CLANCY OVERELL | Editor | CONTACT
Pride Month has kicked off in workplaces and community clubs right across the country this week, as Australians join hands to celebrate LGBTQ+ culture and rights, in an annual celebration that dates back to the 1970s New York.
Members of the queer community have chosen this date to celebrate their identity, while also continuing the fight against bigotry and discrimination wherever it presents itself.
And the head office of Betoota’s largest skip bin operator is not one of those of those places where prejudice towards LGBTQ+ people is acceptable.
For years the executive staff at BETOOTA BIN CO (BBC) have worked hard to ensure that their workplace is one of inclusivity and harmony.
Even the straightest man on the planet, Jim ‘Cracker’ Fatt is present in he office break room today.
As the boss of this whole company, Cracker’s support is greatly appreciated by his LGBTQ+ staff – which includes one Lesbian in the warehouse, a gay bloke in accounts, and a non-binary Gen-Z on the front desk.
With the perfume-soaked office sirens (allies) hanging balloons and rainbow bunting from every surface that holds tape, the boss makes his way to the lollie bowl.
While nobody really asked for a speech, Cracker takes it upon himself to say a few words between mouthfuls of jelly beans.
“This is a good idea. Who’s idea was this?” Cracker asks, in reference to the 50-year-old tradition that has been taking place in this same room for at least a decade.
“Anyway, I just wanna say… Wait is everyone here?”
Cracker’s staff urge him to continue, even though the Lesbian from the warehouse isn’t present to hear his words of support.
“Just wanted to say… You know, Robbo was my favourite footy player as a young bloke. Even after, you know…”
The staff don’t appear to be following.
“Even after… I knew. That. He was. Of that persuasion”
Cracker is of course talking about former NSW and Australian NRL supstar Ian Roberts, the first openly gay professional athlete in Australian sport, who now serves as the director and co-founder of Qtopia – Australia’s first LGBTQI museum in Sydney’s Darlinghurst.
“Ian was gay. Yes. Good on him. But he was also the most violent man in rugby league and he used to fold those clowns from Balmain and Brisbane. I hated them, and he would absolutely flog them, let me tell you”
“My hero. A gay hero”
“Happy Pride everyone”
