The Short Walk Home
The short walk back to my hotel from Oxford Street takes me down Darlinghurst Road.
Past historic Sacred Heart Church, recently saved from demolition, with its life-sized statue of Jesus with outstretched arms above the entrance. Nearby is St Vincent's Hospital, known for its HIV palliative care.
On my left is the 20 foot high fortification that formerly enclosed the Darlinghurst Gaol, now known just as 'The Wall' and used as a pick up strip by male hustlers. None to be found tonight slouching against the sandstone brick or leaning into the passenger windows of cars slowly driving past, at least not this early.
Across the road is Green Park with its recently erected Gay and Lesbian Memorial, which 'celebrates the memory of all gay men and lesbian women murdered, tortured or persecuted because of their sexuality.' It is one of only a handful of gay holocaust memorials in the world. It's opening in 2001 caused some controversy within the local Jewish community, given its proximity to the Sydney Jewish Museum on the next block down. The memorial was the brainchild of Dr. Kitty Fischer, a concentration camp survivor who said she owed her life to a gay inmate who brought food to her as a child in Auschwitz.
On a bit further, past the Darlo Bar and across the road to the Kirketon. Time for a drink, dinner and winding down...
The holocaust memorial reminds me that Sunday, May 29 is World Day of Prayer for Healing Homophobia. Reminds me that around the world men and women are still victimized, oppressed, beaten, imprisoned, tortured, murdered and executed just for being lesbian or gay. In the words of Rev. Troy Perry:
"On Sunday, May 29, let's join together to pray for an end to homophobia in our world, and let us recommit ourselves -- both individually and as faith communities -- to work for peace and justice and understanding."
Amen.