About 400 supporters flooded Sydney’s Town Hall on Sunday afternoon, calling for increased rights for trans people. This event celebrated the 45th anniversary of Sydney’s first Mardis Gras march on June 24, 1978, as well as the Stonewall riots on June 28, 1969 after the violent police raid of a New York gay bar.

The coalition of trans rights and community groups, including the Rainbow Rights Coalition, Safe Schools, the United Workers Union and Community Action for Rainbow Rights, Pride in Protest and the NSW Civil Liberties Council demanded tightened anti-discrimination laws to protect trans people when applying for jobs or housing, or when accessing healthcare and education. 

The groups also advocated for the reinstatement of the Safe Schools program, which allows students to be better taught about gender diversity and also allows trans people to identify as their chosen gender without having to undergo reassignment surgery. 

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