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 Homophobia blamed for end of Yackandandah's gay and lesbian festival 

Homophobia blamed for end of Yackandandah's gay and lesbian festival

12 Sep, 2008 11:47 AM
HOMOPHOBIC attitudes have killed Yackandandah’s annual gay and lesbian festival.

Co-organisers Gary Hayward and Andy Stevens have vowed not to organise another Spring Migration Festival, just days after the end of the fourth successful event.

The loss is tipped to cost the Yackandandah economy hundreds of thousands of dollars and has shocked festival goers.

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About 2500 people attended this year’s three-day event.

Mr Hayward said since the festival started in 2005, organising it had been a trial, with a small percentage of the community giving organisers “grief”.

In the festival’s second year those against the event glued the locks of the Yackandandah hall shut.

“It has been a battle each year,” Mr Hayward said.

“Homophobia is alive and well.”

He said about 95 per cent of the community supported the festival but without 100 per cent behind it “we just can’t run it”.

“That 5 per cent can give you a lot of grief,” he said.

“We will not run it any more.”

Last year’s festival injected $500,000 into the Yackandandah economy with visitors spending on accommodation, food and buying property.

This year it was the first gay festival in the world to be opened and blessed by Tibetan monks and included a dance party, a market, buskers, an art show and a winery tour.

Indigo Mayor Vic Issell who welcomed visitors to the dance party said it had a “great atmosphere” and it was disappointing the festival would no longer be held.

Yackandandah and the Indigo Shire would lose the economic boost and the publicity.

Cr Issell said he hoped, with time, festival organisers would rethink their decision.

Comedian John Walker who has hosted events at the past two festivals said it was not a “wild debauch or binge” but people having a great time at a well-organised event.

“If narrow-minded bigots can’t see past their own selfishness this is what will happen, we will lose events because of stupid people living in the past,” he said.

Albury’s Lisa Biscan who enjoyed her first visit to the festival on Sunday said she was surprised people were not more accepting.

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Date: Newest first | Oldest first
Homophobes need to get over themselves. The homosexuals have a darn right to proudly show off their choice of lifestyle and not to be brought down by so called "god worshipping" idiots that make up our society. its called freedom of expression! artists use it why can't the homosexuals???
Posted by Mara, 12/09/2008 1:29:27 PM
I think it's a good thing that it's ended, why should something that is completely unacceptable be celebrated
Posted by Huse, 12/09/2008 1:39:33 PM
Money talks, and some other clever area or town will snap up this oppurtunity entertain the homosexuals among us. This reflects poorly on our area. Still if we are backward hicks then so be it.
Posted by Not Gay, 12/09/2008 2:45:47 PM
As a "straight" I enjoyed attending as much of each Festival as I could. All I ever saw was people enjoying themselves in a community that I thought was totally accepting. Shame on those that are homphobic I bet your reaction would be differant if one of your children or brother/sister was gay.
Posted by BBQ, 12/09/2008 4:52:09 PM
looking at the above just shows some people have forgotten we are all humans we are all tax paying australiansiant life to be celebrated no matter what religion sex or culture
Posted by celebrate, 12/09/2008 5:41:34 PM
I am surprised that the Gay community of Yackandandah is no longer happy about their Spring Festival. To state that only 5% are against them and that someone glued the locks on the hall is enough to give up on their festival seems a little weak. Surely the BM could do some more research to find the real reason. And why do they always claim that homophobia is the cause. It seems that every time they don't get what they want its homophobia is the reason! There are many people who disapprove of the gay lifestlye who are not homophobic but would like to understand them better. It seems that the gay community suffer from hetrophobia more often than they care to admit.
Posted by Daniel, 12/09/2008 5:43:34 PM
As above.. ha ha. Says he dissaproves of the gay lifestyle but is not homophobic. That is homophobia at it's best.. get a life
Posted by John, 12/09/2008 7:41:14 PM
95% acceptance. But 5% are what is stopping this. Reminds me so much of Daffyd "the only Gay in the village". Look at the good. Not the Bad
Posted by seamus, 12/09/2008 8:36:14 PM
homophobes in this area? colour me surprised.
Posted by kezbekistan, 12/09/2008 9:21:24 PM
I had 4 friends travel to the spring migration festival as l told them about it. They spent significant amounts of time and money getting to Yack. We went to Yack on Saturday to see the art exhibition as advertised on the website and were told by the elderly man that he had no idea what was happening at the tourist information centre. We then ate at the street and left later for the nights entertainment. On arrival the same man was selling us our tickets and for $45 dollars we found minimal value. The next day we went to town and found the market very limited compared to other festivals.Then we went down the street for eats , only to see media all over Bears old Wears. All l can say is why is the festival not as successful as the folk festival . Could it be because the whole community is not involved like the folk festival. I think its poor organisation rather than homophobia and its appauling that it should be called that as siginificant numbers in the population are gay and lesbian! Its not a two man festival !
Posted by harry, 13/09/2008 12:04:03 AM
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PARTY'S OVER: This year's Spring Migration Festival was opened and blessed by Tibetan monks, pictured here with partygoes at the launch of the festival.
PARTY'S OVER: This year's Spring Migration Festival was opened and blessed by Tibetan monks, pictured here with partygoes at the launch of the festival.

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