts. You can start by not being so phobic about MG members. By the way, I can't recall any tranny ever saying to me they were 'hetrosexual'.
Wed Jan 19 16:21:06 2000
All this bisexual bull has got me thinking about setting up a "Keep Bi's outta Mardi Gras" ticket at the next MG elections. Anyone interested?
Gay & Proud - Wed Jan 19 16:21:52 2000
see comments dated Wed Jan 19 16:21:06 2000 we are not alone - many MG members are very happy the way things are! Keep bi's out!
Gay & Proud - Wed Jan 19 16:26:47 2000
Bi and Proud's quote "the fact is that most transgender people are heterosexual" is very funny but shows a lack of understanding on queer issues. I agree that MG is not for bisexuals.
Wed Jan 19 16:37:35 2000
Your a moron, I did not say that Trannies are not Gay and Lesbian as well, I just said that the majority are straight, and that Mardi Gras includes these straight trannies in their constitiution, you are such a fool. Still you have not answered any of my questions, you just jump from one bigotted statement to another. Why would any trannie tell you they are heterosexual, knowing what a bigoted fool you are.

Please do start the ticket, then all the other bigots like your self can get together and talk about how much better you all are then anyone else, and hopefully leave the real job of fighting homophobia to the rest who are happy to embrace diversity.

You are such a f*cking moron, the way you change what someone writes into what you like, if you are going to debate with someone have the decentcy of not misquoting them, or is this too difficult for you, or don't you have an argument with out lies.
Bi & Proud - Wed Jan 19 17:00:15 2000


Wed Jan 19 16:37:35 2000 - what are you doing using the word queer, I thought you are for gay and lesbian purity, or does queer only mean gay and lesbian all of a sudden?
Bi & Proud - Wed Jan 19 17:02:30 2000
I'll tell you why I hate bi freaks, I once believed they were just like gays and lesbians but when one left me for a women because he couldn't deal with a gay life, I decided from then on that they have nothing to do with us. Keep bi freaks out of MG!
Wed Jan 19 17:16:02 2000
Why don't you call the Gender Centre and find out how many trannies identify as heterosexual, you have heard of the Gender Centre haven't you? Also I should correct my self, as many trannies identify as bisexual, which means they should not be in Mardi Gras even more, according to your stupid analysis of who should be in and who shouldn't.

Gay and Proud lets see if you can answer a simple question, do you agree that there are trannies that identify as heterosexual? If you do agree (not sure how you cannot), does it make sense to you that straight trannies are made automatic members of Mardi Gras, and bisexuals are not? Also why are trannies even members if it is a "Gay" and "Lesbian" organisation? Lets see if you can answer these simple questions, if you are unable to, I don't think I will waste my time with a loser like you any longer.
Bi & Proud - Wed Jan 19 17:32:10 2000


Wed Jan 19 17:16:02 2000 - Ok, so a bisexual left you because he was scared of living a "gay life", this is one of the reasons you should fight for bisexual rights and inclusion into Mardi Gras. Ask the question, why are people scared of others finding out they are queer? He left you for the same reason a closeted gay man might leave you, and how do you know he wasn't a gay man in transition or one that could not come to terms with being gay. May be he left you because you wanted him to be a gay man, when he was bisexual, you comments about living a "gay life" indicate you had little understanding about what it is like to be bisexual, this can of course be excused, but to now turn around and blame all bisexuals because a relationship didn't work out is rather petty.
Bi & Proud - Wed Jan 19 18:41:21 2000
Gay and Proud - If you want to find the facts around how many trannies are heterosexual, why don't you visit the Transgender FAQ available from - http://www.geocities.com/~steph_anderson/tgfaq.htm

You are truly an idiot who is absolutely unable to come to any conclusions that might make any sense, probably because you spend so much time lying to cover just up how stupid you really are, if you were not such a bigoted fool I would feel sorry for you.
Bi & Proud - Wed Jan 19 18:46:01 2000


