1970s On 24 June 1978 at 10 pm as a night-time celebration following a morning protest march and commemoration of the Stonewall riots organised by the Gay Solidarity Group more than 500 people gathered on Oxford Street, in a planned street "festival" calling for an end to discrimination against homosexuals in employment and housing, an end to police harassment and the repeal of all anti-homosexual laws.Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Information Kit. 1997. The figure rose to around 2,000 as revellers out for the Saturday night at Oxford Street bars and clubs responded to the call "Out of the bars and into the streets!". Although the organisers had obtained permission, this was revoked, and the parade was broken up by the police. After the parade was dispersing in Kings Cross, 53 of the participants were arrested. Although most charges were eventually dropped, The Sydney Morning Herald published the names of those arrested in full, leading to many people being outed to their friends and places of employment, and many of those arrested lost their jobs as homosexuality was a crime in New South Wales (NSW) until 1984. Only two people who were arrested were fined. The rest were released without bail and the charges dismissed. The police response to a legal, local minority protest transformed it into a nationally significant event which stimulated gay rights and law reform campaigns. A documentary, Witches and Faggots, Dykes and Poofters, produced by Digby Duncan in 1980 tells the story of the first Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
1970s on 24 june 1978 at 10 pm as a night-time celebration following a morning protest march and commemoration of the stonewall riots organised by the gay solidarity group more than 500 people gathered on oxford street in a planned street "festival" calling for an end to discrimination against homosexuals in employment and housing an end to police harassment and the repeal of all anti-homosexual lawssydney gay & lesbian mardi gras information kit 1997 the figure rose to around 2000 as revellers out for the saturday night at oxford street bars and clubs responded to the call "out of the bars and into the streets" although the organisers had obtained permission this was revoked and the parade was broken up by the police after the parade was dispersing in kings cross 53 of the participants were arrested although most charges were eventually dropped the sydney morning herald published the names of those arrested in full leading to many people being outed to their friends and places of employment and many of those arrested lost their jobs as homosexuality was a crime in new south wales (nsw) until 1984 only two people who were arrested were fined the rest were released without bail and the charges dismissed the police response to a legal local minority protest transformed it into a nationally significant event which stimulated gay rights and law reform campaigns a documentary witches and faggots dykes and poofters produced by digby duncan in 1980 tells the story of the first sydney gay and lesbian mardi gras