How developed is gay labor organizing in Australia?
Already at the time of Sydney’s first Gay Mardi Gras [pride celebration] in 1978, there were just beginning to be groups of gay and lesbian trade unionists, including postal workers (such as myself at the time), teachers, nurses, railway workers, and public sector workers. In 1978, the first national Gay and Lesbian Trade Unionists Group (GayTUG) was formed. Since then, there have been formal and informal lesbian and gay caucuses in unions of nurses, teachers, and service, public sector, rail, airlines, academic and communications workers. Gradually groups also formed to organize lesbian and gay activists across unions. Now in Sydney, apart from the Workers Out! conference committee, there is the annual organizing for trade union participation in the Gay Mardi Gras parade. In Melbourne, the group UNITE, based at the Victorian Trades Hall, brings together queers from a range of unions. What has your experience been as an “out” gay union member and organizer? In the three unions where I’
