http://www.metromagazine.com.au http://theeducationshop.com.au A STUDY GUIDE BY © ATOM 2018. ISBN: 978-1-76061-153-8 MARGUERITE O’HARA For me, the struggle of the gay and lesbian community for anti- discrimination laws around the world was a human rights crisis.
JEFFREY WALKER, DIRECTOR OF RIOT
OVERVIEW RIOT shines a spotlight on Australia’s 1970s Gay and Lesbian Rights Movement and the passionate individuals who, facing ever-present adversity, conceived a celebration of diversity, in what is now a key moment in LGBTQI history - the first Gay and Lesbian
Mardi Gras in Sydney. This The film runs for 1 dramatized story is about that hour and 45 struggle. minutes. The most recent development in this Content Hyperlinks story is the Australian Governments recognition of marriage equality in 2017 when same sex marriage was legalised after an overwhelming Yes vote in a national plebiscite. The film is inspired by actual events that occurred in Australia between 1972 and 1978. A group of Sydney based activists devised and participated in the world’s first gay and lesbian Mardi Gras. © ATOM 2018
ABOVE: Patrick Jhanur (SWEETPEA), Fern Sutherland (SUE WILLS), Hanna Mangan Lawrence (GABRIELLE), Jessica De Gouw (ROBYN) - church protest 2 reform. Marg is also a parent, and the risk of their sexuality leading to enforced estrangement from their children is a shared, constant threat.
Through the mid-1970s, the activists face bat- tles and small victories. University students Peter Murphy (Christian Byers) and Jeremy Fisher (Will McDonald) bring new voices into the activist fray, and Lance meets Jim Walker (Xavier Samuel), a young, conservative doctor with whom he has little in common; nevertheless, they fall in love. Marg fights for custody of her children. They all face the continuing threat of job dismissal, violence, and in- action from politicians, but their resolve grows, and by 1978, when the push to decriminalize homo- sexuality has stalled, they decide to make one final attempt to celebrate who they are. TOP: Damon Herriman (LANCE) at the Mardi Gras. Securing a permit for a legal protest on the evening of June 24, in recognition of Gay Solidarity Day, a SYNOPSIS BOTTOM: Damon Herriman (LANCE), small but passionate group collect behind a truck In the early 1970s, the Australian Gay and Lesbian at Mardi Gras, driven by Lance to stage a street party and joyfully Rights Movement is in its infancy, and women and with a police declare their pride. The crowd grows as chants officer watching men face police brutality, legislative persecution on. draw people out of the bars and onto the streets, and social shunning. but the police begin to restrict their movement and the threatening tone grows when revellers head Lance Gowland (Damon Herriman), a devoted and towards Kings Cross, as police paddy wagons seasoned activist for various civil rights causes, circle. The night will be marked by great violence, came out in his early 30s and moved away from but the ramifications will pave the way for equality, his wife and children in country NSW to Sydney. and the establishment of a world-renowned parade He lives at the Gay Liberation commune, provid- that continues to celebrate the spirit of these brave, ing guidance to the younger members of the pioneering men and women. community.
The Sydney activist community collects around groups like Gay Liberation, which focuses on in-your-face visibility tactics, and CAMP – the Campaign Against Moral Persecution — which fo- cuses on law reform, educating the general public, and providing much needed community support.
Lance sees a need to straddle the sometimes conflicting aims and objectives of the groups, and lands noisily at CAMP, amongst activists Peter de Waal and partner Bon (Luke Mullins and Eden Falk), Ron Austin (Josh Quong Tart), Marg McMann and Robyn Plaister (Kate Box and Jessica De Gouw), and Sue Wills and Gabrielle Antolovich (Fern Sutherland and Hanna Mangan Lawrence). CAMP’s plans for social change involve engaging with the media and a telephone counselling ser- vice; passionate firebrand Lance wants rallies and protests — he sees the loud and belligerent tactics of his union past as the only way to bring change. © ATOM 2018
Marg and Lance clash as well as complement each other; they’re both natural born leaders, and begin to focus the group’s energies on more effective law 3 CURRICULUM GUIDELINES
Many tertiary institutions offer Gender Studies courses Australian History, Values and Ethics Education, in Australia - at least 12 of the major tertiary institutes. Politics, Legal Studies and Media Studies (the docu- However, at the secondary school level, these specific mentary drama form) and English as an example of how studies are less common, more often being addressed to make contemporary history come alive. through other study areas in the Australian Curriculum. The information and activities in this guide are directed at A notable exception is Fitzroy High School in middle and senior secondary students and their teach- Melbourne where students and teachers have devel- ers, within different strands of the above learning areas. oped a course called Fightback: Addressing Everyday Sexism in Australian Schools. These teaching units can Riot clearly addresses a very important part of con- be downloaded from the site listed below. They offer a temporary Australian history and life. With the recent very accessible approach to gender studies for second- change to marriage equality having been enacted in law ary students. by the Australian Government late in 2017, the issue of http://fhsfemco.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/ gay rights is clearly of concern to most Australians. Its FHS_FIGHTBACK_v0615-2.pdf history is less well known.
