The Camp Candidate

CAMP Ink, 'David Widdup The Camp Candidate', CAMP Ink Vol 2 No 12, CAMP Ink
[This scan courtesy of the Australian Lesbian and Gay Archives, Melbourne], 1972, p. 1.

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Author CAMP Ink

Title David Widdup The Camp Candidate

In CAMP Ink Vol 2 No 12

Imprint CAMP Ink [This scan courtesy of the Australian Lesbian and Gay Archives, Melbourne], 1972, p. 1

Abstract This article is a write-up of the results from the 1972 Lowe NSW constituency election in which David Widdup stood as a CAMP candidate.

The Pride movement in Australia began with the founding of CAMP (Campaign Against Moral Persecution) in Sydney in 1970. CAMP’s momentum spread quickly to other Australian states, fuelling the first LGBTQI rights marches and firing up political campaigns for changes to oppressive laws and systems.

David Widdup was one of Australia’s earliest, longest-serving and most flamboyant gay activists.

David Widdup (1947-1999) was a prominent gay rights activist and pioneer in the LGBTQ+ community. He was born in England and immigrated to Australia in the 1970s. Widdup was a vocal advocate for equal rights for the LGBTQ+ community and was a prominent figure in the Sydney gay scene. He was instrumental in the formation of the first gay rights organization in Australia, the Gay Solidarity Group, and was also a founding member of the Campaign Against Moral Persecution (CAMP).

Widdup was a tireless campaigner for gay rights, speaking out against discrimination and fighting for the recognition of same-sex relationships. He was also a passionate activist for HIV/AIDS education and advocacy, working to raise awareness and reduce the stigma surrounding the disease.

Widdup's contributions to the LGBTQ+ community were widely recognized and he was awarded the Order of Australia in 1999 for his services to the gay rights movement. Despite his untimely death that same year, Widdup's legacy continues to inspire and impact the LGBTQ+ community in Australia and around the world. He is remembered as a fearless and tireless campaigner for equality, justice, and human rights for all.

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Source: Reason in Revolt

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