Been There Done That

8 Nov 2018

Horses and soldiers get muddy boots …

Anniversary, Community, Gay, Politics, Visibility

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This episode begins with our thoughts on the ‘race that stops the nation’ – the horse races that make up The Melbourne Cup Carnival. We talk about some historical facts, including the 1930 race won by Phar Lap and we consider the adverse aspects of this exclusive event.

Our gay icons having birthdays at this time are Senator Penny Wong – a fiercely combative representative of our community in the Federal Parliament, and well-respected for her role in the gay-marriage debates; and Canadian pop and country singer-songwriter and occasional actress k.d.lang. – another no-nonsense member of the gay community, who champions gay-rights causes.

From the international press we tell of a Pride Parade in Taiwan where nearly 140,000 marched in support of gay rights and same-sex marriage, topics which will be foremost in next year’s local elections and associated referenda. The Kenya High Court has announced that it will make a ruling next 22 Feb 2019 on legalising homosexuality after being pressured by the example of India doing the same earlier this year. Both countries were using British Colonial laws which gay-rights groups want overthrown. Elsewhere in the world, gay-rights are being abandoned with changes proposed by extreme-right-wing governments in Ukraine, Brazil and Tanzania.

We consider the positive effect of the recent Invictus Games for maimed warriors which reminded us all of the horrors of recent wars and the need to respect all the returnees. This has been an opportunity for the current generations to reflect and consider their own good fortune, in blissful ignorance of the echoes of earlier wars which faded as those generations died. Next week will see the 100th Anniversary of the Armistice of World War I – “the war to end all wars” on 11 Nov 2018 and Red poppies for Remembrance.

Listen to these stories, opinions and more – presented with some merriment (where appropriate) by Chris, Gordon & Phil.

Show #829 – First broadcast on 6 November 2018