The Campaign Against Moral Persecution (also known as CAMP or CAMP Inc.) was an
LGBT
' is an initialism that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. In use since the 1990s, the initialism, as well as some of its common variants, functions as an umbrella term for sexuality and gender identity.
The LGBT term is a ...
activism
Activism (or Advocacy) consists of efforts to promote, impede, direct or intervene in Social change, social, Political campaign, political, economic or Natural environment, environmental reform with the desire to make Social change, changes i ...
group. It was officially established on 6 February 1971, at the first public gathering of gay women and men in Australia, which took place in a church hall in
Balmain, New South Wales
Balmain is a suburb in the Inner West of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Balmain is located west of the Sydney central business district, in the Local government in Australia, local government area of the Inner West Council.
It is locate ...
.
History
CAMP aimed to support gay and lesbian people, raise awareness of challenges facing them, and campaign for an end to discrimination against them.
The group was one of the first LGBTI rights groups to be established in Australia.
Formed in Sydney, it soon expanded across Australia.
Its aims, as expressed in its monthly newsletter, were "to bring about a situation where homosexuals can enjoy good jobs and security in those jobs, equal treatment under the law, and the right to serve our country without fear of exposure and contempt."
John Ware
and Christabel Poll appeared in ''
The Australian
''The Australian'', with its Saturday edition, ''The Weekend Australian'', is a broadsheet newspaper published by News Corp Australia since 14 July 1964.Bruns, Axel. "3.1. The active audience: Transforming journalism from gatekeeping to gatew ...
'' on the 19 September 1970 announcing the establishment of the CAMP group in an article called ‘Couples’. On 6 February 1971, it was officially established at the first public gathering of homosexual men and women in Australia, which took place in a church hall in Balmain.
John Ware and Christabel Poll were confirmed as convenors and spokespeople for the new group.
Lex Watson
Alexander "Lex" Watson, (29 January 1943 – 6 May 2014), was an Australian LGBT rights activist, historian and political scientist. Born and first educated in Perth, Western Australia, Watson spent most of his life working for and then later th ...
and
Sue Wills were the first co-Presidents following a decision to establish a constitution and office-bearers in 1972. Founding members included Lex Watson,
Peter de Waal and
Peter Bonsall-Boone
Peter "Bon" Bonsall-Boone ( 1938 – 19 May 2017) was an Australian LGBT rights activist. He was a foundation member of the Campaign Against Moral Persecution (CAMP) and participated in the first Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
Biography
Pet ...
.
CAMP also published a magazine, ''CAMP Ink'', until 1977.
The group's work included establishing a telephone counselling service called 'Phone-A-Friend',
a service that continues as the Gay and Lesbian Counselling Service of NSW. CAMP campaigned for David Widdup, the first openly gay candidate to stand for office, in the
seat of Lowe in the
1972 Australian federal election
The 1972 Australian federal election was held in Australia on 2 December 1972. All 125 seats in the House of Representatives were up for election, as well as a single Senate seat in Queensland. The incumbent Liberal–Country coalition governme ...
. CAMP held the first public gay rights demonstration in Australia in October 1971.
Recognition
The group was given the President’s Award at the 2018 Honour LGBTI Community Awards.
[{{Cite web, url=https://www.honourawards.com.au/honour_roll, title=Honour Awards, website=2019 Honour Awards, access-date=2019-07-03]
Society Five was inspired by the group, and was itself initially known as the Campaign Against Moral Persecution.
References
LGBT rights organizations
LGBT rights in Australia
1970 establishments in Australia