From the international press, we report on the pardoning in Northern Ireland of historical gay crimes and extinguishment of criminal records; the move in UK to outlaw ‘gay conversion therapy’; and locally, the admission by NSW police that the wave of 88 murders in the gay community of Sydney during the period 1975 to 2000, had been caused by hate and had been inadequately investigated by the police force of the time.

We discuss the forthcoming celebrations for NAIDOC Week 8 -15 July 2018, with the theme ‘Because of her, we can’, and the focus upon the contribution of indigenous women.

We connect the concurrent activities of Lieutenant James Cook and his initial exploration of the east coast of Australia, the Queensland settlement of 1770, and the substitution of Botany Bay as the destination for Britain’s convicts following the separation and independence of the developing colonial settlements of the North American continent after 1776.

We recognise the contribution of David Hockney, OM, CH, RA, born 9/7/1937 – a gay English painter, draftsman, print-maker, stage designer and photographer. He is an important contributor to the pop art movement of the 1960s, and considered to be one of the most influential British artists of the 20th century (see pic).

We also recognise the life and work of (George) Percy Grainger (8 July 1882 to 20 February 1961) – an Australian-born composer, arranger and pianist, who had a long and innovative career and played a prominent role in the revival of interest in British folk music in the early years of the 20th century. Much of his work was experimental and unusual, and he is remembered also for the Museum of Music and Granger Museum located within the University of Melbourne. He had a well-documented sex life that was so violent that he came to fear it might kill him.

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

Show #811 – First broadcast on 3 July 2018

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