First published in The Sydney Morning Herald on May 24, 1982
Mr Moral Majority gets a warm reception
A girl shouting “Go home Falwell” with a group of feminists on the steps of Ryde Civic Centre yesterday broke away to greet one of the Bible-carrying congregation.
Protesters outside Ryde Civic Centre.Credit:Jacqueline Haynes-Smart
“Aunty” she called.
They looked as if they came from two different worlds.
The girl wearing a T-shirt with gay liberation and anti-abortion badges asked: “What are YOU doing here?”
Aunty, with a grey bun and scrubbed face, waved her Bible: “I’m going to hear him talk. Come with me.” But her niece declined.
“He’s really such a wonderful man. If you listened you’d think so too.” tried Aunty.
But her niece joined the 400 chanting protesters against the Rev Falwell. They held placards and banners identifying themselves as members from the women’s movement, gay rights, Christian movements, the Teachers’ Federation and the Campaign Against Repression.
The seven “Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence” who describe themselves as an order of gay male nuns, held a mock “moral minority” service on the Ryde Civic Centre’s entrance steps. They wore full nuns’ habits, lipstick and sunglasses. Some had long beards.
Source: SMH
