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Thursday, June 23, 2011
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Thursday, March 04, 2010
Mardi Gras - Searches at Carnival
The Mardi Gras Parade was good fun on Saturday night. It is just a pity that the Carnival party afterwards wasn't.
I am not sure who decided not to open the gates until after 10pm (the first people who arrived off the parade must have been there by 9pm)
What was even more appalling was the patdown searches by ISEC Security on entry. Everyone was forced to have a pat down search.
When I questioned one of the security guards under which NSW Statue they were undertaking the search I was told "I am doing as I am told". The male security guard at least looked embarrased.
What was worrying is these patdowns were been done regardless of gender i.e. Male security guards were patting down women, etc.
Even more disturbing is that in reading online after the event is what I thought was the case Security Guards have no power of search as copied below the legal aid website.
http://www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au/asp/index.asp?pgid=507
Security guards
Security guards have no more extra powers than ordinary citizens. They have no power to search or question you.
A security guard cannot:
A security guard cannot:
In some places, especially shopping centres, a security guard might ban you from coming in. They do this by giving you a "Termination of Licence" notice. If you get one of these notices it means you can be charged with trespassing the next time you go there.
Usually, you would be asked to sign it. You cannot be forced to sign it. You should get legal advice.
I have emailed I-Sec Security but to date have only an email acknowledgement that says they will respond.
I asked them two questions:
a) Who authorised the mass search on Saturday night
b) Under what law is this type of search authorised.
I will update as I get a response.
If not then I will contact Mardi Gras - which worrying have warnings about pat downs (they don't call them search which is what they are) on the Mardi Gras website.
Don’t be afraid – policies have been developed to ensure patrons’ confidentiality. Security personnel are there to make Mardi Gras events fun and safe for everyone.
Your co-operation will lead to a quick entrance to the party so have your belongings ready, you may encounter pat-downs and bag searches.
I am still appalled at this mass pat down of patrons - it is an extremely worrying trend - ironically at other Mardi Gras events at venues such as the Opera House - where the same patrons would be present - no one was searched not even bags!
Wednesday, March 03, 2010
Guess what Mardi Gras is meant to be fun
Two recent commentaries which question whether Sydney Mardi Gras is past its used by date and the comments which followed say a lot about what the authors perception of this event.
In a column entitled, “Relics of another era: The winter Olympics and the mardi gras”, Tanveer Ahmed argues that both the Olympics and Sydney Mardi Gras are past their use by date.
In it he says:
“As for the gay mardi gras, what started as a fight for recognition and equality, with conservative society's outrage prosecuted at the end of a police baton, has lost its political core. It is now a mere tourist event, the equivalent of an orchestrated traditional native dance in the guise of aimless partying.”
In other words we should stop any events which involve aimless partying e.g. New Year’s eve celebrations, Chinese New Year Celebrations, New Orleans Mardi Gras, etc.
In another column – “Mardi Gras parades very little” - Helen Razer writes
“In 1984, Patrick White was asked to lend his support to the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. The nation's most dignified poof angrily declined. Even hopping mad, the great man of letters couldn't bear to end a sentence with a preposition. "A lot of screaming queens in Oxford Street will not help the cause for which we shall have to fight," he wrote. Imperfect grammar was a thing up with which he would not put.
I am powerless to maintain White's deference to the rules of English. His disdain for Mardi Gras, however, is something I can easily replicate.”
She goes on:
“For a minute or two on Saturday, I watched Mardi Gras on the telly. And there was another inane drag queen vomiting her fluorescent words direct into the lap of the "straight" population. Here was a little monkey giving mum and dad their dependable dose of Gay. This qualifies as harmless fun only if the sum of our queer hope is to be yanked back into a Danny La Rue chorus line.”