Wed Jan 19 17:16:02 2000. I think you could be mistaken. The reason he left was because you're a loser and an arsehole. Simple really.
Wed Jan 19 20:30:36 2000
If it's ok for a bi man to suck you off boys and it happens lots, why isn't it ok for them to be part of our Mardi Gras. The same go for the Girls that have bi woman as lovers. After all if where not straight we're queer are we not.
Regional Queen - Wed Jan 19 21:38:57 2000
Regional Queen, this is too difficult for some of the ghetto boys to understand, they only seem to care that they were dropped by a bi guy. Such fragile little egos.
Wed Jan 19 22:07:42 2000
Ghetto, Ghetto, Ghetto. Life goes on out of the ghetto. It's the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras not the Darlo ghetto queens passing out parade. Get a life guys there's more to life that the 2.1km Darlo ghetto. That's right folks milk come from a cow, birds sing and trees grow outside the ghetto. Mardi Gras is no longer a Sydney Queens festival it belongs to all of us. The focus is no longer Sydney Queens with attitude(some attitude!!), it is Australias yearly Queerfest of pride, art and we're queer, we're here , get used to it movement.Non Straight is the way the main stream community see Mardi Gras and not just Darlo Queens with Attitude, tight shorts and names like Mary. Sorry Chaps but a bit of truth can get in the way of a good thing... :))
Regional Queen (yolanda59@yahoo.com) - Wed Jan 19 22:27:07 2000
Wed Jan 19 11:39:27 2000 - I support a wide reaching review of the current membership situation. As part of this I would like to see bisexuals included in the membership. In fact I voted for inclusion of bisexuals at the meeting back in 1995(?), and I have supported inclusion many times both publicly and privately.
Panther - Wed Jan 19 22:51:32 2000
Gay & Proud - Tue Jan 18 22:40:56 2000 - You are the one changing history (herstory?) here. In the late 1980s the lesbian separatist movement succeeded in raising the profile of lesbians by calling themselves lesbians rather than gay women. A few years later the then SGMG acknowledged this change by including lesbian in the name. In the last few years the bisexual community has done a great job of raising their own profile and forcing us all to acknowledge their unique issues.
Panther - Wed Jan 19 23:03:27 2000
I hope I dont get too off topic (sorry if this is so), but after all the above, I was moved to write something... I'm not sure that sexuallity should really be the issue, arnt we really talking about culture here? Why cant those who feel they are a part of the queer (to use an inclusive term) community be allowed to join a community organisation? Surely our community is not defined as just those who sleep with people of the same sex? Or even just those who live in the inner city or patron Oxford St venues? eg Shouldnt members of pflag (to name one group) be allowed to join? Surely they can (or should) be considered apart of our community? I'm sure there are bisexuals who dont identify as being apart of our community, so obviously they would be unlikely to join, but for those who do why exclude them? Even MardiGras in all its advertising and marketing glory puts forward the idea that we are a "diverse" community! I realise this means including a lot of people, but when you look at it this is happening anyway, cultures evolve over time, we cant expect the heterosexual culture to change without that change also impacting on us. We're whitnessing the mainstreaming of gay culture, what was begun all those years ago by activism is being continued by corporatism, but surely acceptance is what we've all been working towards and wanting? Why now when it begins to start happening do we try to get out of it?! I'd apreciate some rational comment on this, its my take on the situation, I can already imagine what some may have to say about it, but for those who can put forward some fair ideas on subject I would really like to read them.
Zakalwe - Wed Jan 19 23:13:24 2000
Panther - your comments dated Wed Jan 19 23:03:27 2000 - I totally agree with! But gay activism didn't start in the 70s or 80s - check out history - try the early 1900s in Europe! There were many groups, particularly in Germany, who were the pioneers of the modern gay movements before they were crushed by Nazism.
Gay & Proud - Thu Jan 20 8:56:05 2000
Zakalwe - is the term "queer" really inclusive? I think a few people would argue with you on that one. And Bi & Proud - I don't think I ever used the term queer! But Im sure you've documented everything I ever said in your single focussed mind and will correct me if Im wrong...lol.
Gay & Proud - Thu Jan 20 9:00:18 2000
Reading all the comments this morning I guess I've come under a lot of criticism. But even the militant bisexuals who post here (and make threats to destory the SGLMG) must agree at least my opinions are honest & open. A lot of gay men and particularly lesbians feel the same way but are too scared to voice their opinions through fear of being heckled, belittled or worse by the militant bisexuals. You can read why fear exists - amongst the postings on pinkboard - eg. disrupting MG, blockade of the parade, even physical threats ...which Panther removed. Remember fear is a powerful allies of the bigot. To make it clear (and especially for my friend Bi & Proud!)I am in favour of the SGLMG membership open to Lesbians and Gay Men only! And yes this includes trannies who identify their sexuality as gay or lesbian. I don't support the inclusion of bisexuals or heterosexuals at all including trannie bi's & hets. I think that's pretty clear. Now tell me Bi & Proud as you continually refuse to answer this - why can't bisexuals create their own Mardi Gras? Rather than destroy the Sydney "Gay" and "Lesbian" Mardi Gras.
Gay & Proud - Thu Jan 20 9:11:19 2000
all this talk about messing with mardi gras will prove counter productive to the bisexual cause. Nobody likes a bunch of spoilt brats who ruin everything for evryone just because they cant get their own way.
Footy Boy - Thu Jan 20 10:01:27 2000
Yes I would admit that you are open and honest and do have the courage to say what you feel, unlike most people. This honesty does not make you any less a bigot. I find it so funny that you choose to use the same language the Christian Right use, ever heard the term Militant Homosexual? you are so very sad.

