On the evening of June 24, 1978, Ray Goodlass and Denise McGrath tried to escape police brutality during a march on Sydney's Oxford Street — Australia's first Mardi Gras.
What began as a peaceful demonstration against LGBT oppression and discrimination became the exact opposite when police became violent.
"Two things would happen, they'd either throw you into a paddy wagon and take you off to Darlinghurst Gaol, or they'd shuffle you down a side street having bashed you around with the truncheons a bit," Mr Goodlass said.
Nowadays, Mr Goodlass, a 77-year-old gay man, can be spotted in his sparkling sequin hat in Wagga Wagga, southern New South Wales.
It has not always been like this though.
"I wear a lot more bling than when I first arrived," Mr Goodlass said.
"You had to be careful. If you were in one of the friendly bars you could publicly show affection, but walking down the street you wouldn't overdo it."
Driving change
Mr Goodlass was born in England, emigrated to Sydney and moved to Wagga Wagga in 1979 as a Charles Sturt University drama lecturer.
He found joy and solitude doing what he loved within the theatre community with his friend and lecturer Kevin Poynter, in an expressive and safe space for LGBT people.
"When people entered into this space they were actually focused on the work, it didn't matter what race you were or what gender you were or what sexuality you had, none of that was even remotely in the building," Mr Poynter said.
"I can certainly speak to sexualities and gender differences — the theatre was leading that movement," Mr Goodlass said.
He played a large role in designing the Charles Sturt University Riverina Playhouse and directed more than 50 plays, including one about gay men in contemporary New York.
He was also a driving force behind the theatre's inclusive nature, and was the first openly gay local councillor and deputy mayor.
Mr Goodlass has seen first-hand how a regional community can become more accepting over time.
"I think the fact Wagga's Mardi Gras was initiated and set up and run by a transwoman is really indicative of the fact that gender diversity has really taken hold," he said.
Horror to healing
About 130 kilometres north-east of Wagga Wagga at Leeton, 78er Denise McGrath is also doing her best to foster an accepting community for LGBT people and future generations.
She created Leeton's first pride group for the queer community and allies.
Ms McGrath spent her teenage years living in the town, where being queer was not talked about.
She moved away to Sydney when she realised she was a lesbian in the mid-70s and joined the protest in 1978.
"The next day all of their [those put in jail] names, addresses, their jobs, they were all printed in the major newspapers, so those people were outed, most of them were sacked," she said.
History in the making
In 2013, Ms McGrath returned home and has been advocating for her community ever since.
She created Leeton's first pride group for the LGBT community and allies, like 22-year-old Baillee French and her 10-month-old son Jasper.
"I grew up in Narrandera with two mums, two lesbian mums in the early 2000s, so I consider myself as a strong ally of the LGBT community which is why I've joined this committee to do my part," Ms French said.
Ms McGrath said she knew dozens of LGBT individuals in and around the town, but many were "conservative" in how they appeared when walking down the street.
She is now preparing to make history with Leeton's first ever pride festival in September.
"I'm hoping that we're able to demystify who we are, so we're just the girl or bloke next door," she said.
Ms McGrath said the town had come a long way, but there was still a stigma.
"The acceptance side is really good, but I'm sure there's a lot of people that are still not happy with what's happening but they're not out there troubling us with that speak," she said.
It is advocacy that Mr Goodlass and Ms McGrath have said they will not be stopping anytime soon.
Editor's note 2/3/23: The online video segment has been edited to accurately reflect that it was a night time event held by gay communities on 24 June 1978 that became the first Mardi Gras.
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