Generally, schools tend to incorporate information about The Melbourne Declaration on Educational Goals for gender equality, which includes Gay Rights, Sexism and Young Australians (December 2008), which frames the Feminism, in studies such as the VCAA courses under Australian National Curriculum, states that students the general heading, Respectful Relationships Education. will be These studies focus on building and promoting gender equity in relationships and challenging gender stereo- active and informed citizens and act with moral and types. Respectful Relationships education is partly about ethical integrity, appreciate Australia’s social, cultural, tackling family violence but it is also about embedding linguistic and religious diversity, and have an under- respectful relationships in school settings. Evidence standing of Australia’s system of government, history shows that attitudes about gender roles and expecta- and culture. As a nation, Australia values the central tions and stereotypes are a key driver of family violence role of education in building a democratic, equitable and through education, positive change can occur. Such and just society – a society that is prosperous, cohe- studies also deal with the issues of bullying, stereotyping sive and culturally diverse …… and the deliberate excluding of students perceived to be ‘different’ in some way from prevailing peer groups. Teachers should watch this film before deciding to show it to students. The focus on sexual identity may Another project developed at Melbourne University raise a number of issues among students, so sensitive called Connect with Respect also deals with gender pre-viewing discussions may be necessary. The film and identity issues in school settings. also contains confronting images and strong language.
Several states are currently drawing up their own Gender Diversity websites for use in schools. Programs like Riot provide a politi- cal/historical perspective embedded in true stories about real people who struggled and often suffered greatly to move this debate about gender and diversity into the mainstream. These individuals and groups’ often very public and painful struggle, to draw attention to gay rights in the 1970s, is an important and inspirational Australian story.
‘The Department of Education and Training has provided a range of evidence based resources to support teaching and learning about respect- ful relationships. These resources enable schools to incorporate teaching and learning approaches that foster nurturing and positive attitude ap- proaches to respecting gender’. © ATOM 2018
The Australian Curriculum key learning areas relating to this film include HPE- Heath and Physical Education, Civics and Citizenship, Producers Louise Smith and Joanna Werner 4 on set FROM TOP: Kate Box (MARG); Josh Quong Tart (RON); Damon Herriman (LANCE), at Mardi Gras, with Christopher Trusswell (BENNETT) watching on.
• Highlight any of the above terms that you think are derogatory. Consider context when you make these choices – who is calling someone a queen or a macho and in what setting? • In what ways is the casual use of stereotyping language an indicator of personal and social attitudes?
PRE-VIEWING ACTIVITIES
Being well informed about a number of factual details, word meanings and issues before viewing the film will enable students to both appreciate the film more, and be prepared to later discuss a range of issues in a more systematic way. The focus of this film is the fight for gay rights in Australia in the 1970s culminating in the first Sydney Mardi Gras in 1978, nearly forty years ago, but the underlying principles are much broader.
This is a story about human rights, equity and social justice. It shines a light on police brutal- ity in Sydney during this period and explores the many ways in which being gay led to injustices and discrimination.
Before watching the film, students could investi- gate the meanings of key words and ideas raised by the film. Write definitions, and discuss in class the meanings of the following words and terms:
-- Homophobia -- Transgender -- Stereotype -- Human rights -- Camp -- Fairy -- Empathy -- Closeted gay -- Macho -- Social justice -- Poofter -- Hate crime -- Homosexuality -- LGBTQI © ATOM 2018 -- Queers -- Peer group -- Lesbian -- Family -- Nancy boys -- Gay beats -- Queens -- Lezzos 5 BACKGROUND TO THE FILM
Back in the mid to late 70s, the legal status of Australian LGBTQI people was in flux. Male homosexual acts had been decriminalised in South Australia, but Victorian police were still arresting people with the use of entrap- ment techniques. Things weren’t much better in NSW, where homosexuality remained illegal and entrapment of gay people by police was still common. Tasmania did not decriminalise homosexuality until 1997.
