On August 11 several thousand people rallied against eight years of being second class citizens and then participated in a mass illegal wedding.
Eight years after the Howard Liberal government introduced the delightfully discriminating Marriage Amendment Act (2004), we’re still rallying for marriage equality.
A fruity message highlighted the discrimination:
We cant-elope
Ernie & Bert were planning their wedding in New York (and Colin was planning his wedding to a handsome police officer):
While Ernie & Bert want to marry in New York, Colin has his eyes on a handsome policeman
Straights were fighting hate:
Straights against hate
There were thousands of people there:
Huge crowds!
Two gorgeous guys got illegally married to each other:
Happy illegally married
Enjoy all the excitement of the day – photos on Google Photos and Facebook. View all my Equal Love Rally posts here. Please contact me if you want to use any of my photos from this event.
The Jewish Holocaust Centre commemorated UN Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 25, 2012. Colin Krycer lit a candle in memory of the homosexual victims of the Holocaust. Josh Frydenberg delivered the keynote address. He also does not believe homosexual Australians should have equal rights.
In keeping with the tradition of having a representative of the GLBT community to attend the commemoration, Colin Krycer of Aleph Melbourne accepted the invitation to light a candle in memory of the tens of thousands of homosexual men who were murdered at the hands of the Nazis.
Colin Krycer lights a candle in memory of the homosexual victims of the Holocaust
Federal member for Kooyong, Josh Frydenberg MP, delivered the keynote address on the evening.
Josh Frydenberg MP delivers the keynote address
I feel compelled to express my reservations with the selection of Josh Frydenberg as keynote speaker at this event. My reservations stem from the fact that Josh Frydenberg wishes to deny equal rights for homosexual Australians and calls for a second-class status for the registration of same-sex relationships.
My view is that marriage is a unique relationship between a man and a woman. It is much more than a simple debate about preferred terminology.
Relationships between same sex couples are equally special but nevertheless by definition different.
These relationships are to be respected and valued for the love that they bring and the families that they build. However, the term marriage should not apply.
Civil unions, however, should be an alternative.
I know many people in our community, particularly those younger than me will not agree with my view on same sex marriage.
I hope they respect my view as I do theirs.
In the Holocaust homosexual men were denied equality and treated as lesser citizens, with reduced rights and status. There is no place for any discrimination against homosexual men and women in Australian society.
Aside from the possibility of a same-sex couple producing a biological child belonging to both parents, same-sex relationships are equal in every way to opposite-sex relationships, including those opposite-sex relationships where a biological child is not a viable or a desired option.
I ask Josh Frydenberg to understand this reality and to join the increasing ranks of Australians who understand that marriage equality, a definition of marriage that does not discriminate on the basis of gender, is in the best interests of all Australians.
Last Sunday was the 16th annual Pride March in St Kilda. Melbourne’s weather started out a little rainy and overcast, but cleared in time for the parade, leaving an abundance of blue skies and sunshine.
Young Aleph in Pride March
Kaye Sera always brings a ray of sunshine, and a pink plastic penis.
Kaye Sera in Pride March
Behind-the-scenes magic was performed by Colin Krycer, back with a vengeance after missing the prior year’s parade due to an appointment with a heart surgeon.
Colin Krycer (L) offering a helping hand
Pride March celebrates the diversity and under the umbrella of the Australian GLBTIQ Multicultural Council marched a diverse array of cultural organisations.
Alyena and John from the AGMC
I’ve posted my photos from the day in Google Photos and Facebook. Enjoy them and feel free to comment.
For the past nine years United We Dance has been one of the highlights of Melbourne’s queer community’s calendar. Primarily established as a fund-raising event, bringing together people from different multicultural communities, the event has gone from strength to strength.
Organising an annual dance party with the best multicultural DJs and 15 excellent performances staged over the evening doesn’t just happen by itself. Many months of hard work happen behind the scene and accolades must be given to John Tzimas, Colin Krycer and their teams who have undertaken this mammoth effort annually.
I have been lucky enough to have been involved as the photographer for the event since 2004, when it formed the closing party for the Inaugural Australian GLBTIQ Multicultural Conference in October that year.
It has been an honour being involved with United We Dance for all these years. I love the people who attend, in all their diversity. I love the organisers for putting on an excellent night’s entertainment, knowing that every cent raised is going directly to support the community. I love the buzz it gives me, being there and getting to meet and photograph everyone. I also love that it’s a place where people from every nationality, cultural background, religion (and absence of), gender identity and sexual orientation come together to enjoy a night out and treat each other as equal. It sets an example wider society can take a lesson from.
Please take a few moments to browse my galleries from this and previous years and enjoy a sense of the unity and harmony that United We Dance fosters. It’s truly unique.
