Fairfax Media’s Sydney Morning Herald has publicly apologised to the people involved in the protest march for Mardi Gras in 1978.
The March on 24 June 1978 saw around 500 people head to Taylor Square on Oxford Street in Sydney to call for the end of the criminalisation of homosexual acts and discrimination.
However, the march ended in violence.
And a few days after the event, the SMH published details of protesters – including name, address and occupations – in the paper outing them.
Darrren Goodsir, editor-in-chief of the SMH has apologised for the paper’s actions.
In a statement and story on the SMH website yesterday afternoon, he said: “In 1978, The Sydney Morning Herald reported the names, addresses and professions of people arrested during public protests to advance gay rights. The paper at the time was following the custom and practice of the day.
“We acknowledge and apologise for the hurt and suffering that reporting caused. It would never happen today.”
The paper also reports Fairfax Media is hoping to apologise in person to a number of the activists.
Lead image credit: Fairfax Syndication
