Well, that time of year has come around again for Mardi Gras! But not just any old Mardi Gras, it’s the 40th anniversary.

There has been no shortage of coverage on it in the press and on social media as Australians from all walks of life stock up on their satin, sequins, glitter and sparkle before setting off to Sydney for the parade. 

This year has seen loved celebrities like Cher perform in honour of the event, and the festival has been greatly enjoyed.

However, good news can be fleeting. Many of us tuned in to ABC’s telemovie: Riot last week. The film depicted life in 1970’s Sydney where taking part in homosexual acts was a punishable offence. I was shocked to see just how much the LGBT community suffered during this time as they were exploited and even bashed by police officers. Check out the trailer below.

The Gogglebox replay of the film also caused a great stir as members of the public commented.

One thing in particular has irked me, and once again, it is social media related. For the past several weeks as I’ve flicked through my news feeds on Facebook and Instagram, it’s been great to see how many businesses like ANZ, Qantas, AAMI and Westpac (to name a few) have been supporting Mardi Gras with rainbow and glitter in their logos, and even photos from the parade itself.

Underneath the posts however, is where you see the hatred. In one post put up by ANZ, one SMU commented: “Why don’t you start supporting a cause that actually makes a difference to people’s everyday lives?”

Another commented on a photograph from Mardi Gras courtesy of AAMI,

“I will never take out another policy with you again. FINISHED. You have lost yourself a customer.”

These are hurtful on their own, yet the most cutting came from many other SMU’s, who stated that, “They got what they wanted. They can get married now. Why do they still have their gay parade?”

Another said, “Maybe we should have a straight parade. After all, that is “Equality”.”

As many of us know, the first Mardi Gras parade took place in 1978 to protest the criminalisation of homosexuality in New South Wales.

So much has happened since the first Mardi Gras. In 1984, homosexuality was decriminalised in New South Wales, and in the last ten years laws have extended to allow same-sex couples many of the same rights as everyone else, including the ability to adopt children. However, nothing sticks in people’s minds more than December last year, when same-sex marriage was finally legalised in Australia.

 

We’ve come so far in some ways, yet we are still so primitive in others. When I read comments like these on social media, I can’t help but feel that there is no acceptance at all. Let’s take a look back in history to the experiences other minority groups have endured. For example, the Australian Aboriginal experience. For so long, despite being here first, Aboriginal people were not considered Australian citizens.

In 2008, Kevin Rudd formally apologised to every Aboriginal person in the nation for what they went through. Even now, calls have been made to change the date of Australia Day.

While changing a society’s beliefs is never set in stone, I feel that much progress has been made here.

However, when it comes to the LGBTQ community in Australia, I don’t feel there has been as much.

One particular instance that stands out to me occurred last year, when a man I know who works with children was openly called a “faggot” by a child in his workplace. As a result, nothing was done to discipline said child. After hearing this, I wondered. Had the man been of a different race or ethnicity, and the child had said something derogatory based on these grounds, would it have been taken more seriously?

 

Don’t get me wrong. Racism is still very much present in society today, as is homophobia. When I read comments like this, when people cut their ties with legitimate businesses because they support the LGBTQ community, or believe that marriage equality is merely a rouse to corrupt and sexually exploit their children, I feel sad. I feel that while formal structures like Australian law have made changes, so much of the country still hold onto their homophobia.

Will there ever be a day where we can accept other people who are different to us?

Have I just taken too much stock from what I read on social media? Am I just being overly pessimistic? Maybe.

I would like to think that I am just looking for acceptance in the wrong places. However, I think the sad reality is that regardless of how many laws are changed, there will still be hatred towards minority groups like ours.

This is 2018, but sadly I feel that it will take another few generations before the LGBTQ community stop having to put up with prejudice from fellow Australians.

What do you think? Be sure to leave a comment below.