Not one bisexuals has said anything about a blockade of the parade or physical threats, can you show me where this has been writing by anyone identifying as bisexual. The only one making threats against you was a gay man, who is quite ashamed that gay men like you exist. You are such a confused liar, who totally relies on pack mentality and gossip, you are no different then any other bigot including homophobic Christians. If you are the majority, the community is doomed for mediocrity, very sad because it could of been so much better.

You realise that straight and bi transgender people are already able to join, what do you think about this? Are you willing to fight to change Mardi Gras' constitution to exclude them?

The reason why should not have to start the Bi Mardi Gras or what ever else you want to call it is simple. Mardi Gras is the queer communities platform to main-stream society, the playing field for this is totally taken up by Mardi Gras, there is no more room for such an event, so to exclude us is to exclude us from the right to fight for our liberation. I'm sure you will disagree with this, and make up some lie to prove your point, but those are the facts. The second reason is that we were there is 78, I know for a fact that there were bisexuals in 78 and have been involved in the organisation ever since, again you will refute this and make up some stupid lie or try and change history just like main-stream society has done to all of us. If you had your way, Lesbians would not have anything to do with Mardi Gras either, you had the courage to mention your hate towards lesbians and how they took over Mardi Gras in a previous post, are you now too afraid to voice this opinion again, will the "militant" lesbians get you? (sarcasm).

It must be a very sad life to constantly live in fear of others taking over or destroying what you believe is yours, are you that frightened of other peoples liberty that you want to oppress them just in case? What makes you any different to a homophobe who believes that queers are going to take over the world and destroy culture as we know it?

Yes fear is a powerful ally of the bigot, which is why people like you use it so readily, how many closeted bisexuals have you met, that don't tell you they are not gay, through fear? You see closets exist on both sides, but for some reason a closet in the heterosexual world is oppression, but one in the gay and lesbian community is you rightfully protecting what you have. How can you live with such double standards, or may be the question should be how can you justify them?
Bi & Proud - Thu Jan 20 10:22:15 2000


I will say it once, so that the scare mongers, bigots, gossip mongers will understand. There is no organised group of bisexuals, trying to disrupt the Mardi Gras parade or any other event, to say otherwise is a lie propagated by biphobic bigots who have learnt a few things from our homophobic enemy. We do however have no control over what an angry individual or few will do, just as Mardi Gras does not control the whole gay and lesbian community. So if someone goes to the main-stream media or tries some other method for attention, they are an individual acting on their own, personally I don't blame them, when people have been disposed of power they are prone to do anything, being gay or lesbian should at least help you understand the feeling of hopelessness in an oppressive situation, or have you all forgotten or never experienced it because the ghetto has kept you safe.

Here is the low down for you morons, there is a group of Queers, who intend to do a few things in protest of bisexual exclusion, among other things such as pink dollar and the corporisatation of Mardi Gras, these people are homosexual in sexuality but Queer in identity. I know this because they have approach me to join them, I said I will wait and see what happens at the festival launch, as there has been some indication from David McLachlan that Mardi Gras will be moving to a broader membership structure. So mister Gay and Proud, you don't even have an idea who your real enemy is, that is because it is your own kind who have had enough, and want true change. This time it is not based on sexuality, it is based on diversity, identity and economic politics. Most bisexuals are on their side when it comes to diversity, but our politics are far too diverse to believe in the enforcing of one type. My guess is that much of their angst is created because they are a disposed youth, again Mardi Gras and bigots like Gay and Proud are to blame for this......how can you forget about your youth, they are the future and guess what most of them are not very happy with there elders.
Bi & Proud - Thu Jan 20 10:46:10 2000


Zakalwe - I personally agree with most of what you have said, this will unfortunately be used by the bigot scare mongers to show that bisexuals want to destroy gay and lesbian culture, but they are just adults who have not grown up enough to realise that someone elses liberty does not mean their oppression.

In answer to your question, "Why now when it begins to start happening do we try to get out of it?!" I have an opinion about this, and it has to do with the main streaming of gay and lesbian culture, you see just like main stream culture the gay and lesbian community has taken on much of the mediocrity that this country seems to thrive on. Where anyone different (because of many reasons) is persecuted and those in power do there best to reflect this attitude to appease the numbers, this in turn justifies bigoted and hateful behaviour which makes it even worse, and so on. My hope for our community is that the leaders have the courage to stand up for what is right, and take the leading role is making our community something special, then we can truly be proud in what we created, instead on emulating what has oppressed us all. Liberty is not earned through oppressing others, in fact while anyone is oppressed none of us is truly liberated. I know these arguments don't make much sense to those that believe liberty is a ghetto and a really cool party, that's why our leaders need to do their best to educate and help *lead* our community, not reflect what is the lowest common denominator.
Bi & Proud - Thu Jan 20 11:04:16 2000


