Did NHC make a difference?
The First National Homosexual Conference implicitly acknowledged and explicitly debated the risks involved with bringing their homosexual activism into a particularly public forum. Did the talk at NHC do anything to mitigate that risk for ongoing activism?
Multiple influences impacted the progression of the homosexual movement, but some direct links to NHC can be identified.[1]
NHC inspired Ron Thiele to create a new Melbourne University Gay Society, replacing the Gay Liberation Front club. Rather than directing social change as GLF had, Thiele focused the group on social activities and community building.[2] This suggests that NHC not only revitalised the community’s connection to the campus, but by including ‘Melbourne University’ in the group’s title, Thiele committed to making homosexuals a visible part of the university.
Further, one recurrent theme in conference discussions was the need to work with unions to protect people’s jobs once they came out. Employees needed protection both from firing and social exclusion. This was particularly relevant in education.