Nevertheless, there was a growing political movement aimed at changing things, made up of smaller groups from across the nation. ‘It was exhilarating and scary’, 78er* Steve Warren told The Courier Mail in 2013. ‘There were all these bars and venues where you could be yourselves. But as soon as you came home and you left Oxford Street, you went back into a world that was hostile and depressing.’
https://www.sbs.com.au/topics/sexuality/mardigras/ ♥♥ Homosexuality article/2017/03/02/history-sydneys-mardi-gras-parade
While LGBTQI rights have made considerable progress * 78ers refers to the individuals who were part of the in some parts of the world recently, a surprising number first Sydney Mardi Gras in 1978. of countries still punish same-sex relationships with life imprisonment or even death.
In 13 countries, being gay or bisexual is punishable by death. These are; Sudan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Mauritania, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Qatar, UAE, parts of Nigeria, parts of Somalia, parts of Syria and parts of Iraq.
In 17 countries, bans are in place to prohibit ‘propaganda’ interpreted as promoting LGBTQI communities or identi- ties. These are; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Nigeria, Somalia, Tunisia, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Lithuania and Russia1.
Same sex marriage is now legal in several countries including the United States, Canada, England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales and Australia. But same-sex mar- riage is not legal anywhere in Asia or the Middle East. Most countries with similar cultural backgrounds to Australia had already legalised same-sex marriage before 2017 when it was legalised in Australia.
• What do you think are some of the factors that have allowed discrimination against gay people to exist for so many years? • Why do you think many countries and societies still regard homosexuality as abhorrent and illegal and in many cases punishable by law? • How do several religious organisations justify their objections to homosexuality? © ATOM 2018
L-R: Xavier Samuel (JIM) and Damon Herriman (LANCE) ; Fern Sutherland (SUE WILLS), Hanna Mangan Lawrence (GABRIELLE) - church protest 6 Damon Herriman (LANCE), driving lead Mardi Gras truck down Oxford Street wih large group including Jessica De Gouw (ROBYN), Luke Mullins (PETER DE WAAL), Eden Falk (BON), Kate Box (MARG) and others.
KEY CAST MAIN CHARACTERS PLAYED BY ROLE IN STORY
Lance Gowland Damon Herriman Activist
Dr Jim Walker Xavier Samuel Doctor and partner of Lance
Peter de Waal Luke Mullins Activist
Peter Bonsall – Eden Falk Activist and partner Boone (Bon) of Peter de Waal for 50 years
Ron Austin Josh Quong Tart Activist THEMES AND ISSUES Marg McMann Kate Box Activist -- GAY RIGHTS -- MARRIAGE EQUALITY Robyn Plaister Jessica De Gouw Activist -- FIGHTING FOR FAIRNESS Gabrielle Hanna Mangan Activist -- DISCRIMINATION Antolovich Lawrence -- SPEAKING UP -- SOLIDARITY Sue Wills Fern Sutherland Activist -- POLICE BRUTALITY -- BULLYING Peter Murphy Christian Byers Student activist -- ACTIVISM Jeremy Fisher Will McDonald Student activist
Riot is a dramatized telemovie. While the OTHER CHARACTERS characters are played by actors, their roles are based on real people who worked for gay Gerry Gowland Max Cullen Lance’s father rights in the 1970s. In 1978 they initiated, Norma Gowland Susan Prior Lance’s wife planned and took part in the first Mardi Gras which has now become an annual event in Neville Wran Andrew NSW Premier from Sydney. The 2018 Mardi Gras will be the 40th McFarlane 1976–1986 anniversary of this remarkable street party © ATOM 2018 celebrating Gay Pride in Sydney. Jack Mundey Rob Carlton Head of the NSW Builder’s Labourers Federation (BLF) in the 1970s 7 SEQUENCE 1 -1972
♥♥ Police Entrapment
Lance is on his way home in the evening walking through a park.
• Describe what happens to him when he is approached by someone wanting a light? • What do you think was the offence for which these men were arrested, roughed up and locked up? • Are entrapment (or ‘stings’), which today are more often used to trap cyber criminals online, a reasonable way for police to behave? • What do you think was the main reason police set up these traps in streets and parks, mostly at night? • What does Lance suggest when he tells Ron that ‘smashing up a beat is just sport to them’ (the police)? STUDENT VIEWING • When Lance is in the cells with other men arrested and locked up on that night, what does he talk ACTIVITIES about to Ron Austin and fellow detainees? How has this earlier experience galvanised Lance’s There are many characters in this film whose intense passion for human rights? activism and commitment to the cause of gay liberation all contribute to the final result of an annual street party. They all have different backgrounds and priorities for achieving the fight for fairness and freedom to be openly gay. Some are working for political and legal changes while others work in more overt ways to challenge and test existing laws and persuade all members of their communities to support the right to be openly gay.
