Yesterday, a small but passionate group turned up to Taylor Square in Darlinghurst, on Gadigal Land, to protest at the opening of QTOPIA, a LGBTQIA+ museum based at the former police station where participants of the original 1978 ‘Mardi Gras’ protest were arrested and bashed by police.
The museum is partially funded by the Murdochs, who the protesters at yesterday’s event say have demonised the LGBTQIA+ community for decades through their media empire. Also present at the launch of Qtopia was Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Premier Chris Minns, ABC Chair Ita Buttrose, and Lachlan and Sarah Murdoch. Speakers at the rally, including original ‘78-ers, accused these dignitaries of ‘pinkwashing’ over LGBTQIA+ issues, and of supporting the war in Gaza. Some speakers claimed they were banned from attending the launch because of their support for Palestine.
The protest was kept well away from Qtopia by a large police and security presence, despite an offical Form 1 approval to hold the protest outside the museum.
After speeches, protesters moved from Taylor Square to the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Holocaust memorial at Green Park on Darlinghurst Road.
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