Vic: Gay group to march on Pell

AAP General News (Australia)
04-12-2001
Vic: Gay group to march on Pell

A gay and lesbian activist group is planning a march outside St Patrick's Cathedral
in Melbourne on Sunday to celebrate what it hopes is the passing of a homophobic era with
the imminent departure of Archbishop GEORGE PELL.

An estimated 50 members of Queer, a gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender group are
expected to converge on the 11am (AEST) Easter Mass.

In a written statement, Queer says it will mark Dr PELL's departure from Melbourne
to take up the post as Archbishop of Sydney by greeting parishioners as they leave the
Mass.

The group says it is converging on the church to highlight what it describes as the
homophobia and ultra-conservative agenda pushed during his tenure.

As Melbourne archbishop, Dr PELL has taken a conservative line on homosexuals, including
refusing to administer communion to gay-rights protesters on several occasions.

QUEER spokesman DARREN KANE says the Easter action is likely to involve entering the
cathedral grounds.

He says it is a direct action and the marchers will probably occupy church ground.

Mr KANE says Dr PELL's homophobic comments are seen as socially acceptable because
they are given in the name of Catholicism, yet the message he sends cultivates a climate
of hate toward homosexuals.

AAP RTV db/gfr/mjm

KEYWORD: PELL QUEER (MELBOURNE)

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