Another protest action happened last night, this time in Melbourne, outside a meeting of the Australian Christian Lobby.

I loved the photo below, and you can read more about what happened here: http://www.samesame.com.au/news/loca...tian-Lobby.htm



But do loud, proud and colourful protests really do any good?

Do they win support for our causes, or do they make us look like miscreants?

Let us know what you think with a vote above and/or a comment below.

It depends on the the protest I think. Spiteful protests don't do us any favours, or protesting loudly inside a restaurant whilst someone us enjoying their dinner probably doesn't either. On the other hand, seeing 10,000 people marching down the streets of Sydney was one of the most overwhelming things I have ever seen, and showed many others some perspective of just how important this issue is to so many. The people just kept coming and coming.. Got a little tearful actually!

I think to a certain degree it depends upon which the spirit of protest.
Peaceful protests, certainly.
Protesting without direction or purpose is stifling; it goes against the cause.
Organised, civil protests that raise awareness to bring about change are helpful.

I've thought about this many times before actually. I'm not sure as I don't have enough experience, haven't seen enough protests or followed up on enough results from protests etc. But it occurred to me a few years ago that the people who are in power now are mostly the ones who basically invented protesting. Perhaps we need a new but equally effective (and, in case it wasn't obvious from my use of the word 'effective', peaceful) way to get the message across.

I think it depends on the nature and reasoning of the protest.

In order to sway the voting public (and therefore putting pressure on the legislating bodies) we need to be relatable. Jim Wallace and the ACL are doing us all a favour by being so extreme and unlikeable that the public don't relate to him. The best thing we can do is become the sensible, reasonable proponents in the debate.

Huge protests like the 10,000 people marching in Martin Place are great for us - they show the legislators how much support for the cause there is in the community. However, loud colourful protests which are designed to incense the opponents probably does us more harm than good. Acting in ways designed purely to offend the ACL & co probably alienates us from the middle ground - and those are the people we need to win over. Dressing and acting outrageously (perhaps FABULOUSLY.. lol) is fun and has its place - events like the Mardis Gras are perfect - its a time to demonstrate our pride in being who we are. In terms of the marriage equality debate, however, I don't think it helps us.

I voted yes, but not so much that it wins us allies as it reminds everyone that we're here, and that we do have allies.
Also I think it helps the younger or less confident gays feel better about themselves.

I'm still surprised at every rally I go to to see so many young people and their straight supporters.

Plus with events happening (seemingly) all the time, it puts more and more pressure on politicians to actually make some change happen. Which is what we're seeing now.

It would be interesting to have some straight people give their opinions though.

I don't care it they work or not people need to be able to express their opinions and objections to the injustices in some way. Clearly protesting didn't do anything when it came to the iraq war. Millions worldwide protested against that and Bush just did whatever the fuck he liked.

I'm not sure if any kind of protest has any effect at all anymore.
When was the last time you can think of where a protest actually changed something? What about just in The West?
It all feels rather pointless.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ammonite

I'm not sure if any kind of protest has any effect at all anymore.
When was the last time you can think of where a protest actually changed something? What about just in The West?
It all feels rather pointless.

You could say protests don't really work if you were to guage the effect on some kind of arbitrary time line. Some protests don't work at all e.g. the War in Iraq.

If you are protesting to effect immediate change you are likely to be disappointed. But things like the Mardi Gras in Sydney (and others in Australia and overseas) have had an accumulative effect in changing attitudes towards gay, lesbian, bi, and transgender people. This changing of attitudes has lead to changes in legislation which have lead to exponential increases in equality for the LGBT community.

I don't think protesting out the front of the ACL premises will change any of their members' minds.

And as important as an issue is to anyone I think having a bit more of "the funny" when protesting helps.

Just like this post. Ahem.

Of course they do!

As long as everyone has good hygiene (Brush your teeth before attending rally, comb hair) and wears sensible clothing... (Warm socks in winter, 30+ sunscreen in summer).

I think large, peaceful rallies can bring some people confidence, whereas small protests can be quite disheartening.

I am old enough to remember the anti Vietnam rallies and protests and they do change opinions and they do work.
In the coming election we could be facing a very right wing conservative future, protest will take on a new and powerful form.

Thankfully we have some freedom to protest and demonstration so the opportunity should be taken to get message out there for some awareness at least.

It depends on the protest for me. But for the most part I dont think most gay protests achieve anything. Some do, for example, some of the recents demonstrations that have taken place in support of gay marriage I think have helped put the item on the national agenda and created debate, which is a good thing.

I for one though wouldnt neccesarily bother protesting outside the Australian Christian Lobby premises to be honest. Its become quite evident that aside from the ever shrinking number of practicing christians, alot of people, both homosexual and heterosexual, these days consider the christian movement to be quite hypocrticial, and irrational in its views in modern Australia. I think a growing number of Australians struggle to take them seriously anymore, and therefore I dont think protest directed at them neccesarily achieve anything.

Quote:

Originally Posted by petersj

I am old enough to remember the anti Vietnam rallies and protests and they do change opinions and they do work.
In the coming election we could be facing a very right wing conservative future, protest will take on a new and powerful form.

Yep, I remember the anti-Vietnam protests also. They changed everything. Governments here and in the US realised that the war was not popular, no matter how much spin they put on it. The anti-Vietnam protests didn't happen over night, they took time to grow from long-haired freaks protesting to mainstream Aussies/Americans joining in their voices. Then governments were forced to change policy and stop the war. Think of "People Power" in the Philippines. I think that was the problem with Iraq - not enough time and maybe not enough voices (not that it would've changed Bush's policy - "There's oil in them there hills!")

If you can get the mainstream behind you (no pun intended ), governments will listen. They have too! If they want to stay in government.

protest's work when they are peaceful and carried out by the general populaion and not hijacked by hairy armpitted women,dirty looking drugged up individuals and violence.They should also be respectful to all.
Ghandi and John lennon had the right concept on how to conduct an effective protest.

Quote:

Originally Posted by chad_74

protest's work when they are peaceful and carried out by the general populaion and not hijacked by hairy armpitted women,dirty looking drugged up individuals and violence.They should also be respectful to all.
Ghandi and John lennon had the right concept on how to conduct an effective protest.

Could not agree with you more. Nothing makes me laugh more than when you see a protest on TV directed at "wealth inequality" for example, and its almost entirely populated with people who have probably never ever tried to get a job because it clashes with their pot smoking and tree hugging activities.

Well I am a tree hugger and proud of it. I know what you mean but not all Greens are like that.

We need to try whatever it takes to have equal rights. We are all humans. Entitled to be treated fairly. Mardi Gras Parade began as a rally and look at how its has grown.