NSW
Police appeal after trans woman bashed by mob of young men
Police are hunting a group of more than a dozen men who “cowardly” assaulted a transgender woman on Sydney’s northern beaches. The woman, aged in her late twenties, ended up unconscious after the mob of around 15 young men attacked her in the carpark near the Dee Why Surf Life Saving Club on March 20. …
Vale Mardi Gras 78er Sandi Banks
Mardi Gras 78er and veteran LGBTIQ activist Sandi Banks passed away this week after battling cancer. Sandi was one of the 53 people arrested by police on the night of the first Mardi Gras parade on June 24, 1978. The event was violently broken up by police, and those arrested were beaten by police and …
Pride events cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
After the cancellation of this weekend’s Wagga Mardi Gras Parade, organisers of Hay’s Rainbow on the Plains yesterday announced the cancellation of their coming event. The cancellations of these two regional Pride events come as organisers also cancelled Pride events in Los Angeles and Miami Beach. Wagga Wagga Mardi Gras Festival Local transgender woman Holly …
Scott Johnson: Police make progress in gay-hate death investigation
New South Wales homicide detectives investigating the 1988 suspected gay-hate killing of Scott Johnson have reportedly narrowed in on “a particular individual”. Scott Johnson’s body was found at the base of a cliff in Sydney on December 10, 1988. The Sydney-based American national was just 27 when he died. A coronial inquest initially concluded Johnson …
Open letter to Mardi Gras Board questions governance
An open letter to the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Board queries decisions pertaining to both Sydney World Pride 2023 and the recent Mardi Gras festival. The letter from ‘Concerned MG members’ questions what it describes as “declining standards of governance by the Board.” The letter firstly questions the structure in place for Sydney …
Gay sauna taking temperatures on entry as coronavirus precaution
A gay sauna in Sydney has started taking the temperatures of all patrons on entry as a precaution against the risk of coronavirus infection. In a Facebook post last weekend, venue 357 Sydney City Steam quipped it’s the “first sauna in Australia to not allow you entry if you’re too hot.” “At 357 we want …
Reward doubled to $2 million in gay hate murder
The brother of gay man Scott Johnson, who died in Sydney 32 years ago, have matched a police reward for information in his alleged murder, with the total doubling to $2 million. Scott Johnson’s body was found at the base of a cliff at Blue Fish Point, near Manly’s North Head on December 10 1988. …
Man arrested over murder of Kimberley McRae
A 20-year-old Colombian man arrested on a Caribbean island is facing extradition to Australia for the alleged murder of Sydney woman Kimberley McRae. McRae, who was transgender, was found dead in her Coogee unit in January. A real estate agent discovered her body several days after the 69-year-old was last seen. Last week, local police …
Dept of Homo Affairs protestors arrested at Mardi Gras
New South Wales police arrested three Department of Homo Affairs protestors last night for their unsanctioned participation in the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade. Ironically, the parade commemorates a protest. The Department of Homo Affairs protest began when an apparently unapproved float called #resist250 joined the parade route ahead of the Liberal Party …
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade 2020
200,000 people lined the streets of Sydney earlier tonight for the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade 2020. Despite a smaller crowd than last year, the crowd cheered on (most of) the almost 200 floats. An Aboriginal smoking ceremony and Welcome to Country by Graham Sims began the festivities. More than 150 motorbikes then …