The rantings of Bi & Proud are a perfect exmaple of why bisexuals must be excluded from the SGLMG.There is no positive agenda...just simply aggression, disruption and destruction.
Gay & Proud - Thu Jan 20 11:06:34 2000
Bi & Proud - the gay community is not your community. Wake up to that simple fact. Btw...I do not hate lesbians, I simply state that women took over what was initially the Gay Mardi Gras and made it the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and the great organisation it is now! You will find that the majority of dykes oppose the inclusion of bisexuals too - as all too many have been hassled by bi guys in the past!
Gay & Proud - Thu Jan 20 11:10:50 2000
Panther - thanks for letting us know where you stand, and for being their for bisexuals and for our communities harmony in '95. I really hope you are not a minority, and can have some influence with your social group and other gay men. Again, thank you!
Bi & Proud - Thu Jan 20 11:12:48 2000
Bi & Proud is anti everything it seems from his comments today ...anti gay, anti lesbian, anti religion ...even anti Australian! The term militant is most apt!
Gay & Proud - Thu Jan 20 11:13:11 2000
Is Gay and Proud correct, do most gay men and lesbians support the exclusion of bisexuals? What is everyones thoughts on this?

Bi & Proud - Thu Jan 20 11:19:57 2000
I have never said anything anti gay, lesbian or religion, again you deal with things through lies. However, I did say I am anti-homophoic.
Bi & Proud - Thu Jan 20 11:22:25 2000
Bi & proud's statement "There is no organised group of bisexuals, trying to disrupt the Mardi Gras parade or any other event"... is simply untrue. The gay press, mainstream media and even police Im told are well aware of possible trouble. Even postings on pinkboard (most likely from Bi & Proud) talk about disrupting MG this year in pursuit of the selfish and misguided bisexual takeover of MG. MG is not the "queer communities platform to main-stream society" bi & proud. There is no "queer" community, just a bunch of militants revolutionaries who sit up in there publically funded offices above Oxford St!! MG is gay and lesbian not queer or bi...thanks very much.
Gay & Proud - Thu Jan 20 11:23:07 2000
You are just relying on the fact that most people will not be bothered reading my large slabs of writing. I ask all of you before believing the lies and scare mongering Gay and Proud has come up with, to make the effort to read what I have said.
Bi & Proud - Thu Jan 20 11:25:12 2000
Bi & Proud - you're very confused indeed! Your rantings today ...slag off religion, your previous comments about women are anti dyke and your continued attack on the gay ghetto is anti gay. Although I applaud you for not refuting that you're anti Australian! This whole takeover attempt of MG itself is anti gay, but of course when you're on the path of destruction you can't see that can you!!
Gay & Proud - Thu Jan 20 11:26:49 2000
Where is your proof that bisexual groups are organising the disruption of the Mardi Gras festival, what a disenfranchised individual does is not under anyone's control. Again scare mongering and lies, don't you think it is time to change your tact, it is getting rather boring.
Bi & Proud - Thu Jan 20 11:29:12 2000
Funny that you make up some lie about police having proof that bisexual groups will be disrupting Mardi Gras. Police are the ones who beat the hell out of us in '78, now you use them to oppress us! Great to see how liberation only means you use the same means of oppression against other minority groups.
Bi & Proud - Thu Jan 20 11:32:37 2000
Again! lies and scare mongering, the use of gossip and pack mentality will only get you so far, most people do actually have a brain for them selves. What previous comments about women? Which of my comments are anti-religious?

I just hope people bother to read what I have said instead of believing your lies.
Bi & Proud - Thu Jan 20 11:35:28 2000


