Australia's Secret Gay Weddings in the 1930s

Rakkaus · Jun 5, 2013

Not sure whether to post this in LGBT news or just Chit Chat, but I guess it's not really a current event...

So apparently there were illegal gay marriages going on secretly in Australia in the 1930s. Until this terrible "indecency" was "unearthed".

Same-sex marriages revealed in 1930

I admit, I actually found this 1932 Australian newspaper headline about secret "pervert" weddings to be...LOLworthy :lol: rather than offensive:

The content of this sensational article:

‘The growth of the pervert population of Brisbane, beautiful capital of Queensland, is astounding, and in the last year hundreds of these queer semi-feminine men have made the city their headquarters,’ the newspaper wrote.

‘Now they have evolved into a cult, with two main sects, one on the north and the other on the south side of the town, with the river dividing them. And occasionally they meet at queer, indecent, degrading ceremonies when perverted lusts come into full play and shocking rituals are celebrated.

‘In the last two weeks there have been two "weddings" — ghastly, horrifying spectacles of painted men and primping lads united in a sacrilegious blasphemy that they call the "bonds of matrimony".’ the newspaper wrote.

‘They conduct these luridly immoral gatherings absolutely free from police interference… Professional people have been invited as guests to witness the weddings — astounding revelation that perversion of this rotten type is so openly accepted in Brisbane. Nowhere else in the world — not even in Berlin, with its open homosexual clubs — is there the open boast that there are these ceremonies or the widespread extension of this sordid cult of male perversion.

‘It is all conducted in these gatherings as if there were no ban on this horrifying indecency… This in Brisbane, in the year 1932! It is almost unbelievable.'

‘The city is full of them, and more come from the other States regularly to swell the numbers,’ the newspaper wrote.

‘The nests of them should be cleaned out, and the whole of the horrid business scattered to the four winds. At present it is a scandal of evil almost unprecedented.

'Weddings between men, with city lights looking on and enjoying the "ceremonies", can only prove one thing — that Brisbane by tolerating them is earning for itself the name of the most wicked city in the Commonwealth… Police action, speedily, please!'
Click to expand...

Ridiculous · Jun 6, 2013

Excellent example of an impartial and unbiased media in that article :lol:.

Hexagon · Jun 6, 2013

I still don't understand why homosexuality can provoke more hatred and fear than a gang of psychopathic murderers.

BrokenGuy · Jun 6, 2013

OMG!
This just makes me absolutely wild with anger!!!! :tantrum::***::***: To write such about gay men, goes beyond offensive. This makes me ABSOLUTELY sick to my stomach!!!! :tantrum::***::***:

caughtbywitness · Jun 6, 2013

I don't know about Aus, but in UK the whole idea of it was illegal, not that surprised really. Things have moved on fortunately!

Australia's Secret Gay Weddings in the 1930s

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