The 78ers are a group of LGBT activists who marched in the original Sydney Mardi Gras on 24 June 1978 and participated in the subsequent protests against police violence and the arrests of participants in the Mardi Gras. In 1997 a small group of people who were part of the 1978 events contributed to planning the commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the Sydney Mardi Gras parade in 1998. This group became known as the 78ers and has led each year's Mardi Gras parade since 1998.

History

The first

Sydney Mardi Gras The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras or Sydney Mardi Gras is an event in Sydney, New South Wales attended by hundreds of thousands of people from around Australia and overseas. One of the largest such festivals in the world, Mardi Gras is the ...

was an evening street protest in support of

gay ''Gay'' is a term that primarily refers to a homosexual person or the trait of being homosexual. The term originally meant 'carefree', 'cheerful', or 'bright and showy'. While scant usage referring to male homosexuality dates to the late 1 ...

and lesbian rights along

Oxford Street Oxford Street is a major road in the City of Westminster in the West End of London, running from Tottenham Court Road to Marble Arch via Oxford Circus. It is Europe's busiest shopping street, with around half a million daily visitors, and as ...

in Sydney on 24 June 1978. The protestors were assaulted and thrown in gaol, with many affected by the trauma for years afterwards. The 78ers were amongst those who participated in the Mardi Gras and the protest at Darlinghurst and Central Police Stations on 25 June 1978, the protest at Central Court

Sydney Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...

on 26 June 1978 where 300 protested outside the closed court in Liverpool Street and seven were arrested, the gay rights march from

Martin Place Martin Place is a pedestrian mall in the Sydney central business district, New South Wales, Australia. Martin Place has been described as the "civic heart" of Sydney.

to Darlinghurst Police Station on 15 July 1978 where 2,000 protested and 14 were arrested and the March down

from the 4th National Homosexual Conference to

Taylor Square 500px, Taylor Square, Darlinghurst Taylor Square is a public square in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Taylor Square is located beside a major road junction, where Oxford Street meets Flinders Street. Taylor Square is also on the border of ...

and

Hyde Park Hyde Park may refer to: Places England * Hyde Park, London, a Royal Park in Central London * Hyde Park, Leeds, an inner-city area of north-west Leeds * Hyde Park, Sheffield, district of Sheffield * Hyde Park, in Hyde, Greater Manchester Austra ...

on 27 August 1978 with 300 participants and 104 arrests. Most of the charges against those arrested were eventually dropped and the New South Wales Summary Offences Act, which had given Police very wide powers to arrest people, was repealed in May 1979. In the days following the

Sydney Morning Herald ''The Sydney Morning Herald'' (''SMH'') is a daily compact newspaper published in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, and owned by Nine. Founded in 1831 as the ''Sydney Herald'', the ''Herald'' is the oldest continuously published newspaper i ...

published the names, occupations and addresses of people facing charges. In 1997 a small group of people who were part of the 1978 events contributed to planning the commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the Sydney Mardi Gras parade in 1998. This group became known as the 78ers and has led each year's Mardi Gras parade since 1998.

Members

The 78ers included activists Garry Wotherspoon, Kate Rowe, Jacqueline Hyde, Peter Murphy,

Julie McCrossin Julie Elizabeth McCrossin (born 2 October 1954) is an Australian radio broadcaster, journalist, comedian, political commentator and activist for women's and gay rights. She is best known for her role as a team captain on the news-based comedy q ...

, Peter de Waal, Peter “Bon” Bonsall-Boone,

Robyn Plaister Robin Miriam Carlsson (born 12 June 1979), known as Robyn (), is a Swedish pop singer, songwriter, record producer, and DJ. She arrived on the music scene with her 1995 debut album, '' Robyn Is Here'', which produced two ''Billboard'' Hot 100 ...

, Robyn Kennedy, Ron Austin, Diane Minnis, Lance Day,

Lance Gowland Lance Gowland (1935–2008) was an Australian LGBT rights activist, unionist, peace activist and Communist Party member. He was a member of the Campaign Against Moral Persecution (CAMP) and as one of the organisers drove the truck in the first Sy ...

and many others.

Legacy

On 25 February 2016 the New South Wales State Parliament made a formal bipartisan apology to the 78ers when Bruce Notley Smith, the member for Coogee, moved the motion of apology in the NSW Legislative Assembly. On 24 February 2016

The Sydney Morning Herald ''The Sydney Morning Herald'' (''SMH'') is a daily compact newspaper published in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, and owned by Nine. Founded in 1831 as the ''Sydney Herald'', the ''Herald'' is the oldest continuously published newspaper ...

published an apology to the 78ers, Darren Goodsir, editor-in-chief said "In 1978, The Sydney Morning Herald reported the names, addresses and professions of people arrested during public protests to advance gay rights. The paper at the time was following the custom and practice of the day. We acknowledge and apologise for the hurt and suffering that reporting caused. It would never happen today." On 9 August 2018 NSW Police Commissioner Michael Fuller gave an official apology on behalf of the Police Force for the actions of police during the events of 1978.

In popular culture

* ''Witches and Faggots, Dykes and Poofters'' produced by Digby Duncan, 1980. A contemporary history of the events surrounding the first march by the 78ers. * ''

Riot A riot is a form of civil disorder commonly characterized by a group lashing out in a violent public disturbance against authority, property, or people. Riots typically involve destruction of property, public or private. The property targete ...

'' directed by Jeffrey Walker, 2018 A telemovie released for the 40th Anniversary of Sydney's Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.

References

{{Reflist People from Sydney LGBT culture in Sydney LGBT rights activists from Australia