Well if she had bothered to watch she would have seen among other things
· Sydney convicts – rugby team
· The 100 Revs
· Outworkers – GLBT Union members
· Numerous sports groups
· Clover Moore
· The Greens
· Mardi Gras Marching group
· Plus of course numerous drag queens
I am unsure why she hates drag queens so much but if you read the rest of the article she then claims that the GLBT communities discriminate against intersex and transgender people.
What both are suggesting is that Mardi Gras has had its time and should be retired.
I think what they are also trying to say is that Mardi Gras isn’t serious enough, is too focussed on fun, has too many drag queens, isn’t political, is too much been there and done that then it should be shut down.
I don’t think however that reflects the wider community response based on the 10,000 participants, the thousands of spectators and unknown visitors to Sydney for the parade.
And just when I thought that was it one more person who just can't stand Drag Queens in an column entitled Do you want Drag with that
While their are issues with Mardi Gras - it's rejection of floats and control by sponsors - I don't personally see what the deal is with people getting upset over Drag Queens - however from a historical point of view their has been from a long split between the "normal" gay men and those who wish to push the queer envelope so it isn't surprising that this should continue into the 21st century. Of course we can't forget Drag Queens were at he frontline in Stonewall along with other marginalised groups.
Oh well the comments on these articles make some of the best reading I have seen for a long time.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Senator Conroy responds maybe
Today I received an email below in response to my email on the Aussie Internet Censorship plan. Besides not even addressing the issues I raised the following two points need to be stated about the email
1) No ability to send an email response or any clickable links to any further information:
"Please note this mail box is not monitored and any replies sent to this address will not be received."
There were some links on the attached pdf but instead of making them clickable one has to carefully cut and paste the links.
2) The second problem was the attached legal warning - so technically I can't post or email the pdf to anyone
The information transmitted is for the use of the intended recipient only and may contain confidential and/or legally privileged material. Any review, re-transmission, disclosure, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited and may result in severe penalties.
If you have received this e-mail in error please notify the Security Advisor of the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, 38 Sydney Ave, Forrest ACT 2603, telephone (02) 6271-1376 and delete all copies of this transmission together with any attachments.
You have to wonder who didn't actually think that a general circular email is intended for the recipient only is an idiot. And the comment not to rely on the information in the document sums up Conroy's stupid scheme.
I have read the confidential attachment and what he proposes is extremely dangerous and he is been stupid to think it will actually stop anything - any child will be able to bypass the filter as well anyone else.
Check out the getup campaign for more details
http://www.getup.org.au/campaign/SaveTheNet&id=892
Saturday, August 01, 2009
Where is the news coverage of the Copenhagen bomb attack?
It was really sad to hear about the bomb attacks at the Out Games in Copenhagen. Fortunately no one was killed but people were injured.
What however was disturbing was the lack of mainstream news coverage of this event. A simple google news search showed 127 arctles of which shows besides the BBC and AP no other media even mentioned it.
While the bombing didn't kill anyone I suspect if this had occured at any other major event it would have at least got some international coverage even if it just a snippet on the international page.
Even the BBC coverage is interesting in that the photo they used is drag queen which is okay but this is a sports event so why not something sport related?
I would be interested if any one has seen any media coverage outside the gay media on this awful event - please add comments if you.
Sunday, July 05, 2009
Stonewall 40 years on
Queers for Justice recent arcticle Stonewall 40th and Pride Unveil NYC’s Shameful Priorities - highlights how there has always been a inherent tension in the queer communities.
The article discusses New York city spending money targetting gay tourists to New York but not providing funds to the poor and working class queers.
This isn't suprising and often I think the poor working class gays and lesbians are the ones who don't get acknowledged in the fight for queer rights. Often research highlights the spending power of gay men without acknowledging the hidden gay poor. Hopefully more research on Queer poverty will occur - and one day sexual orientation will actually appear on national census questions - without this simple change the Queer poor will always be lost.
India throws off imperial shackles at last - gay sex declared legal
Finally India is throwing off the last vestiges of British imperialism with the Dehli High Court ruling that homosexual sex between adults is legal.