Since the advent of the internet and social media, there are now other platforms and ways for people to promote and advance their causes but in the 1970s groups had to work in other ways to inform, connect and espouse their causes. They did not have mobile phones to enable them to call for help.
If there is a main character in this film it is FROM TOP: Lance Gowland but the battle for basic rights Jessica was a collaborative one of men and women de Gouw (ROBYN), ♥♥ Families and Friends from many walks of life. Damon Herriman A stable, committed homosexual couple appearing The pre-title sequence of the film shows (LANCE) & on national television living a normal life -Bon Kate Box some scenes of the 1978 Mardi Gras. After (MARG) the titles, the film opens with events in 1972. - church Chequerboard was an ABC television program All the stories and incidents featured are protest; that ran for 6 years between 1969 and 1975 and Police based on actual events, but in transforming Officers try is sometimes described as the precursor to Four factual material into a believable and dramatic to arrest Corners. CAMP is the acronym for Campaign telemovie, the filmmakers may have altered Jessica Against Moral Persecution De Gouw some details and emphases. Different (ROBYN) sequences focus on particular aspects of and Hanna • Who are some of the individuals who either live at discrimination. These include changing Mangan or meet in the complex?
Lawrence © ATOM 2018 legislation, exposing police violence, family (GABRIELLE). • Who were the gay couples appearing on rights, inaction from politicians and hostility Chequerboard? What was so important and even from employers and religious organisations. radical in Australia at this time about their appear- The fight was broad and wide. ance on national television in 1972? 8 • What do we learn about Lance’s family in these scenes? • What happens to Peter Bonsall Boone (Bon) after his appearance on Chequerboard with his partner Peter de Waal? • Explain the Rector of St. Clement’s Church’s attitude towards Bon appearing with his part- ner Peter on television? What action did the rector take against Bon? • What are some of the tensions between dif- ferent members of the gay community shown in this sequence? • How do these tensions reveal different ap- proaches and priorities to advancing the cause of gay liberation for both men and women? • What do we learn about Lance’s relationship with his ex-wife Norma and their children? • What would be some of the more frightening consequences for gay women (and some men) at this time in relation to their children? • What were some of the very real threats to an individual’s employment if they were known to FROM TOP: be openly gay? Cate Smith (YOUNG • Where is Jeremy moving to live from the share VANESSA), that come in to CAMP following the publicity of house? Susan Prior the gay cause on television? • Who does Lance meet in this sequence? How and (NORMA), • What do Bon and Peter decide to set up at CAMP Damon where do they meet? What is this individual’s job? Herriman in response to these calls? • Where did Robyn and Marg meet? (LANCE), Jessica De Gouw (ROBYN) ♥♥ Supporting Bon - birthday “We should be running openly gay candidates in elections. party; Damon We should be picketing more churches. We should be doing We believe that true freedom comes from submitting Herriman a protest a week” - Lance (LANCE) with yourself to the will of God – the rector of St Clements Cate Smith church. (YOUNG VANESSA) • How do these views of Lance antagonise other - birthday • Describe the protest that members of the gay com- party members of the community? What do they fear munity stage to show their anger at Bon’s treatment might result from this kind of highly public activism? by the Church. • What is the response of some of the churchgoers? ♥♥ Meeting the family • What does this scene demonstrate about peoples’ unwillingness to ‘rock the boat’ and publicly object • Who is Lance keen for Jim to meet? to the church’s treatment of gay people? • What is Jim’s response to meeting Vanessa, one • How does the protest bring community attention to of Lance’s three children, who he visits every day the church’s treatment of Bon? at the hospital? • What does this publicity result in for Bon? What • What did Jim suspect that Lance was doing each does he learn from the many phone calls of support day when he was not at the house? • What is Lance’s disagreement with Jim about monogamous relationships? • When an argument breaks out at CAMP, between the males and females about how to proceed, Jim suggests that they need to work with whoever is in government to change the laws and attitudes. Do you agree with this view? • Name some activist groups today working in Australia and internationally to keep politicians © ATOM 2018 honest by documenting injustices, refugee and environmental issues, often online? How effective are their campaigns in growing awareness and calling for changes? 9 ♥♥ Enlisting the support of the union movement
Lance approaches union leader Jack Mundey to intervene in the situation of Jeremy and the university college.
