Bisexuals Given Message to LIE One year away from the new millennium, in the age of HIV/AIDS and safer sex campaigns, of anti gay violence education programs in schools, of openly queer politicians in our parliaments and 30 years after Stonewall Riots that spawned "gay liberation", Bisexual men and women are being given the message to lie about their bisexual identity and to conceal their bisexuality. This is not some new campaign strategy of the health professionals or some plot of the religious right to hide them away from society. Gone are the cries of "be out and proud" or "stand up and be counted". This message of deceit comes from within the very heart of Sydney's most out and "in your face" organisation, the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Ltd. (SGLMG). It is the 21st birthday of Mardi Gras and the theme of the 1999 Mardi Gras Festival is Diversity. However the ongoing rejection of people who identify as Bisexual from membership of the SGLMG, can only be viewed as a form of sexual apartheid. In 1996, SGLMG members attending their AGM voted to only grant people identifying as Homosexual, Gay, Lesbian or Transgender, automatic membership. Those membership applicants who ticked the box for Bisexual, Queer, Heterosexual or Other, faced, at the least, having to prove their worthiness to be members, and, at the most, be rejected altogether. This move was suppose to reduce homophobic violence and sexual harassment at the Mardi Gras and Sleaze Ball parties, from those people who were attending from outside the Gay and Lesbian Communities. Since this decision came into force, the Australian Bisexual Network has been contacted by Bisexual identified people who have been rejected from membership of the SGLMG. They have been rejected even after submitting evidence of their involvement in and commitment to the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Communities. Even when they have taken advantage of the "Appeal Process" and appeared before the Board of Mardi Gras, their application for membership has been rejected. If this is not enough, there is more. The Australian Bisexual Network has evidence of Bisexual members who joined before the 1996 policy change, having their membership renewal rejected because they ticked the bisexual box on the form. There is also evidence of Heterosexual women who have ticked the "Lesbian" box and been given automatic membership, no questions asked. One can assume this has also occurred where Straight men have ticked the "Gay" box and been granted membership. Most States and Territories have legislation that forbids discrimination on the grounds of sexuality, sexual orientation or lawful sexual activity (Western Australia being the exception, which has none). However in New South Wales, Bisexuals and Heterosexuals are not covered by the existing legislation which only covers Homosexuality and another Law that covers Transgender people. The Australian Bisexual Network is amazed that in 1999, an organisation that was founded on a desire of a marginalised group in society (we were all gay in 1978) to fight to achieve the most basic of Human Rights and equality, now selects their membership solely on a tick in a box for particular sexual identities and rejects those that do not conform to their ideal. Where is the social justice in that? Where is the reward to those in the community that have given of their own free time and out of their own pocket to help and support the diverse members, groups and businesses of what makes up the Gay, Lesbian and Queer Communities in Australia? The Australian Bisexual Network does not object to Mardi Gras' desire to make the Parties safe from violence and harassment and to have a membership policy that would help to achieve this. ABN has continually promoted the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival and Sleaze Ball and endeavoured to work with bodies within the Queer Community. ABN cannot remain silent and see an unjust policy grant memberships to people who lie about their sexuality and who may have no involvement in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Communities except at Party time, while those that are involved and are open and honest are rejected for no other reason other than their honesty in identifying as Bisexual, Queer or Heterosexual. When more and more groups around the World are becoming more inclusive, we have this situation in Sydney that advocates exclusion based on sexual identity politics. The current Mardi Gras membership policy only gives the message to people who identify as Bi, Queer or Straight, to lie on their application form. The Australian Bisexual Network welcomes debate on this issue and is happy to enter into discussions to resolve this matter for the benefit of all parties concerned. For more information contact: Wayne Roberts 0416-068 532 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Bi Australian Made For Quality That Lasts! ==================================================================== Australian Bisexual Network / Australian Bisexual Youth Alliance PO Box 490, Lutwyche, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia 4030. +61 7 3857 2500 (07) 38572500 [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.rainbow.net.au/~ausbinet/ ICQ Number 16442611 National Biways Magazine Host of the 7th International Conference on Bisexuality in 2002. ====================================================================