The Parade was almost five times the size of the 1991 Parade. The Pride March of 1992 surpassed all expectations of the Pride collective, with 1,500 participants. The issue of incorporation and what to do with funds raised, were entered into during these discussions. The Pride Collective had, up until this point, been a loose affiliation of individual groups, including GALE, SUSWA, PFLAG, GAGS, Metropolitan Community Church, Westside Observer, Laughing Medusa, Grapevine, The Wilde Alliance, Curtin Stonewall Club, WA Aids Council, PLWA, Breakaway, and ACT-UP.įollowing the success of the parade and the parties, the Pride Collective discussed the future of the group. October 26, the Parade was moved from day to night-time and thousands watched the 350 gay men, lesbians and supporters who took to the streets. The march had almost an equal number of gay men and lesbians and was an indication of the coalitionist approach and make-up of the Pride Collective. Thirty events were organised for the month of October and the first street march was to be held in Perth for many years attracted over 200 participants. A meeting held on September 16, brought together 30 members of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transsexual organisations in Perth to form the Pride Collective (WA). Jsaw the formation of a new student group called “Stonewall union of Students of Western Australia.” The first initiatives of SUSWA were to contact other groups within the lesbian and gay community with the aim of setting up a WA Pride Collective and organising a “Pride Month” in October. The Bill was finally proclaimed in March of 1990. Over 300 people attended the rally armed with banners and pink and mauve balloons to express their anger at unjust and discriminatory laws. On October 22, a rally was held on the steps of Parliament House to protest over laws discriminating against gay men in Western Australia and to persuade Parliament that the Bill should be passed.
In October 1989, the Parliament of Western Australia was debating a bill to decriminalise homosexual acts between consenting males. In October 2009, Pride welcomed people in celebrating the 20 th anniversary of the Protest Rally that got the ball rolling, with the 20 th annual Pride Month, and 20 years of Pride in Western Australia. Many things have changed over the years, but the message of that first protest rally must never be lost. On October 20, 1990, the first anniversary of the Parliament House Rally was celebrated with a 200 strong march from Supreme Court Gardens at 10am and the Beloved Happiness Dance Party that night at the Leederville Hotel. During September that year, 30 members of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender organisations formed the Pride Collective (WA).Ī calendar of 30 events formed the basis of Perth’s first Pride month in October of 1990, including an art exhibition, quiz night, film night and celebrations of International Lesbian Day and Coming Out Day.
The message was loud and clear.Īfter much debate, a reluctant government passed a bill to decriminalise homosexuality – 18 votes to 15 – in March of 1990, but with highly a highly offensive preamble and age of consent higher than for heterosexuals.įollowing this qualified success, The Stonewall Union of Students of Western Australia (SUSWA) was formed in July 1990. 200 pink and mauve balloons were released as the crowd sang “I Am What I Am”. Over 300 people took to Parliament House in West Perth, in what was the largest turnout across the country. Symbolic action was taken in Sydney and Melbourne, where laws had already progressed. Protests were staged in WA, Queensland and Tasmania on the anniversary of hundreds of arrests of gay people in Salamanca Place, Hobart. The Gay Law Reform Group of WA joined an International Day of Protest on October 22.
The search for a star was heating up at camp enclave Arpi’s, a new gentlemen’s bar offered a sophisticated alternative, and Connections Nightclub celebrated Friday the 13 th with a Batdance.īehind closed doors there were many places to escape from a frightening world outside: a world where Aids was taking lives, police harassment was rife and sodomy was still illegal in Western Australia. Pride WA, Pre-formation And the Early Years