Jack Mundey came to prominence during the 1970s as leader of the New South Wales Builders Labourers Federation (BLF) in the famous Green Bans, where the NSW BLF led a successful campaign to protect the built and natural environment of Sydney from excessive and inappropriate development. Mundey is SEQUENCE 2 - 1973 now Chair of the Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales. Lance was once on the Goulburn Trades and ♥♥ Growing the movement Labour Council before moving to Sydney.
This place is one big closet…They’re only gay till they get off, then they’re back to their safe, secret We share a common enemy. It’s the same fuckers little lives – Lance at a gay bar mate. The church, the government, the big end of town. Operating in the dark. Bulldozing bushland, • Where do Ron and Lance and other members kicking kids out of college. They do what they like. of the group go to canvass support for their No one even questions them- Lance’s appeal to movement? Mundey. • Which other so-called ‘left’ issues is Murph into? • Despite Jeremy not being a member of the • Meanwhile, what is Marg doing to express her BLF, what does Mundey agree to do? identity as a gay woman? • Do unions today still have the power to at- • How is it made clear to her that gay teachers tempt to redress wrongs through industrial ought not be teaching in schools? action? • How is it shown to be dangerous for gay people • How does the support of outsiders, in this to be on the streets at night? case the BLF, help to get injustices into the • How is the ongoing hostility and aggression to- public eye and in some cases, overturned? wards gay people shown in the scene between • Why did the Vice Chancellor of the university Jeremy and Keith? agree to meet with Mundey?
♥♥ Jeremy
We did our best to discourage his interests, but it’s a sickness – Reverend Smith
• What has happened to Jeremy, a student at a university residential college? • How is it made clear by Reverend Smith that he has no understanding of what it means to be gay? • What are some consequences for Jeremy, apart from being beaten up? • What is Lance’s immediate response to what has happened to Jeremy?
ABOVE: Group watching Chequerboard program including; © ATOM 2018 Back row: Damon Herriman (LANCE), Xavier Samual (JIM), Luke Mullins (PETER DE WAAL), Eden Falk (BON). Front row: Jessica De Gouw (ROBYN), Ava Andis (YOUNG NICOLE), Kate Box (MARG), 3 x Male Extras, Fern Sutherland (SUE WILLS), Hanna Mangan Lawrence (GABRIELLE) 10 Kate Box (MARG). SEQUENCE 3 - 1974 • Describe the scene when Lance’s father comes to Jim and Lance’s place looking for a bed for ♥♥ Life Goes On the night. What do we learn about Gerry, Lance and Jim They’ll be back with us next holidays – Robyn, in these scenes? Marg’s partner • Why is the letter from the Court about the divorce proceedings so upsetting for Marg and • What do we learn about the lives of Marg and Robyn? What does Robyn fear might be the Robyn and Marg’s kids in this scene with Lance outcome? by the river? • What are some of the suggestions Robyn • How difficult is it for separated parents and makes so that she and Marg don’t have to ap- their kids to achieve equality of access and pear before the court as lesbian partners and family stability? Do you think this situation in parents? the 1970s, or even now in 2018, is more difficult • What is Marg’s response to these suggestions for same sex couples and their children? to pretend before the court? • To which organisation are the members of • What are some of the attitudes displayed CAMP sending a submission looking for a re- through his language by Lance’s sick father to- definition of family? Why is this so important? wards his son Lance and Lance’s partner Jim? • What does Jim suggest would be a good case to put before Whitlam’s Federal Labor CLOSE VIEWING SEQUENCE 51.19 - 55.26. Government?
