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So was, uh, dear and John Des and John. Well, now you've got a long history with this fear, don't you? I have very long history seeing me. I started up with two others in 1986 before homosexual law reform was passed. And then, uh, the following year, I continued on my own and ran it for 10 years. The joy was it was a fair for a fair law. That was how it was promoted and happened since we've had some fair laws. So what, this? Did you ever think it would be [00:00:30] around 32 years after after you had formed it? No, I didn't think about that. But all I know that is, I It worked well, and I That's why I kept that up for 10 years. But then it was the threat of of divorce if I read another one that after 10 years, Yeah, but because in those days would take about three months off work to organise it. Yeah, and that meant no income. That was starving. [00:01:00] So when you look around today, um, can you describe for me What? What, What we're seeing? Yeah, it's just that a lot of people and the diversity of the people, the colour and also the noise and and and lots of people to wave out to. But we know which is great. And yeah, it's it's just changed. And a lot of young people and, uh, and so many more people from when we first started. So that was great 11 [00:01:30] of the joys is that, uh, there are people here who would have nothing to do with this in 1986. I mean, you have got ST Vincent de Paul running a store, and Vinnie would not even take a poster in Newtown for the fairs. Yeah, and of course, we all know the history of the Salvation Army, and I'm still not likely to buy anything off their store. I have to admit that, uh, I still feel a little bit. Uh uh. I think my he is sort of get a raise or whatever, but [00:02:00] anyway, when I do see the religious groups which gave us such a hard time, so anyway. But that's in the past. Let's go forward well, and it's good to see that there's there's real energy. It it seems I've just visited a couple of the stalls. There seems to be a real energy for change, for making things more inclusive and more accepting that that's true. And and this is it And the visibility is the importance. And people say, Why do you need a gay lesbian [00:02:30] pride march? Why do you need a fair if we don't? We're not visible. We get lost from everyone else and therefore homophobia will increase and racism and all those things that we don't want in our society. So, yeah, be out. Be proud Picking up on Desi's Point. I've never forgotten Fran Wild during law reform, so there are two vs. You need to remember visibility and vigilance because there are people who still want to turn back the clock. And as Des is, if [00:03:00] we're not visible, they might just get an edge in and sort of change political views. It's been quite a sad year for the Wellington kind of rainbow LGBTI communities with a number of people passing away people like, you know, Donna de Milo and Shelley and, um, Virginia case. And yes, yes. Do you have any memories that you want to share? Well with Dana? I mean, Dana to us is magic or was magic. She was amazing because [00:03:30] a person who is transgender, who stood up and if you know about her history and the way the cops treated her way back and took her to the police station and made a strip off to put men's clothing on. And I mean, that would not happen now. I mean, anything like that happening now would just hit the headlines. And so yeah, and I remember Case and, uh, John Mackay, people like that who were so involved with the Victoria Club [00:04:00] and also the grain assault, the restaurant they ran. And yeah, it's, uh yeah, but I suppose now nearly 80 that, uh, it won't be long before we'll be talked about hopefully Or maybe we'll be forgotten silently fade away. I don't believe that you'll be forgotten or silently fade away, just trying to get that feeling. But what I but most [00:04:30] of my energies now, I just feel very comfortable that the gay community is out there. So most of my energies now with conservation and I often said, uh, if it weren't through the bigots and of homophobia, conservation would have gained far more because that's where my first lover has been involved with restoration of our forests and also of educating people on how to look after the Earth. And [00:05:00] let's hope we look after the people. They are on the earth and we look after the Earth. So that's where my energy is these days. I don't think I can really add to that except go back to your comment about Donna. I think Donna was absolutely incredible. She had a terrible time and she didn't seem to harbour any bitterness. And she had a charm and an energy, and it was just a sheer delight. And I shall miss her very much if somebody [00:05:30] can't attend today or can't attend the other pride events, for whatever reason. What what kind of message would you like to give them? Just, uh, be out. Be proud and just remember that, uh, it's a good idea to try and support the gay community events because that way we are we are out and and that for those who can't attend for other reasons or are still [00:06:00] hiding in the closet, just think about who you are. Feel OK and comfortable with who you are. and then you can go forth in life and enjoy it. Have fun, I. I would endorse that. I would say it's very important to be out if you possibly can. But if you can't enjoy life and there's nothing to stop you from coming to a gay fair because you don't have to be gay to do so. This is a community event, a broader community [00:06:30] event, and that's one of the very important things that has happened. It's not an isolated clique which is healthy or a fair. We're part of the community, their own good on us.
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