The High Court has ruled that the 1861 Bristish law which made illegal "sex against the order of nature," which had been widely interpreted to mean homosexual sex in India, does not apply to consenting adults.
Sadly other British colonies in Africa and the South Pacific still have laws banning homosexual sex. Hopefully they will eventually remove this last vestige of imperialism - ironically a lot of these countries argue that they won't cave in to Western decadence whereas their pre European history often accepted gay men and women.
Hopefully the decision in India will encourage gays and lesbian in other countries to challenge the laws and remove these dangerous laws from every country in the world.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
SMS Scammers - Action at last
The Sydney Morning Herald reported today that The Federal Court has granted interim orders against three companies over allegations of setting up false dating profiles and SMS spamming.
Unfortunately there are some companies which have no ethics which are out their to get your money. The scam is simple in that they obtain your mobile number via a false profile then send you an SMS but if you respond you are signed up for an expensive premium SMS service. (See previous posts for more details)
The proceedings began in January when The Australian Communications and Media Authority started proceedings against three companies Mobilegate Limited, Winning Bid Pty Ltd, Jobspy Pty Ltd and individuals associated with these companies.
It is good to see some action against these companies and I noticed that the safedivert sites are no longer active.
Of course the telecommunications who were providing the premium SMS service were still making money.
Watch out for them on places such as facebook - with quizs where the only way to get a result is to put in your mobile number - just don't!
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Mardi Gras Changes
The news which has generated the most comments for a long time is Mardi Gras decision to split the party and parade.
With over 120 comments most against the move Mardi Gras then announced that their would be a new after parade party.
What is really interesting is the claims and counter claims around the decision. Mardi Gras is claiming research is what lead to the decision but to date haven't published or discussed this research.
It will be interesting to see if this change sticks and if it does will the party actually make money in 2010.
Now if only people could get so fired up on gay marriage or civil unions in Australia.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
One of Them
NZ on Screen now has One of Them online now - a great short film made in 1997 - adapted from a short story by Peter Wells.
One of Them! was one of two films (with Memory and Desire) adapted from short stories in Peter Wells' book Dangerous Desires, (1991). It was made for TV One as a Montana Sunday drama. Set in Auckland, 1965, this film tells the story of Lemmy and Jamie, two teenage boys coming to terms with their sexuality. In the dark days before gay liberation, bullying and intimidation was rife, and while the boys flaunt their sissyness, their internalised homophobia wreaks havoc on their emotional lives - until they can admit to being ‘one of them'.
Great to watch this again. It is amazing to think how much things have changed in New Zealand in the past 30 years.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Broadband Plans
Both Australia and New Zealand look set to get substantially improved internet access with annoucnements on both sides of the Tasman of broadband plans.
The new fibre-to-the-home network would take eight years to build, cost $43 billion, and give 90 per cent of Australian households download speeds 100 times faster than they currently experience.
In the process Australia will break the Telstra monolopy and stalemate in Internet connectively.
Communications and Information Technology Minister Steven Joyce said a new Crown-owned company would work with private sector partners as a key part of its plan to deliver ultra-fast broadband to 75 per cent of New Zealanders' homes, workplaces and places of study within ten years.
The Government has committed up to $1.5 billion of taxpayers' money for the roll-out and expects that to be at least matched by the private sector.
Both plans do mean that both countries might finally get to experience the internet as other countries do.
It will be interesting to see how they develop. Hopefully the plans won't get delayed by politics and by big business politics of Telstra and Telecom.
Sunday, April 05, 2009
Flashback: For Today
1985 was my final year living in Wellington which was a great time to be living in New Zealand's capital city. This song still can take me right back to those times - to friends, lovers, flatmates and events.
1985 was the year the homosexual law reform bill debate started including the infamous "Nuremburg rally" - the protests, the nuclear free legistation, Rainbow Warrior bombing and the protests against the proposed All Black tour to South Africa which was cancelled.