♥♥ You can’t always choose your family
If we go to court and we lie, then we’re just lesbi- ans who agree it’s something to be ashamed of – Marg to Robyn TOP: Rob Carlton (JACK MUNDEY) In this part of the film we are shown some of the in crowd shot © ATOM 2018 very difficult situations that can arise for people in at protest; gay relationships, involving on the one hand par- RIGHT:Jessica De ents and on the other hand, custody arrangements Gouw (ROBYN) and Kate Box for children of gay couples. (MARG) 11 disagree about how broad the definition of sexuality should be. What are some of the dif- ferent causes related to discrimination that are mentioned in this pre-meeting discussion? • Finally, how many people attend the meeting with Wran? • How would amending the Crimes Act in NSW change how police were allowed to treat gay and lesbian people? • What are Wran’s difficulties in supporting the changes the groups want? Which groups in the community and within his own party does Wran believe will be offended by some of the pro- posed changes to the laws? How common a response is this of political leaders to appease powerful religious and community groups and some party members? Describe a more recent example of Australian leaders refusing to sub- ♥♥ Gay Rights mit to requests for support and social justice. • While the percentage of gay people in the com- Our submission is one of 500 that went to the Royal munity is probably at least 10%, why would this Commission – real stories about all the taboos – number be hard to prove, given the anti-gay at- sexuality, abortion, child abuse - Jim titudes at this time and the numbers of people who kept their sexual identification hidden or at • How does the court’s attitude to the sleep- least private? ing arrangements at Marg and Robyn’s house • How can the gay community present a positive show what the judicial system thought about front to the wider community when, as Lance lesbians co-parenting children? (Note that the points out, ‘the police keep shutting us down’? Family Court in Australia was not established • Why is Wran or any other political figure unlikely until 1976. Commonwealth family law is now to take on the police and the churches who dealt with by the Family Law Act 1975, the are often bastions of conservative values and Family Law Regulations 1984 and the Marriage attitudes? Act 1961. In 1986–87, the States agreed that • How gutless and hypocritical is that, just letting children should be dealt with under the same FROM TOP: a bunch of rabid right wingers in his govern- legislation) Damon ment dictate a position that he knows is wrong • Is it always the case that judges’ decisions Herriman – Marg (LANCE), Kate reflect society’s attitudes? Box (MARG), Why are the members of the delegation so • How does Lance’s wife Norma fit into the family Jessica De disappointed by the results of their meeting picture at Jim’s house where there is a birthday Gouw (ROBYN), with the new Labour Premier? What were their Luke Mullins party for Lance’s daughter Vanessa? (PETER DE expectations or hopes? WAAL) and • How does all the anxiety and disappointment Hanna Mangan about the custody issue take a physical toll on Lawrence SEQUENCE 4 - 1977 (GABRIELLE) Marg?
♥♥ A United Front?
It’s good to see so many groups here uniting. We need to present an agreed position of the gay and lesbian community to Premier Wran- Marg
In 1976 Neville Wran was elected as Labor Premier of NSW. He was also the Police Minister.
The group decide to send a delegation to meet with Wran to outline their grievances about the ongoing mistreatment of gay people.
• What are some of the priorities the groups © ATOM 2018 disagree about as the most important issues to bring to Wran’s attention? • While they all agree that discrimination against gay people needs to be outlawed, individuals 12 Oxford Street in inner city Sydney has long been a gay friendly shopping and bar/restaurants/club scene. There are places in most Australian cities that are popular with LGBTQ individuals and groups, though this situation is changing in many places as gay people are more generally regarded as just another part of the mainstream community, except perhaps in male sports clubs and some public bars in hotels where a macho culture still holds sway. Taylor Square near Oxford Street is where the first parade started in 1978. The annual Sydney Mardi Gras has probably done as much as anything to show gay people in a positive way. (The New Orleans Mardi Gras is an annual street party with floats and dancing but is not specifically part of gay culture).
• How do several of the proponents of the Mardi Gras in Sydney see it as something quite differ- ent to street marches and conventional protests? • How does Lance convey his excitement about this project to Jim? SEQUENCE 5 - 1978
♥♥ An international day Now we’re part of a mixed up mad community of Gay Pride – a march … there’s artists and dykes and druggies and or a forum or…? public servants and primary school teachers … and I wanna celebrate - Lance
Lance, you want visibility… We’re gonna close down Oxford Street and have a riot of colour and • What are some of the ways different members fun - Ron of the groups intend to make this street party colourful and positive? • What is the end result of the street demonstra- • Are they able to get police permission to stage tion where Lance and other members of the gay the street party? liberation group are chanting as they gather? • Under what pretext do the police later visit ♥♥ The first Mardi Gras in 1978 Lance and Jim’s house? How does this visit amount to police Every single one of the people involved in that first harassment? Mardi Gras has an individual story, and the events • What is Jim’s response to the latest incidents of that night have had an incredible impact on their with Lance involving the police? What does he lives – Joanna Werner, Producer of Riot. want Lance to do? • What concerns do other members of the group Let’s get this party started - Lance such as Bon express about how the movement for gay rights is developing? Stop police attacks on gays, women and blacks – • What does Ron persuade Lance to do with him chant of Lance and other activists. in Oxford Street? In what way can such a simple act be consid- • As the groups of gay revellers come into the ered political or even dangerous? streets to join the parade, what other group is • How have the latest events caused a number Damon Herriman gathering along the proposed route to Hyde (LANCE), driving of members of CAMP to rethink how they lead Mardi Park? raise public awareness about their cause for Gras truck with • Who do the police target first? gay rights and stopping police bashings and Will McDonald • With the police calling to them ‘Disperse (JEREMY FISHER) © ATOM 2018 entrapment? at the window, and immediately’, what do the people parading • When Ron suggests a street party, what are Jessica De Gouw decide to do? Lance’s reservations about this idea? (ROBYN) and Kate • How do the filmmakers convey the fear and Box (MARG) on the back. determination of the people and the police 13 FROM TOP: Damon Herriman (LANCE) in front of protest line including; Extra, Jessica De Gouw (ROBYN), Kate Box (MARG), Luke Mullins (PETER DE WAAL) Eden Falk (BON), Luke Fewster (GREG) - church protest; Xavier Samuel (JIM) on telephone at CAMP HQ
