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 Hundreds of people took part in simultaneous rallies in cities across Australia on July 19 to protest against the Catholic Church’s policies on contraceptives, abortion and homophobia.
Organised by the NoToPope Coalition, the rally in Brisbane Square drew a small but largely enthusiastic crowd of about 70 participants and onlookers.
Gay-themed chants were aired as about 50 protesters marched through Brisbane's central business district.
Chants included: "Racist, sexist anti-queer, get the Pope out of here”, "Hey ho, hey ho, homophobia's got to go" and "Get your rosaries off my ovaries".
Organisers told Queensland Pride they had experienced difficulties negotiating the permit to hold the protest, which forced a last minute change of venue and starting time.
Though the ‘kiss-in’ component of the demonstration did not eventuate, placards, chants and several speakers ensured queer rights issues were prominently canvassed.
A spokesperson for Queensland's new Queer Coalition of Activists, Susan Shaw, told the protesters that Pope Benedict XVI was responsible for a long history of anti-gay statements and policies.
“In 1986, Benedict was the author of the infamous Vatican document, in which he referred to homosexuality as an ‘intrinsic moral evil,’” Shaw said.
"Promotion of homophobia by church leaders and the state wreaks havoc on the lives of young queer people."
Former Queer Radio presenter Felix Kellett read a speech prepared by co-presenter and age-of-consent activist John Frame who was unable to attend.
Frame blamed the influence of the Catholic Church for Queensland's unequal age of consent laws.
"The Pope and his minions, with their vile bigoted rhetoric, continue to persecute same sex attracted youth - telling them that their expression of sexuality is 'intrinsically evil'.
"And Queensland’s current law is a direct result of the effect of Catholic religious influence within Parliament.
"If our secular state is to have any claim to moral integrity, then the Bligh Government must act immediately to allow equal support and protection for all youth, by enacting true equity in law," Frame wrote.
The Brisbane protest was part of a national action, which also saw demonstrations in Sydney, Adelaide, Perth and Lismore.
Although protesters in Sydney’s Taylor Square had hoped to hand out condoms to pilgrims and engage in friendly dialogue with them, they were kept behind barricades several metres from the pilgrims.
The Sydney protest included a ‘kiss-in’ and ‘hug-in’ hosted by Brisbane-based queer performance artist Pope Alice (aka Luke Roberts) and drag personality Vanessa Wagner (aka Tobin Saunders).
"It was wonderful to see beautiful expressions of queer and diverse love, especially on the 30th anniversary year of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras," Roberts told Queensland Pride.
The kiss-in and general protest went off without a hitch, according to Saunders.
“It was a total success, it was colourful, it was loving, and the police were really good,” Saunders said.
In Adelaide, around 30 protesters converged at Queen Street in Croydon for a kiss-in.
Additional reporting by Adam Bub and Katrina Fox in Sydney, and Daniel G. Taylor in Adelaide.
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