Our journey through the news stories of 2018 continues with everything that went down in March. From Eurovision, to Religious Freedom Reviews, politicians dealing with homophobic statements from their pasts, to new videos from Kylie!
Politics
Michael McCormack‘s start as the new leader of the Nationals began with people finding more homophobic editorials he’d written when he was a newspaper editor, McCormack blamed his views on HIV/AIDS campaigns of the 1980s, 78ers who live in Wagga Wagga invited McCormack to march with them in the 40th Mardi Gras – he didn’t take up the offer, Dean Smith won the inaugural McKinnon Prize, Sex and the City star Cynthia Nixon launched her campaign to become Governor of New York, Gay rights advocates pushed Labor to show support for gay school kids and teachers, Communications Minister Mitch Fifield said Tom Ballard’s show Tonightly has gone too far, The Ruddock Religious Review announced they’d need more time to finish their report – it’s delayed until May, the first submissions were made public, Victorian Liberal leader Matthew Guy apologised for a homophobic letter he’d written as a university student.
In the News
Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras celebrated its 40th anniversary, Cher apologised for taking selfies with Malcolm Turnbull, Russians were told that if they were apathetic about voting a gay person could be delivered to every home, sad news as it was revealed that the one half of the first same-sex couple to married in Australia had died just weeks after their wedding, Queensland removed forced divorce laws for transgender people, Victoria also started the process, Hawaii moved to outlaw gay conversion therapy for minors, we marked National Day of Women Living With HIV, a Perth Man faced court over charges he’d passed HIV to another person, meanwhile a NSW man pleaded guilty to similar charges, the Northern Territory changed laws so gay couples could adopt and also put funding towards Safe Schools, a poll showed support for marriage equality had grown even further, a record number of queer athletes attended the Winter Olympics, HIV researcher David Cooper died, PrEP was added to the PBS, a Christian radio host said God was making so many gay people as punishment for allowing abortions, News Corp columnist Piers Akerman says gay people should formally apologise for sexual abuse committed by gay people, Kenya stops forced anal examinations of men suspected of being gay, Donald Trump announced a plan to ban transgender people from the military, Grindr started reminding people to get HIV tests, Sky News host Ross Cameron went off on an ill informed rant.
Celebrity
More than few heads were scratched when Bindi Irwin was named LGBTI Ally of the Year, MASH star David Ogden Stiers passed away, Adam Rippon got our attention when he walked the red carpet for the Oscars, Jesse Tyler Ferguson shared his coming out story, RuPaul responded to accusations of transphobia, Givenchy died, as did singer Claudia Fontaine, Joel Creasey signed up to host a dating show, comedian Rhys Nicholson received death threats for looking gay, Marlon Bundo became the most famous rabbit in the world, Kylie went to Cuba to film a video.
Culture
OUTinPerth released its 200th issue, Local writer Alicia Tuckerman told us about her debut novel, Jessica Mauboy revealed her Eurovision song, Ireland’s entry featured a same-sex romance, Finland’s singer Sarah Aalto came out, Lys Assia – the competition’s very first winner died, Thievery Corporation played Metro City, queer love story Love Simon was released, and one of its stars chatted about coming out, Rainbow KINection began broadcasting, we chatted to the legendary Benita Collings, artists paid tribute to Elton John, Alison Wonderland told us about her new album, we caught up with jazz musician Yolanda Brown, Will and Grace was renewed, charming photo of same-sex couple wins London photographic competition, there were rumours the Spice Girls were going to make a superhero movie.
Read about what happened in February.