as they struggle on the streets, through both • How does the brief conversation between Lance images and sounds? and Constable Bennett suggest the determina- • Who initiated the violence in this situation and tion of both Lance and the police to pursue their for what reasons? own agendas? Who would win the bet about the • If you have ever been part of a protest march, longevity of the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras? how do you think things can get nasty and • 40 years on, which groups of people are now violent, often quite suddenly and without keen to be seen at gay parades in many major warning? Australian cities? What does this suggest about • Are the crowds able to resist the police as they how social attitudes towards gay people being throw individuals into paddy wagons? out and proud have changed since the first 1978 • What precipitates the police bashing of Murph? Sydney Mardi Gras? • How does Jim get in to the police station to attend to Peter Murphy? Riot is dedicated to the memory of Lance Gowland, Peter Bonsall-Boon, Margaret McMann and Doctor Jim Waker. We Shall Not Be Moved is a traditional African American folk song whose lyrics probably go back to the slave era. There is no definite indication of when the song was written or who wrote it. Over the years, it has been used by labour and civil rights movements as well as in numerous sit-in protests as a show of resistance and solidarity. It has been recorded by many singers and groups, notably by The Seekers in 1966 and Johnny Cash. Some words and emphases sometimes change but not the essential repetition of the chorus lines: “We shall not, we shall not be moved © ATOM 2018 Just like a tree that’s standing by the water We shall not be moved”
14 POST-VIEWING QUESTIONS
Select one or two of these questions to explore in relation to this film. Prepare a response in writing or as part of an informative talk about the history of gay rights in Australia.
♥♥ 1. Important Themes
Returning to the themes illustrated in this film, which three do you think are most important in telling this story? Explain each of your choices.
Were there any aspects of this story that surprised you?
How aware were you of the long and epic struggle that culminated in the first Mardi Gras? ♥♥ 4. Education
-- Gay Rights -- Solidarity While legislating against overt discrimination against -- Marriage Equality -- Police brutality the rights of any group is important in changing -- Fighting for Fairness -- Activism attitudes and behaviours, what social changes in how -- Discrimination -- Bullying people treat one another are more likely to ensure that -- Speaking Up discrimination against minorities of any kind are seen as wrong? ♥♥ 2. Ongoing Prejudice How important is education in schools in ensuring Why is it important that marriage equality has recently the rights of all students not to be harassed or bullied been legislated in Australia’s Federal Parliament? or isolated because they may not conform to the How can anti-discrimination legislation send a strong majority peer groups values? message to the community that some behaviours will not be allowed, i.e. they are not just crass and Does your school community actively promote unacceptable but also illegal. respectful relationships between all students, regardless of their differences? The national plebiscite vote of 61.6 per cent in favour and 38.4 per cent against suggested that many ♥♥ 5. Music of the times Australians thought there should be marriage equality in Australia. There are many songs on the film’s soundtrack that reflect some of the film’s themes such as Father and See the national breakdown of how people voted Son, Run, Run, Run and Nobody Knows the Trouble at: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-15/ I’ve Seen, Heroes and Magic Carpet Ride. same-sex-marriage-results-ssm/9145636 How does the soundtrack background the events in In which areas of society do you think there is still the film without being overtly polemical? quite a long way to go before gay people’s rights to equal treatment and social acceptance are achieved? ♥♥ 6. Coming Out? Discuss why you think 38% of the Australian commu- nity voted No in the Marriage Equality plebiscite. What other events and sporting competitions have recently played an important public role in ♥♥ 3. Timeline of Gay History ‘normalising’ gay identities? Why do you think many male sporting team members are reluctant to make http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-08-24/ their sexuality public, with a few notable exceptions? timeline:-australian-states-decriminalise-male- homosexuality/6719702. How has the music industry, with the exception of some Rap groups, been a forerunner in normalising © ATOM 2018 Some of these milestones may surprise you such as: ABOVE: Kate and celebrating LGBTQI identities? In 1997 - Tasmania formally decriminalises Box (MARG), homosexuality. Hanna Mangan Should public figures be expected to make their Lawrence (GABRIELLE) sexual preferences public? 15 TOP: Kate Box (Marg) on set with Jeffrey Walker (Director) MIDDLE: Producer Joanna Werner BOTTOM: Damon Herriman (LANCE) on set in yellow truck with Jeffrey Walker (Director)
Producer Joanna Werner has said of the impetus to make this film: KEY CREW This is a huge part of our national history Riot is a Werner Films Production with the ABC and Screen Australia in association with Create NSW that a lot of people don’t know about…We take for granted Director Jeffrey Walker that Mardi Gras is a wonderful
Screenplay Greg Waters celebration and it’s so accepted, but it came from such a Story by Carrie Anderson passionate, striving and violent beginning in an era in which people Producers Joanna Werner, Louise Smith had to fight for the right to celebrate Executive Producer Joanna Werner their identity.
