The Pink Ban
The Pink Ban was a strike action, taken by the Builders Labourers Federation, at Macquarie University due to the expulsion of a gay man from student housing.
The Pink Bans were a pivotal movement in Australian history, where labour union activism intersected with gay rights. This movement was primarily catalysed by the New South Wales branch of the Builders Labourers Federation in 1973, responding to the expulsion of a gay student, Jeremy Fisher, from Macquarie University, Sydney.
Background
During the early 1970s, Jeremy Fisher, a treasurer of the Gay Liberation club, became a prominent figure in the gay rights movement in Sydney. He joined the movement in 1972 and participated in its political ventures, among which were Zaps – a form of political protest and activism. At the time, Fisher was a linguistics student at Macquarie University, and he resided at Robert Menzies College, an institution administered by the Anglican Church.Fisher's journey was marked by personal turmoil. He was a victim of rape, and a week following this traumatic event, he attempted suicide by overdosing on antihistamines and cutting both of his arms. Following this incident, he was admitted to Macquarie Hospital, where he faced further challenges. A psychiatric registrar interrogated him about his sexual orientation, referencing Gay Liberation badges found in his dorm room at Menzies College. During the interrogation Jeremy admitted involvement with the Gay Liberation club.
Alan Cole, the Master of Robert Menzies College, refused to allow Jeremy Fisher further residence without Jeremy seeking to change his sexuality, he was also refused a refund on his residential bond. During this difficult period, Fisher penned the poignant line, "Death is nothing but white light" in Overland.
Seeking support, Fisher reached out to influential figures such as Rod Webb, editor of Arena and a member of the Socialist Workers League, and Jeff Hayler, Chair of The Macquarie Students’ Council. The MSC, representing the student body of Macquarie University, took a firm stand against the discriminatory practices of Robert Menzies College, calling for its disaffiliation. The Staff Association of the university also condemned the college's actions, aligning with the growing sentiment against discrimination based on sexual orientation. His story gained further attention when the Australian Broadcasting Corporation conducted an interview with him.