To live with a sense of hope is so important. Uncle Ho said that to live in freedom and independence is the most precious thing in life. I would add hope.  But is hope based on a desire to see things improve? The quality of life has certainly improved for ordinary folk in many parts of the globe. How jubilantly ordinary folk embraced the overthrow of the Shah of Iran 30 years ago! Have their hopes for a better life been realised? Will the current unrest result in greater freedom?  I would certainly not wish to be a queer Iranian under the current regime.

By comparison, how relatively lucky we queer folk in the West are. Things are not perfect, but they have definitely improved. I read that a sixth US state, New Hampshire, has legalised same-sex marriage and even former Vice President, Dick Cheney, has ‘come out’…. in support! In a recent Adelaide Advertiser poll a majority (52%) supported change, responding NO to the question, “Should marriage be limited to hetrosexual (sic) couples?” Will ‘Never-Ever Kevin’ ever turn?

Certainly attitudes have changed in health, education and law enforcement. We recently took in Mixed Salad’s wonderful production of the charming Alan Bennett play The History Boys (2004). Is this a realistic depiction of changing attitudes towards gay boys? One lives in hope.  

In 1973 the American Psychiatric Association led the way by removing homosexuality from the list of psychiatric disorders. In 1992 the World Health Organisation removed homosexuality from its list of illnesses. Last year a declaration by 66 member countries, seeking decriminalisation of homosexuality to mark the 60th anniversary of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, was opposed by 60 others, including African and Arab states, the Vatican and Bush’s US! Thankfully gorgeous Barack has now reversed the US decision.  

Traditionally the police and queer folk have not been best friends. There are many examples of entrapment, prosecution, imprisonment and disgrace of gay men. In 1978 NSW police brutally attacked marchers on the first Mardi Gras. Nowadays they march with us in our parade. We’ve also seen the development of GLLOs (gay and lesbian liaison officers) in our police forces.

Dear readers, recently Will got into a spot of bother in Melbourne (I warned him that ‘liaising’ in a dark Collingwood alley would lead to trouble)! He found the local GLLO very helpful and supportive and the police service professional and non-judgmental. So please never hesitate to report queer-related crime.

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