Allegro Non Troppo

22 Oct 2009

Allegro non troppo – Dr Dennis Altman

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We have some regular guests on allegro, who are great contributors to the social and political growth of homosexuals.
Itâ€™s great to have Dr Dennis Altman back this week.
Homosexual have been able to make a lot o changes to Australian society, like lobbying politicians and political parties to bring about change. There are Gay and Lesbian rights groups in every state.
Lobbying politicians and working with state and federal governments to bring about change is good.
There is another way that the G&L impacts on governments, in this case itâ€™s local and perhaps state government, and itâ€™s through the impact of small business (and not so small oneâ€™s).
I recall reading a study that looked at the economic impact of Mardi Gras in Sydney. At itâ€™s peak itâ€™s financial impact was $99 million for local business.
When I was working with Midsumma there was a report from a PhD student who researched and said that Midsumma had (I think) $29 million impact on local business.
Itâ€™s through these massive financial contributions that we see governments now courting the Gay community festivals to support local business. Looking at Victoria, we have Midsumma & Pride march in January, but the regional and rural festivals are growing, Chill out in Daylesford and Spring migration in Yackandandah.
If the G&L community decides not to hold a festival or relocate, it sets off their alarm bells.