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

Looks at gay life in Sydney in the early 80s when homosexual sex between men was still illegal in New South Wales, pre-AIDS. Reporter Jack Pizzey interviews a number of gay men and lesbians in Sydney at the time. Sydney has become the gay mecca of the South Pacific.
Sydney's gay guide book of the day listed 61 gay groups and social clubs. Features radio show "Gay Waves" and Campaign magazine, and gay hotels, discos and restaurants of the day. Interviews muscular athletes going to the Gay Games in San Francisco. Talks to men of the day about coming out and their first experiences of gay life in Sydney. Takes the temperature of societal attitudes to homosexuality of the time.
Features lesbian band "Stray Dags" playing at a Sydney Town Hall. A lesbian is interviewed about her coming out experiences with her family. Conservative politician Jim Cameron is interviewed about what he would do if a child of his turned out to be gay. He answers "love the sinner, hate the sin" and to seek therapy. Teacher Edd Ashmore is interviewed at the Sydney Opera House re his experiences coming out in Sydney.
Shows the legal situation at the time in each Australian state. South Australia was the first state to legalise homosexuality. Don Dunstan is shown backing the New South Wales campaign for legalisation. Homosexuality in the animal kingdom is cited. The maximum sentence for homosexual sex between consenting adults in New South Wales was double than that for heterosexual rape.
Gays demonstrate and petition the public in Blacktown against MP John Aquilina 's stance on homosexuality saying no one in NSW wants the law changed to legalise homosexuality, and confront him with a petition. The group includes Garry Wotherspoon and Fabian Lo Schiavo.
Controversial footage is shown of a beat (toilet block) in Green Park, Darlinghurst when men go to seek sex with each other. A catholic priest from Sydney's North Shore was inadvertently captured on camera visiting the toilet and later sued the ABC. Psychologist Bob Hay is interviewed about seeking casual anonymous sex in public toilets. Hay confronts the interviewer on public displays of sexuality.
A gay commitment ceremony at the Metropolitan Community Church is shown. The Catholic position on homosexuality in New South Wales is given via an interview with president of the Catholic Institute of Sydney, Dr John Hill. He says that the gay movement is wanting too much too soon and is a threat to Australian society.
Robert French is interviewed about what conservative political forces are standing in the way of gay law reform in New South Wales. He is not happy with Premier Wran's slowness in attending to law reform. Gay Liberation Choir. Finally a gay freedom march through Sydney's CBD is shown.
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[@PeterKeogh6969]

Fascinating doco. When I arrived in Sydney in 1972 it was so hard - had friends bashed near death in beats - had to hide that fact that we were gay at work etc - I was picked up as a teen by 'pretty police' in the Prince Edward Theatre toilet during intermission at he theatre and dragged to the Central lockup - no charges but very scarey! So in many ways we've come a long way but the comments from Emeraldcity Sydney are sad if that is still the case.

[@abhisek2091]

Its sad that our community had been persecuted so much from centuries for something which is so natural.

[@DerekWilliamsMusic]

I arrived in Sydney 1985 right in the middle of the AIDS epidemic, when gay bashings were rife. To date out of 80 gay-related homicides, 30 remain unsolved. Yet in Australia now I can marry the very same person I would once have been imprisoned for loving 40 years ago. It’s been a hard fight, but we could not have won it without the support of each other, our friends, our families and our political allies. Thank you to everyone who refused to accept it was impossible to change.

[@mistressmon]

Wow - everbody is so well spoken.

[@fabulouswondermama]

great documentary thanks for sharing!

[@PosthumousAddress]

Splendid documentary, thanks for posting it! The accents are marvellous, Australians seem less bogan-y back then.

[@Ryan78336]

I hope progress toward equality will continue.

[@richalderson6069]

Saw this documentary on T.V. when I was a boy just before I hit puberty and it really stayed with me. Used to get called a "poofter" at school all the time so it's understandable why it did.

[@tophersum]

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

[@69lalor]

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!!!!

[@sfreddy]

Boy things have changed in such a short time. Here is to it continuing to change rapidly

[@electricink3908]

This feels like dark ages now.Can't believe it is so recent!

[@misr91]

amazing social document about the early 80s... before the devastation of AIDS

[@hepsabaptron00]

Australia never had th full brunt of it as other places did.

[@kurvapicsa]

better quality version of this doco without audio problems here kzbin.info/www/bejne/i3KWmXarpdCifKs

[@chocksoldier4376]

Hahahahah, the Roman Catholic church "can't back" homosexual relationships amongst consenting adults . . . and wants to know how a church could "relate to scripture" the idea of a gay marriage. How very ironic.

[@Cutondogor]

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

[@kurvapicsa]

HOMOPHOBIC COMMENTS UNWANTED HERE. YOU SO CALLED MACHOS WHO EXPRESS YOUR HATRED OF HOMOSEXUALITY HERE IS ACTUALLY AN EXPRESSION OF A FEAR OF SOMETHING THAT HIDES DEEP INSIDE YOURSELF.

[@hepsabaptron00]

You could be more insitiv and constructive. If any homophobes were reading your comment do you think you are winning them over? Foolish.

[@PeterShieldsukcatstripey]

Cottages as sacred sites?? What??

[@HeySlowPokes]

I can recognise some, four faces, in the crowd there; from my time in Sydney in the 1970's and into the 1980's. Local gay people.

[@urbanpitch90]

The reporters voice is like GRAVY!

[@69lalor]

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

[@jimpy476]

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

[@tefllife2024]

Prince "sexuality"

[@joshthe8th]

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

[@HeySlowPokes]

4:41 Peter Schubel 4.43 (piano teacher)

[@dondoherty3037]

HeySlowPokes, Yes, it IS Peter Schubel. And today (26 October 2014) Peter would have turned 69. Because it's his birthday I was browsing online to see if I could find any references to that beautiful guy. I knew him very well during his Ipswich days and then later in Sydney in the 1970s and early 80s. Still miss him greatly. Hope you get to respond to this... Don D

[@sherieryann]

'New tolerance to everything........' hahaha I so wish.

[@joshthe8th]

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

[@brentnewtown]

Amazing.

[@kurvapicsa]

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

[@stronzo5000]

13:38 Sean Connery

[@Luke-er6pg]

stronzo5000 😂😂😂

[@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.

[@HeySlowPokes]

@sydneygayboi Can people now-a-days, remember those people in the crowd who've since passed away? . Where do the new people come from; is there a "lost generation" of what would be now "old folk"? . How old are you, anyway? How come you're still a sydneysider? Is it, that you are not truly, a gay? . Cheers. from, del-boy.

[@PeterShieldsukcatstripey]

That lesbian band is terrible!!

[@brearnegibson1986]

I hope most of these people are still alive and can soon marry 💕

[@PeterShieldsukcatstripey]

Some of those blokes are quite cute.