Enjoy the song from the Netherworld Dancing Toys - and the ferry's still run between Wellington and Picton and are as amazing as the video - though the weather isn't always that smooth.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
LGB Poverty
An interesting study called "Poverty in the Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Community" was published by The Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law this month.
"This report undertakes the first analysis of the poor and low-income lesbian, gay, and bisexual population. We find clear evidence that poverty is at least as common in the LGB population as among heterosexual people and their families."One of the key questions they tried to answer was
How do poverty rates for lesbian, gay, and bisexual people compare to those rates for heterosexuals?
The report makes interesting reading but the key issues they identified were that lesbian, gay and bisexual people who were in poverty were a higher percentage than the general heterosexual population. The report did identify that gay white male educated couples poverty rates were lower but amongst lower educated were worse off.
What this study highlighted is that sexuality, race, gender and education were multiplier effects so generally people were worse off than their heterosexual counterparts.
The other issue identified was the ongoing data problem and why government Censuses should include a question about sexual orientation.
I picked up this news off the Out Front Blog where they posted it as The LGBT Money Myth?
I think what this highlights is that yes some in the LGBT communities are as well off as their heterosexual counterparts but this report highlights that some are worse off and a lot worse off. What would be even more interesting is to see the impact of HIV status and does this make the situation worse for those who are positive compared to those who are not.
The other interesting aspect which I suspect explains poverty is how connected people are to family and friends.
This study raises lots of questions and only highlights the importance of more studies to understand what the reality is for LGBT communities and especially those on the margins.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Kevin Smith - Desperate Remedies 1993
NZ On Screen have a great tribute to Kevin Smith who died far to young in 2002.
His first feature film in 1993 was Desperate Remedies. This was a very New Zealand film and very camp - and so totally different from the Piano released in the same year.
From the NZ on Screen Website:
High-camp melodrama from directors Stewart Main and Peter Wells, set in an imaginary 19th-century town called Hope. ‘Draper of distinction' Dorothea Brooks is desperate to save her sister Rose from the clutches of opium, sex and the dastardly Fraser. She begs hunky migrant Lawrence Hayes to marry Rose. Lawrence has his eyes on Dorothea however, and he has competition from malevolent politician Poyser (who has made her an attractive offer), as well as Brooks' sultry lover, Anne Cooper. Sumptuous and ripe, The Piano this definitely ain't!I remember seeing this in Auckland and the sense of dirt, mud and grime contrasting with amazing outfits of "red" which just flowed accross the screen were amazing.. and of course the full frontal male nudity didn't go amiss.
Sadly Desperate Remedies isn't available except from the odd second hand place. Hopefully sometime soon this movie will be released to join other New Zealand films released on DVD.
However you can catch a sense - a good 10 to 20 minutes - of the film thanks to NZ on Screen.
Update there is two places in NZ to buy from see the NZ On Screen where to buy link.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Freedom of Information - Good News
In a week of some really bad news including the NSW government passing legislation which allows police to have secret search warrants the news that Senator Faulkner is promoting a major overhaul to the Freedom of Information Act is great news.
I think Senator Conroy needs to read this section of this opinion piece
These reforms will change the law and demonstrate the Government's commitment to culture change, a shift from the culture of secrecy we saw under the last government to one of openness and transparency. We do not see these reforms as a concluded process. Emerging technologies continue to change the way governments use, and citizens access, information. New patterns of democratic engagement require new ways to inform debate and decision making. Legislation, regulation and policy must keep up, or they will strangle access rather than enable it.So in a week where news on internet filtering kept getting worse, NSW government allows secret police searches and gang chaos in Sydney airport followed by lots of fingerpointing then this has to rate as some great news.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Senator Conroy plan to ban the internet!
One of the best blogs I have seen which highlights the fundamental flaw in Senator Conroy's crazy filtering plan.
Read it, get angry then do something about it.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Senator Conroy monitoring you
Sydney Morning Herald has news that Senator Conroy will increase monitoring of websites including blogs.
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