Bi & Proud - people will read your writings, but will they understand them? I think not, no one in their right mind will understand why militant bisexuals want to destroy the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. They'll believe it may happen unless bisexuals are excluded though!
Gay & Proud - Thu Jan 20 11:39:08 2000
FYI - I live in the gay ghetto! which is why I understand it so well, hey in fact it is not purely a gay ghetto, their are many oppressed groups who inhabit the area, because it enables them freedom they will not get in other places. It is the mentality that some from the ghetto have taken on that I attack, it is the bigoted and paranoid attitudes that create morons like you. You are so very, very sad!
Bi & Proud - Thu Jan 20 11:40:06 2000
Bi & Proud adds the police to his list of "anti's" lol. But surely there are bisexuals in the Police too? That must be a bit much for a revolutionary like you to swallow.
Gay & Proud - Thu Jan 20 11:41:13 2000
Gay and Proud - Answer one more question for me please. Why did you not turn up to the community consultation that Mardi Gras had around this issue? Do you not have the courage of your convictions, or are you just a shit stirrer?
Bi & Proud - Thu Jan 20 11:43:52 2000
That fact that you are Bi & Proud means you do not inhabit a Gay Ghetto. I see you living in your local branch of the Socialist Workers Party actually.
Gay & Proud - Thu Jan 20 11:44:16 2000
As i said before the reason why "ordinary" gays and lesbians do not speak up is fear - of being heckled, belittled and worse. This fear is borne out by your postings.
Gay & Proud - Thu Jan 20 11:45:54 2000
I'm a Revolutionary? Thanks, but the reality is that I am a corporate slave, who drives a sports car, and who currently is looking to buy a house that has enough room for a dungeon/play room. Kind of like you average financially successful leather gay man, the only difference is that I play with women as well. I'm not bad looking either, you may of even tried to pick me up in a bar sometime, unless casual sex is too revolutionary for you....isn't it frightening to think you may of slept with a bisexual! You better run off to the shower right away and wash the filth of you!
Bi & Proud - Thu Jan 20 11:54:56 2000
This 'gay ghetto' thing is getting to me. I grew up in western Syd. and gravitated to eastern Sydney because it was near the beach, work, and Oxford St. I've met some wonderfully sincere, deep and humane people who are some of my closed friends. In fact the only real bad experiences I've had since moving to the east were to do with tourists coming from 'nice' towns like Melbourne and Brisbane looking whatever shallow encounter they could get before they hot-footed it home to the BF! Give me the 'ghetto' anytime!!!
Bwian - Thu Jan 20 11:55:54 2000
Bi & Proud's comments ... Thu Jan 20 11:54:56 2000 ...of course you are. You're just a socialist worker militant who likes to organise blockades against MG in your spare time aren't you sweetie? lol
Gay & Proud - Thu Jan 20 12:01:59 2000
ha ha ha....Socialist Workers Party??? How wrong you are! What else have you got wrong? What else has your simple brain thought up?

I a more a capitalist then a socialist, in fact I'm quite wealthy, though my politics are hard core around embracing diversity, and not discrimination against people based on gender, sexuality, race, etc....

As I said before, if you fear the left you better go after the queers, after all they get instant membership because most of them are homosexual. Though I would suggest that your energy would be better spent encouraging youth involvement, so they don't feel disenfranchised. Is it my experience that most people do become moderate in their politics as they get older, and I think there would be something wrong if some of our youth were not left wing radicals. Again, you turn to hate, anger and bigotry against anyone who is not exactly like you, don't you realise separatism will only get you so far, you will have to open your eyes to the rest of the world sometime.
Bi & Proud - Thu Jan 20 12:12:31 2000


Bwian - I love the ghetto, that is why I live there. It is the attitude which has develop by some of our bigotted and damaged members that I dispise. Ghettos have their purpose, but when it is used to make someone feel they are the majority so now they can oppress others, something has gone wrong.
Bi & Proud - Thu Jan 20 12:23:43 2000
This bisexual guy is a fruit-loop :)
Just me - Thu Jan 20 12:29:37 2000
Actually I'm more nutty :-) But thanks for calling me a fruit, I feel included now.
Bi & Proud - Thu Jan 20 12:37:25 2000
Yep, the bi guy is crazy, he really thinks that it is about acceptance and other tree hugging hippy crap about equality. The world doesn't work that way mate, it is about strength, you don't have it and we do, so why would we give what limited strength we have to you?
Thu Jan 20 12:44:50 2000
"The membership issue will get resolved one way or another, it's just up to MG to decide whether the gay community comes out of this unscathed or not." Sun Jan 16 20:09:58 2000 - does this classic comment belong to you Bi & Proud?
Gay & Proud - Thu Jan 20 12:48:39 2000
Bi & Proud ...is this comment (obviously from you) not a threat? "What we plan for the time during the festival and what we will be doing come the parade will be determined by whether we feel the issue of bisexual inclusion will be actively pursued, or whether we feel the initial statement by Mardi Gras was just to keep us silent for the festival."
Gay & Proud - Thu Jan 20 12:50:40 2000
Here's another example of the worthy bisexual cause from Bi & Proud..."The time for "comments" is up. They've had a whole year in which to deal with things and they haven't done anything. It's time for action now and that is all that will be acceptable." Still supporting bisexual inclusion?
Gay & Proud - Thu Jan 20 12:53:25 2000
Oh yeh...almost forgot Bi & Proud, here's that example of anti gay violence you posted..."I'd like to send around some homophobic cops around to your place to start beating the crap out of you". Still supporting Bisexual inclusion?
Gay & Proud - Thu Jan 20 12:55:35 2000
and here's another little gem from Bi & Proud "Threats are the only thing Mardi Gras and many gay men and lesbians understand". Still supporting bisexual inclusion?
Gay & Proud - Thu Jan 20 12:58:25 2000
Bi & Proud - I applaud your campaign as it will only ensure that bisexuals are excluded from the membership of MG. Lets hope this spreads to other gay and lesbian organisations to...how about GLRL, Out FM, Free FM, Star, Cap Q, Pride.
Gay & Proud - Thu Jan 20 13:02:13 2000
The first comment was not from me, the second was from me. Still no threat to disrupt Mardi Gras with a blockade or other methods you have accused me of, can you find any where I said I plan to disrupt Mardi Gras? Of course we need to plan what we will do to get attention to our cause, that is how politics work! What the f*ck do you think the Mardi Gras parades since '78 are all about! You are getting even more stupid as the days go on.

