Pat O Hara Case Study

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Pat O'Hara took pride in her role in forming the Queensland Association of Gay Law Reform (QAGLR) with Ted Kelk. Initially they published Queensland Gay Action News and lobbied Brisbane politicians from Cairns, but when Ted moved to Brisbane because of his health, and then the Brisbane branch of QAGLR took over the lobbying activities, Pat kept the home fires burning.

A lifelong activist, in 1975 Pat, along with three other local feminists, formed the Women’s Electoral Lobby (WEL). Aspiring to empower women in crisis to take charge of their lives, the group soon identified the need for a women’s shelter to provide a safe haven for desperate women fleeing domestic violence. The Bjelke-Petersen regime opposed women's shelters, believing they …show more content…

Bursting in on a discussion of painting techniques hosted by the publican's artist son, Vaughan Rees, and demanding the names and addresses of everyone in attendance, rudely questioning and roughly handling the attendees, the police only realised too late that many of those in attendance constituted the esteemed ladies of the local social set, and those ladies found no amusement in their treatment. They sent the police packing and subsequent complaints from a number of prominent citizens ensured that thereafter the police showed a marked reticence to raid any gathering at Rusty's Pub.

Determined to fight for change, Pat decided to work with Ted Kelk on his plans for Gay Law Reform. "I resigned from the shelter committee in 1985 and for the next five years devoted myself entirely to pushing for gay law reform." Pat received great support from her husband John O'Hara, who joined her in lobbying for law reform, having already shown his support for the gay community as a founding member of CHISC, along with John …show more content…

The shop housed a nurse to answer questions and provide advice about HIV/AIDS, by now a local issue, and eventually the Queensland AIDS Council took over the shop as their Cairns branch.

In addition to lobbying politicians, Pat wanted to change local attitudes so, taking advantage of her popularity as a guest speaker at Rotary, Lions, Toastmasters and other local groups, she made gay equality her subject at every meeting she spoke at, and convinced many locals previously unconcerned by the matter, of the injustices faced by the gay and lesbian communities. “I was so angry that gays were treated differently. We are all equal and should be treated the same. It is unfair and unjust to be judged as a person on your sexuality” she said.

In 1990 with Gay Law Reform achieved QAGLR changed its name from Queensland Association of Gay Law Reform to Queensland Association of Gay and Lesbian Rights, and in 1991 after 4 years as Treasurer and Secretary and with the aims of the organisation achieved, Pat stepped down from her

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