ABC 'Four Corners' (1982) "Sydney, Golden City of the Gays"

[joshthe8th]

seems like 2 steps forward 1 step back in this day and age we live in..

[sydneygayboi]

Such very brave men and women living through this period...Remember the first Mardi Gras was only in 1978

[sydneygayboi]

WOW....can you imagine Oxford Street GAY ....its now full of Heterosexual violent thugs.

hahaha

Sad but true!

[joshthe8th]

@sydneygayboi I believe you are avoiding using the word "wogs"

[90spaceman]

@joshthe8th ...the last time i heard a "thug" call out poof on oxford, was an anglo.....

[sydneygayboi]

The sad reality is that many of these people have now passed away due to HIV/AIDS

Remember there was no medication until 1987 (AZT) and that in itself was not a great success

It wasn't until 1995 with the advent of HAART that has slowed down the death rate of HIV/AIDS.

This was 1982...the first AIDS death in Australia I believe was 1983...the horror had yet begun.

Interesting clip...gotta love 4 Corners Happy 50th Year!!!!

[mistressmon]

Wow - everbody is so well spoken.

[kurvapicsa]

Yes, it's called "Sexuality" by Prince.

[jimpy476]

Does anyone know the name of the song at 2:42?

[Cutondogor]

I am shocked! Horrified! So much smoking in that pub - didn't they realise how dangerous it was????

[urbanpitch]

The reporters voice is like GRAVY!

[53radical]

This is when it was good to be gay. Not now. We were happier too, even when homosexuality was illegal. WE have become repressed under the guise of gay rights.

[patrickwright1]

Was 1982 better when all discrimination was acceptable, when gay people were routinely murdered and assaulted by homophobes, and where the government legitimised it in it's entirety by criminalising our sexuality? Your claim is absurd as saying the blacks were better off under apartheid or segregation. You maintain a self interested nostalgia for a gay community rejecting society in it's entirety and being forced underground because of our sexuality. Now we are living how we want to.

[MamaMario13]

@53radical it is better now than it was in the 80s but it will be alot better in the future. Its mainly old people who oppose gay rights now young people arent bothered

[tophersum]

Really interesting. Gives some hope for progress. Thanks for uploading.