Ok, I answered your questions, how about you answer mine - Why did you not turn up to the community consultation and voice your opinion? If your opinion represents the majority, what are you afraid of?
Bi & Proud - Thu Jan 20 13:04:53 2000


Stop Press! A bisexual women was elected yesterday to the position of Security of Leather Pride, I also hear her partner is male!
Thu Jan 20 13:10:24 2000
More lies Gay and Proud! These threats were written by a gay man, he did tell you a number of times he was gay, but for some reason you refused to accept the fact that there a gay men that don't want to discriminate against others based on sexuality.

The last resort of a loser is lies, do you feel that you are losing the argument that much?
Bi & Proud - Thu Jan 20 13:14:10 2000


I ask again, why do you not have the courage of your convictions and go public with your opinion? If you are the majority, why are you so afraid to tell everyone you do no want bisexuals as members of Mardi Gras?
Bi & Proud - Thu Jan 20 13:20:07 2000
Hey Gay & Proud, It's been quite amused reading your comments, I have been bothered to read all of Bi & Proud's comments and have tried really hard to see where your allegation come from, but have been unable to. For the record I am a gay man who lives in the ghetto, but I'm sure you will quote me as a bisexual sometime in the future. Oh by the way, sometimes people like you make me ashamed to be a gay man, I wish you would just shut up and go away.
Thu Jan 20 13:33:00 2000
I read all this stuff and find most of what Bi Proud says very offensive. What is the point of threats, you really are a fruit loop as someone said.
Thu Jan 20 14:10:22 2000
I have read it all and cannot find what Bi & Proud has said that it offensive, he just wants the same thing we want, acceptance. I don't think attempting to gain visibility to his cause can be considered a threat, otherwise everything we do, including the Mardi Gras parade could be considered a threat.
Thu Jan 20 14:20:38 2000
Planning demos to destroy mardi gras is offensive.
unhappy - Thu Jan 20 14:23:19 2000
Dean ooooops I mean Bi and Proud you are a busy boy causing trouble again.
Thu Jan 20 14:35:59 2000
I think that the vast bulk of what MG stands for and does is for the greater good and furthers the cause of tollerance generally. I'm overwhelmingly in support for this organisation that has grown up in my own backyard. I have seen (as an occasional MG volunteer)the unsung good that mardigras as an organisation has done. If you can't get MG to do what you want, I imagine its probably because its unpopular. If you are of sufficient conviction, start your own bisexual mardigras!! Dont try to wreck what others have created.
Bwian - Thu Jan 20 14:50:05 2000
Well said ...Bwian - Thu Jan 20 14:50:05 2000 ...again the bisexuals cannot answer this basic point you make, why not start your own MG? (not that anyone would bother to watch such boredom...lol)
Gay & Proud - Thu Jan 20 15:06:26 2000
After reading through all of your comments Gay & Proud a number of things become obvious, the most glaring of which is that if this were 1978 you would be one of the right-wing Liberal voting closets who would be tut tutting about the nasty militant homosexuals attracting unnecessary attention and behaving in an 'unAustralian' fashion by marching down the street. Your stupidity is boundless. Please, come out and stand for the Mardi Gras board this year. Every gay man and lesbian deserves an opportunity to hear your vision of a "gay" One Nation.
Queer and disgusted - Thu Jan 20 15:31:55 2000
I have already answered you questions, here is the answer again, I just copied from above - The reason why should not have to start the Bi Mardi Gras or what ever else you want to call it is simple. Mardi Gras is the queer communities platform to main-stream society, the playing field for this is totally taken up by Mardi Gras, there is no more room for such an event, so to exclude us is to exclude us from the right to fight for our liberation. I'm sure you will disagree with this, and make up some lie to prove your point, but those are the facts. The second reason is that we were there is 78, I know for a fact that there were bisexuals in 78 and have been involved in the organisation ever since, again you will refute this and make up some stupid lie or try and change history just like main-stream society has done to all of us. If you had your way, Lesbians would not have anything to do with Mardi Gras either, you had the courage to mention your hate towards lesbians and how they took over Mardi Gras in a previous post, are you now too afraid to voice this opinion again, will the "militant" lesbians get you? (sarcasm).
Bi & Proud - Thu Jan 20 15:40:09 2000
that's not an answer its the same barmy bisexual clap trap from your militant manifesto!!
Gay & Proud - Thu Jan 20 15:43:09 2000
hey Queer & Disgusted the current MG board support my view perfectly, not every gay man or dyke is a loony left wing miltant like you. Lots of them are actually right wing too.
Gay & Proud - Thu Jan 20 15:45:29 2000
This is not Dean, but that is a case in point. Bisexuals who have done a lot for the queer community, will react in all sorts of negative ways to the discrimination they are receiving from Mardi Gras and bigots like Gay and Proud. This has nothing to do with the bisexual movement, and if we are threatening you by making you aware of the dangerous situation Mardi Gras is in by discriminating against its own community members, then you are even more stupid then I first thought.
