2011: The LGBTI year that was in Adelaide

Growing activism and a shift in public mood towards marriage equality, culminating in the ALP adopting same-sex marriage as part of its policy platform, was the big news this year. But plenty of other good and not so good things have also gone down. Alex Dunkin gives an overview.

January

The year began with ACSA saying goodbye to its home of 20 years in Darling House with a move to Eton Road, Keswick. Gay Men’s Health and the Community Library both made the jump with ACSA to the new location.

Tosca winner Vonni got together some friends to host Queens for Queensland, a fundraiser to assist in the recovery efforts following the floods in Queensland. The night raised close to $1,500 for the Flood Victims. Vonnie said, “the night was amazing, with live acts, dance acts, drag acts – and all in the stifling heat.”

February

Radio Adelaide’s Aqueerium team signed off from the airwaves after ten years following a reduction in the team’s members. Founding member Nybil Thorndyke told blaze, “I think it gave a voice to the community. There was obviously a number of people who’d listen out for it every week.”

The same-sex marriage debate rolled on in South Australia with a bill put forward by Greens MLC Tammy Franks reaching its second reading. The bill, which is co-sponsored by Labor MLC Ian Hunter called to allow state based same-sex marriage.

March

Prime Minister Julia Gillard popped into town to give the Don Dunstan Keynote Speech to be met by a loud and proud Equal Love protest. The PM snuck in through the back to avoid the protesters.

Meanwhile a South Australian initiative sought to examine the specific needs of LGBTI people when it comes to receiving care, treatment and support for dementia. The GLBTI Community Dementia Project is funded by Alzheimer’s Australia.

April

Equal marriage rights received another boost from a new Christian support group. The Christians for Gay Marriage SA believes love and marriage should be equal and sets out to disprove any theory that shows all Christians to be against gay marriage.

An uproar was also sparked when word hit that The Second Story projects for same-sex attracted youth, SSAY, may be shut down. The InsideOut and Evolve projects both offered drop-in support sessions on a regular basis for SSAY. The Second Story said in a statement, “TSS anticipates that the configuration of some service areas will change to help ensure better outcomes for clients once the new model is finalized.”

May

IDAHO events were held across town including a memorial for Dr George Duncan, a law lecturer at the University of Adelaide who was drowned in 1972 for being same-sex attracted.
Fur flew at an Equal Love rally on the steps of Parliament House when the street preachers from the Adelaide Street Church gatecrashed the event. Police were required to intervene with one demonstrator claiming she was dragged from her wheelchair during a scuffle.

June

The AIDS Council of South Australia initiated a pilot program to assist isolated PLHIV in the southern regions of Adelaide. With the assistance of a small volunteer team it aims to help PLHIV to socialize more regularly.

A bill allowing both parents in a same-sex relationship to have their names on their child’s birth certificate passed State Parliament with a large majority. The Family Relationships (Parentage) Amendment Bill 2010 was introduced by Greens MLC Tammy Franks and ushered through the Lower House by Liberal MP David Pisoni who told blaze, “South Australia is now in the 21st century.”

July

Labor MLC Ian Hunter slammed the Federal Government for its refusal to grant Certificates of Non-Impediment, CNIs, to same-sex couples who wish to marry overseas. CNIs are designed as an assurance to overseas governments that Australian applicants can be legally married overseas. Hunter said, “The government’s interpretation of the purpose of CNIs is incorrect. CNIs are not designed to validate overseas marriages, whether these marriages be between heterosexuals or homosexuals.”

A motion passed the Upper House of State Parliament in support of the then current programs within The Second Story. The motion, put forward by Greens MLC Tammy Franks, sought assurances from the Rann Government that the programs would continue to provide a vital service for same-sex attracted youth.

August

The Marriage Amendment Act, which saw federal laws change to define marriage as between a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others, turned seven. Equal Love Adelaide rallied for the third year in a row to mark the occasion.

The Australian Services Union, ASU, came out in support of same-sex marriage following a motion that passed its South Australia and Northern Territory branch. This coincided with the then Premier-in-waiting Jay Weatherill vocalizing his support for equal marriage rights. At a media conference Weatherill told reporters, “I have always been a supporter of same-sex marriage.”

An Equal Love rally at Parliament House received a record turnout following the presence of the street preachers at the previous rally. Approximately 800 people turned out to show their support.

September

A scholarship to support LGBTI youth through their studies launched in South Australia with a function at Parliament House. The Pinnacle Foundation granted its first South Australian scholarship to Neville Fields, to help him through his medical degree.

Labor MLC Ian Hunter introduced a new IVF bill that would overturn the current state laws that only allow access to IVF for those who are deemed medically infertile. The Assisted Reproductive Treatment (Assistance for Lesbian and Single Women) Amendment Bill 2011 is in response to the recent report from the Social Development Committee 2011. The report said, “The Committee also heard that limited access to reproductive treatment in South Australia may mean that some women will choose to self-inseminate outside of regulated clinical settings.”

October

South Australian Premier Mike Rann took the opportunity of his final speech as Premier to declare his support for same-sex marriage. Public declarations in support of same-sex marriage included Adelaide City Council Lord Mayor Stephen Yarwood declaring his support and pushing for the Town Hall to fly the rainbow flag during the Feast Festival.

Opposition also struck out from within both the State Liberal and Labor parties. Former Opposition Leader Martin Hamilton-Smith and Transport Minister Tom Kenyon both vocalized their position against same-sex marriage, claiming that marriage is about the children. Kenyon said, “I think marriage is really important…It serves a useful function in society other than the romantic-relationship-side of it, that’s what keeps your society regenerating and that child-rearing that married couples usually undertake.”

November

The Feast Festival kicked off with another clash with the Adelaide Street Church who attended the Pride March with anti-gay placards. They were severely outnumbered and their shouts were drowned out by the music and celebration that launched Feast. Following the march the preachers told blaze, “I think we just wanted to represent the Gospel of Jesus Christ and I think that we did that successfully.”

Flying the rainbow flag outside the Marion City Council Chambers caused a stir with council member Jerome Appleby responding by calling the Feast Festival “sleazy and vulgar”. The vote in favour of flying the flag narrowly passed the Marion City Council.

December

The hard work of Let’s Get Equal was highlighted with the ten year commitment of Terri Mitchell-Smith earning her official recognition in the South Australian 2011 Women’s Honour Roll. Mitchell-Smith told blaze, “It’s lovely to have recognition not only of my hard work but all the work Let’s Get Equal does and to just have a gay and lesbian issue recognized in the awards.”

The Australian Education Union held a successful workshop as part of the Feast Festival which will now see the first tentative steps taken toward creating a Safe Schools Coalition of South Australia.

South Australian Senator and Federal Finance Minister Penny Wong welcomed to the world a bouncing baby girl named Alexandra. Wong’s partner Sophie Allouache gave birth to their daughter at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Adelaide.