Gay & Lesbian Kingdom Declared
Australia's gay marriage ban has inspired the formation of a Gay Kingdom on Cato Island off of Queensland in the Coral Sea. A tongue-in-cheek declaration proclaims Gloria Gaynor's "I Am What I Am" the national anthem. Dale Anderson, self-appointed "Emperor" told the Sydney Star Observer, “We’re very serious about it. The government’s obviously not going to recognise it but if we can force them to do something about it, then they can’t ignore it.”
Anderson doesn't expect many visitors, however: “It’s a bit hard to get there because there’s no harbour and you have to park the boat off the reef and wait for a wave.”
Posted Aug. 19,2004 at 6:34 PM EST by Andy Towle in Travel | Permalink
ironically, that's also how I get anywhere in WeHo.
Posted by: M@ | Aug 19, 2004 9:43:51 PM
That gay marriage ban shite is political shenanigans, resulting in gays being the proverbial political football. The Coalition govt. is fighting with Labor (the major Opposition party) for the votes of – other than mainstream Oz - any fundamentalist voters they can grab, prior to this year’s general election. (The Coalition wanted this ban to be a wedge issue, Labor decided to lock-step rather than play ball.)
Marriage, in Oz, is dealt with via Common Law, and can be changed via the courts in relation to legal arguments about discrimination. The Christian right wanted the ban to be legislated into our Constitution. They got what they wanted, even though Labor had previously agreed to wait for a Senate inquiry report. Of course, they didn’t wait.
Labor is normally supported by the LGBT community. I hope they loose their run for govt., just like they did when they sided with the Coalition during the ‘Tampa’ crisis, prior to the last general election. The minor Greens party increased their voting bloc after that debacle.
This idiotic ban was signed in on the day of the opening of the Olympics. Keep in mind, this is a sports crazy nation; the choice of signing-day was definitely strategic, so as to be drowned out by the event.
As I did with the ‘Tampa’ crisis, I’ll be sending a protest vote to one of the two minor parties.
Not voting, in Oz, is illegal.
N.B. Trust an aussie to expect his guests to surf to the front door.
Posted by: Terence | Aug 20, 2004 12:24:55 AM
The island thing; funny I was thinking of that.
If no government is willing to step up and recognized the union between man x man/ woman..
then why not have a gay kingdom? People have always fantasized about having a gay mecca, so now we got one. Long live the kingdom!!!
Posted by: Jason | Aug 20, 2004 10:59:06 AM
a great initiative.
but the constitution point #9 states that
"Every lesbian citizen, irrespective of birth, station, or property, shall be required, for a certain length of time, to carry arms in defence of her country.
Why not gay men?
Posted by: steve | Aug 22, 2004 9:04:58 AM
After months of hearing politicians trying to justify why same sex couples should not be equal under law, and after witnessing the national parliament effectively say that same sex relationships are less loving, committed and worthwhile then their heterosexual counterparts, we in the gay community have had a gutful.
On hearing that legislation banning us from marring and adopting children had been past the Australian flag was lowered in the Commonwealths uninhabited Coral Sea Islands (that many gay activists have recently permanently settled) and replaced with the Gay Rainbow Flag and the Commonwealths former overseas territory of the Coral Sea Islands was proclaimed the world’s first independent gay nation.
The proclamation was broadcast from Cato Island the highest point in the Coral Sea and the Governor General of Australia along with every federal politician was issued with a copy of the gay nation’s declaration of independence. The proclamation was based on the American declaration of Independence stating the issue was one of equality. Further information may be obtained from the Gay Governments official web site at www.gaykingdom.org
We are very serious about what we are doing, and have done our home work we chose Cato Island as it was the highest point in the Coral Sea Island territory an uninhabited overseas territory of Australia. The Coral Sea Islands are administered as an external territory and as now it has a population of only gay people living there the government is in a spot of bother. they can't force us off the island as Cato is open to visitors it is not a national park and you do not need a permit to visit and we have backed up our independance with case law. As Emperor I also cant spell eeeek but we are deadly serious with what we are doing and have claimed the entire 1000 square mile of the Coral Sea Island territory for the worlds gay and lesbian people. As yet Australia has not informed us that they dont recorgnise the gay governments claim and have informed my Prime minister David Smith that Australia is consulting the international rule of law on what to do.
Dale R
Emperor Reigning
Posted by: Dale Anderson | Aug 28, 2004 7:23:04 PM
No
Posted by: Elaiyaraja | Nov 24, 2004 10:47:55 PM
"We are happy for having our own nation of freedom, love and tolerance for all our Gay people worldwide.
Nobody will stop us, because our goal is right and our will is unshakeable
Long life emperor!"
Posted by: Enmanuel Hidalgo | Mar 1, 2005 4:06:52 PM
is this island just for gay men or is there lesbians aloud on the island as well?
Posted by: saz buckle | Apr 6, 2005 1:53:13 PM
Good point, Saz... Seem so far from what I've read this is mostly a male dominated "KINGdom"... I ask, how many women and men are in this gay government? What is the proportion of men to women??? I would hate to think that in your efforts to establish a "kingdom" forced by the hand of discrimination, that you too practice discrimination against women... And why do only 'lesbians' bare arms? You're not telling me that you too (like the hetero community) has fallen for the false falicy that lesbians are all butch? And you're telling me that all gay men are too weak to fight?! lol Come on, if you're serious, then you'd seriously address these questions.... because at the moment, this new "Gay (ah what about les, bi, tran etc??) Kingdom" is a big JOKE. Why not call it Queer Kingdom... or Queeriana? Pink States of Oceania? Rainbow Island? Something more "inclusive of all".
I hope this new government of Cato Island does not have a case of foot in mouth - would be rather embarrassing....
And tell me, if this island nation was formed by Australians, why is its local currency the EURO???? Shouldn't you have your own currency? Why not the Aussie dollar? HMmmmmmmmmmmm
Posted by: Nic | Jun 2, 2005 10:36:29 PM
Hey,
My name is Amanda and I'm the host of Queen Mary Live on the Queen Mary. I will be covering the Tribe event on Thurs. the 21st. I would love to interview someone...anyone for my PodCast and give you a chance to promote your organization to be seen on QMTV (Queen Mary Television). If anyone is interested please shoot me an e-mail with your contact info, your position (if any) in the kingdom, and a good time to reach you. Thanks ~Amanda
Posted by: Amanda Holland | May 14, 2006 1:33:49 AM