Bi & Proud - Thu Jan 20 15:54:48 2000
Ok Gay & Proud, you were wrong about the sexuality of Transgender people, you were wrong about Bi and Proud's political leanings, you were wrong about Mardi Gras being a gay men's organisation until the "dykes took over". Why should we believe you when you say that the Mardi Gras board supports your view? I really find it hard to believe that anyone who has spent anytime thinking about the issue would take on your bigotted Gay One Nation point of view. I like Bi and Proud want to know why you were not at the community consultation, I was there and did not hear you speak out against the "militant bisexuals" and their "militant manifesto", or were you too busy saving gay culture from "militant lesbians" or "militant queers" or "militant Asians" or "militant feminist" or "militant sports fans" for that matter? You are doing nothing to add to Mardi Gras, except to spread hate and intolerance, you make me ashamed to call my self gay.
Thu Jan 20 16:22:23 2000
Can someone from the MG board make a statement that refutes Gay and Proud's statement?
Thu Jan 20 16:25:07 2000
In reply to whoever added a comment on Thu Jan 20 16:22:23 2000 (Bi & Proud by any chance?) - wake me up when you wake up!
Gay & Proud - Thu Jan 20 16:39:45 2000
and you've all assumed Im not on the board already!! so many assumptions from those who know so little...lol
Gay & Proud - Thu Jan 20 16:41:01 2000
Aren't the rest of us lucky that the entire community wasn't made up of Gay & Proud types in 1978. They'd all be working from 'inside' like all those gutless Liberal Party fags and One Nation queens. Let's hear you views on a few other issues like race and class and women in the workforce Gay & Proud. I'll lay odds you make the League of Nations look progressive ; )
Thu Jan 20 17:47:55 2000
You've assumed Im a white middle class Aussie haven't you ...you little revolutionary!
Gay & Proud - Thu Jan 20 20:43:06 2000
Just a quick question ...what's the obsession with party politicising lesbian and gay issues?
Gay & Proud - Thu Jan 20 20:44:51 2000
and there's your answer! bingo.
Thu Jan 20 21:53:18 2000
This whole bisexual debate is really strange. I wouldnt want to join a club where I clearly wasn't welcome!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thu Jan 20 23:32:13 2000
Clearly? One brain-dead fascist monkey don't make no show.
Thu Jan 20 23:45:28 2000
Speaking from experience - bi's identify more with being straight than being gay/queer or whatever. I am gay, proud and happy with my life, while he is still bi and questioning his life. It is his choice though to remain in the suburbs with the wife and kids and ..... hell, he misses the parties now that she no longer allows him to go. I have moved on with my life and have never been happier. As far as I am concerned, keep it a Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
Glad I'm Gay - Fri Jan 21 0:07:50 2000
The whole gay married debate is really strange. I wouldn't want to join an institution where I clearly wasn't welcome!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fri Jan 21 0:14:48 2000
Glad I'm Gay, did you get dumped sweatie? You poor dear......life must go on.
Fri Jan 21 0:19:15 2000
Yeah - life sure does goes on - and for the better without a bi b/f. I dumped him after years of me 'understanding' his situation. Turns out the wife eventually pulls the strings on a bi-guy. Reminds him of his kids and responsibilities. All I am saying is that is my experience with a bi b/f was good when it was good, but bad when he was made to make a choice. Even now, he says he is gay but does not want to lose his marriage, kids. job etc. Am over it as far as bi's go. Make a choice for yourselves guys. She even came to MG party and could not comprehend why she was there. Her husband is gay - but they have chosen their life so they can mow lawns, raise kids and get on with it. I have gone on - and am far better off :)
Glad I'm Gay - Fri Jan 21 1:51:41 2000
If he says he's gay then he is. He's just a sad closet. Being married doesn't make you bi.
Fri Jan 21 6:29:35 2000
That is it - a sad gay closet. Funny how bis get blamed for everything, arnt we in this mess because us gay boys decided to blame them for the "straights at parties situation". Don't you think it is time we grew up and took responsibility for our own actions.
Fri Jan 21 8:51:55 2000
1) What is the difference between a relationship where your partner goes out and has sex with a man or a women? It it still either an open relationship or cheating. You are still either accepting or jealous/hurt/scared/insecure.
2) Stop generalising. You are all saying "all this" and "all that". Every human is unique. You can't generalise about sexual attraction and communnity membership and where people live.
Panther - Fri Jan 21 8:55:48 2000
People choose the closet because of oppression, regardless of whether he is gay or bi, it is oppression that has forced him into this situation, blaming all bisexuals for this, doesn't do anything to fight this oppression. Would it not be in our interest to make it easier for bisexual to come out and live outside the closet, the more people who are out and proud, the better it is for all of us. I tell you I would be very careful about coming out as bi to the gay community, knowing just how intolerant us gay men and lesbian can be.