ABC Executive Producers Brett Sleigh, Alistair McKinnon
Editor Geoffrey Lamb
Director of Photography Martin McGrath ACS
Music David Hirschfelder
Costume designer Xanthe Heubel
Hair and Makeup Zeljka Stanin © ATOM 2018
Production Designer Pete Baxter
16 REFERENCES AND RESOURCES
Students and teachers at Fitzroy High School in Melbourne winning two for Best Actor in a Leading Role for Penn have developed a course called Fightback: Addressing and Best Original Screenplay for Black. Everyday Sexism in Australian Schools. The teaching units Pride is a 2014 British LGBT-related historical comedy- can be downloaded from the site listed below. drama film written by Stephen Beresford and directed http://fhsfemco.com/portfolio-type/resources/ by Matthew Warchus. It was screened as part of Deep Water: The Real Story, directed by Amanda Blue is a the Directors’ Fortnight section of the 2014 Cannes Film 2016 documentary film about the spate of gay hate mur- Festival, where it won the Queer Palm award. ders in Sydney in the 1980s and 1990s. Based on a true story, the film depicts a group of les- An ATOM study guide is available to accompany this bian and gay activists who raised money to help families documentary and can be downloaded from http://theedu- affected by the British miners’ strike in 1984, at the outset cationshop.com.au/downloads/atom-study-guides/ of what would become the Lesbians and Gays Support the deep-water-the-real-story-atom-study-guide/ Miners campaign. The alliance was unlike any seen before Bullied: a two-part series aired on ABC television in 2017 that and was ultimately successful explores the issue of bullying in schools. An ATOM study The History of Sydney’s annual Mardi Gras Parade guide is available to accompany this series presented by https://kxacf.org.au/the-first-mardi-gras-40-years-on/ Ian Thorpe. While this program is not explicitly about gay Sydney’s Pride History Group students, it does explore the isolation created by bullying in http://camp.org.au/ schools. Australian Lesbian and Gay Archives Tales of the City, Armistead Maupin, 9 novels from the 1970s http://alga.org.au/ and 80s about the lives of a group of gay characters and Biographical information about several of the 78ers featured in their friends, set in San Francisco. Riot http://www.armisteadmaupin.com/ https://www.mardigras78ers.com.au/the-three-amigos Netflix is developing a new instalment of Armistead William Brougham’s YouTube videos ‘Remembering Sydney’s Maupin’s Tales of the City to be broadcast later this year. First Mardi Gras’. Milk is a 2008 American biographical film based on the life https://www.youtube.com/ of gay rights activist and politician Harvey Milk, who playlist?list=PLcA1_gh3Io9WTvC5RdtIcOMQZUeYHoEXr was the first openly gay person to be elected to public office in California, as a member of the San Francisco Endnotes Board of Supervisors. Directed by Gus Van Sant and writ- 1 http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/gay-lesbian- ten by Dustin Lance Black, the film stars Sean Penn as bisexual-relationships-illegal-in-74-countries-a7033666. Milk and Josh Brolin as Dan White, a city supervisor who html assassinated Milk and Mayor George Moscone. The film was released to much acclaim and earned numerous ac- Marguerite O’Hara colades from film critics and guilds. Ultimately, it received January 30, 2018 eight Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Revised February 16th, 2018
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