 As part of peaceful protests taking place in Sydney and
Brisbane, around 30 queers and supporters gathered on Saturday
in Queen St, Croydon, for a kiss-in against the Pope's anti-homosexual doctrine.
Troy-Anthony Baylis, local organiser of the Coalition of
Queers Against the Pope, told the assembly event's goal was not to
alienate Catholics.
“I am here in protest to the poor leadership by Pope
Benedict XVI, who is directing his followers down a medieval path of exclusion
more in synch with holocaustic segregation than divinity and liberation,”
Baylis said.
Baylis said he organised the event to highlight human rights
issues, reopen community dialogue on gay and lesbian rights, and reignite the
fight against HIV/AIDS.
Other speakers included Fanny Jacobson, women’s worker at
Bfriend, Katherine Leane, vice-president of PLWHA and Brian Paterson (dressed
as the Pontiff), leader of the SA branch of the Secular Party of Australia,
with its motto “Freedom from religion”.
“I think the Pope, as head of the Catholic Church, has
influence over large numbers of people,” said protester John Pezy.
“A lot of people have their guidance from him, and it shows how an incorrect
attitude can have a detrimental effect on many people.”
The Pope’s stance against homosexuality, contraception, and HIV/AIDS,
and abortion were issues raised at the event.
Co-organiser Jess Cronin questioned the Pope’s right to direct women: “Someone
who has no relevance to a woman’s body is trying to rule over it. The Pope has
no such right over anyone’s life.”
Baylis described the kiss-in as “...peaceful and loving and a
great expression of intimacy.”
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