Fri Jan 21 8:58:23 2000
When it comes to sexuality, I dont think any two people are alike. Ve vary by degrees from each other, and we all change over time through experience. I have nothing against bisexuals, str8s or people with two heads for that matter. To cover the whole spectrum of 'queer humanity' in the MG title would obviously impractical. My experience is that MG as an organisation is more inclusive than any other association I've ever had with any other organisation. They have forged links with indigenous australians, the asian community, the non-hearing.... the list goes on. Slinging threats to disrupt the MG parade because you dont feel included sounds plain childish to me. Get involved and change it from within if you think thats what people want. And I dont think gays and lesbians are intolerant. Its just that for one night in the year... our night.... we want to be free to party with our fellow gays and lesbians.
Bwian - Fri Jan 21 9:47:50 2000
Nice sentiments Bwian, but the fact is that most of the "gay and proud" bigots probably never leave the ghetto for any reason and spend their entire lives with other gay males. The rest of us have grown up.
Fri Jan 21 10:02:27 2000
Bwian there is more to MG then a party, in fact the party is a "fund raising" event for our community organisation. You really are confused about what purpose MG was created for, I'm not saying that you being only interested in the party is wrong, but why do you feel you can exclude others that *you* don't feel belong, just so you can have a really cool party? I'm sorry but you really are a very petty individual, and lets face it, you don't go to party with lesbians, you go to party with other gay men, and if you had your way lesbians wouldn't be included either, but that misogynist and bigoted issue is history.
Fri Jan 21 10:16:42 2000
What is the relationship between Mardi Gras and the "community"? When people talk about 'Mardi Gras', what do they mean? Is it the festival? The party? What role do these community cultural institutions play in our sense of identity or sexuality, our place in culture and society as a whole? Who 'owns' these insitutions, who has a stake in them? What is important to proponents of inclusion or exclusion? What are their fears, their hopes? What is Mardi Gras to you?
sideburns - Fri Jan 21 10:45:04 2000
Mardi Gras to me is the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender voice to the main-stream society through the parade, it is also a celebration of being proud of who we are and a platform through the festival that helps us further develop our culture/s. The party is mainly a fund raiser, and damn fun one at that!
mick - Fri Jan 21 11:06:45 2000
Why does the militant homosexual agenda want to destroy our god fearing Christian society, don't they realise that threats like these will get them no where. They should stop being so childish and grow up.
Fri Jan 21 11:56:56 2000
I believe the above is meant sarcastically to show how stupid and oppressive comments like Bwain and Gay and Proud really are.
Fri Jan 21 12:00:14 2000
It is? I must be missing something
Fri Jan 21 12:24:02 2000
I believe the above comments clearly highlight how little bisexuals understand about the lesbian and gay community. Just in case you care (which I doubt as it seems the militant bi's posting here only care about their selfish agenda to destroy MG)...Im not middle class, don't live in the ghetto, have more female friends than male ones, and wait for it ...yes even bisexual ones!!! Now that's a shock isn't it for you revolutionary types!!! I don't know why when I just voice an honest and open opinion Im forced to justify my life!!! The fact this happens on a relatively anonymous forum like Pinkboard shows just why so few lesbians and gay men are prepared to speak up in favour of keeping MG lesbian and gay at the various forums etc. All I hear here from the militant bisexuals and their misguided g&l bed mates are threats to disrupt Mardi Gras cos they can't get their own way through the democratic process...is that bigoted? Anyway ...why would you want to take part in an organisation that treated you like crap? (Your assumption not mine!)
Gay & Proud - Fri Jan 21 12:29:00 2000
Mick your comments on - Fri Jan 21 11:06:45 2000 - who cares what it is for you, the fact remains the SGLMG is not and never has been a bisexual organisation. Its lesbian and gayness is its strength.
Gay & Proud - Fri Jan 21 12:40:56 2000
you are such a bigot gay and proud, and I will say that with out a worry, you see we call others bigots that discriminate against us based on sexuality, so if you do the same you will be called one also. Feel free to voice your opinion, but please name your behaviour and opinion for what it is, pure bigotry.
Fri Jan 21 12:51:14 2000
if you are not a white boy and have bi and lesbian friend I am the president of MG. Your track record of telling the truth is rather poor, may be it is time choose a different sig, so that people will not write off everything you say as a lie.
Fri Jan 21 12:54:56 2000
The reasoned comments from Bwian - Fri Jan 21 9:47:50 2000 - summ up perefectly how many lesbian and gays feel on this issue. Yet again he is labelled a b