rights Sender: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Precedence: bulk Sydney Star Observer November 19 1998 Bob�s best wishes: Carr supports Mardi Gras � but stalls on equal rights Brendan Bolger NSW Premier Bob Carr has been labelled a hypocrite for lending his support to the 1999 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival but not recognising same sex couples in law. "� I am pleased to offer a message of support for the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras,"Carr writes in the 1999 Mardi Gras festival guide, to be launched next Tues-day. "Its origins lie in the struggle for rights and acceptance that saw people take to the streets in protest 21 years ago. "Since then Mardi Gras has become part of Sydney life, reflecting our cultural diversity and our city�s basic good humour. It also reflects a sense of fun. Mardi Gras sends a message of defiance to the puritans, the wowsers and the naysayers. Best wishes." The guide carries messages of support from numerous politicians, including federal opposition leader Kim Beazley. Prime Minister John Howard did not respond to Mardi Gras� request for a message, for the third year running.Former Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby relationships campaign coordinator Tim Young this week said Premier Carr�s message in the Mardi Gras guide was hypocritical. "[The premier has] the audacity to say Mardi Gras� �origins lie in a struggle for rights and acceptance that saw people take to the streets in protest 21 years ago�, and yet people have been taking to the streets in protest and he�s ignored it," Young said. Young said he was saddened by Mardi Gras not taking a stronger political stand. Last month, Young and his partner Matthew McCrory wrote to Mardi Gras requesting the organisation not obtain a message of support from the Premier because of his inaction on recognition of same sex relationships. Mardi Gras president David McLachlan said Young and McCrory�s letter was received after a message of support was requested from the Premier. Withdrawing the message would have been inappropriate, McLachlan said, "particularly because we invited" his message. He acknowledged Mardi Gras had changed over the years but did not believe Mardi Gras had lost its political origins. McLachlan said former president Bev Lange constantly called for the government to equalise laws that discriminated against gays and lesbians. He said political messages are evident in the 1999 guide and festival, and were evident in previous festivals and guides. Recently elected Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby co-convenor Kathy Sant said she hoped Carr had not joined the ranks of the "puritans, the wowsers and the naysayers". "Mr Carr has an obligation to govern on behalf of the whole community, including gay men and lesbians. "No other community would accept a message of support, without more, as discharging that obligation. We won�t either," Sant said. Prior to being elected in 1995, Carr committed to reforming legislation in regards to hospital visiting rights, wills, and family provisions. However, the NSW Democrats De Facto Relationships Amendment Bill, which seeks to recognise same sex relationships, was recently referred to a parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Issues. The committee have called for public submissions by December 11, but is not expected to report back to Parliament until after the State election next March. Likewise, debate over independent Bligh MP Clover Moore�s Significant Personal Relationships Bill has been "stalled" in the lower house because the Government has cancelled private member�s mornings. Other politicians who sent messages of support for the 1999 Mardi Gras festival include Democrats leader Meg Lees, Australian Greens leader Bob Brown, NSW opposition leader Peter Collins, NSW Democrats leader Arthur Chesterfield-Evans, Bligh MP Clover Moore, Sydney Lord Mayor Frank Sartor and South Sydney Mayor Vic Smith. -- |: Paul Canning [EMAIL PROTECTED] � http://www.rainbow.net.au/~canning >Queers for Reconciliation http://reconciliation.queer.org.au � *GooGallery http://www.rainbow.net.au/~canning/goo >: "Graphic depictions of homosexual acts and sexual violence by weapon-wielding, >leather-clad men. " The Age describes Tom of Finland Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List As vilified, slandered and attacked by One Nation mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
