Kevin Betts marched in the first Sydney Mardi Gras in 1978, and has spent his later years helping Orange’s LGBTQIA+ community feel secure and accepted.
On Saturday, the homegrown “78-er” was celebrated for his advocacy when he led the Rainbow Walk, the signature solidarity event of Orange’s annual Rainbow Festival.
Riding shotgun in a ute adorned with rainbow flags and plumes of coloured streamers, a beaming Mr Betts fronted the largest crowd yet down the main street of Orange.
“My heart was in my mouth the whole time,” Mr Betts said as the march concluded.
“But I loved it.
“All I need to do now is send a photo to my friends on the Gold Coast and say, ‘Look at the old bird now.'”
Marea Ruddy says Orange’s pride event is going from strength to strength. (ABC Central West: Micaela Hambrett)
Orange City councillor Marea Ruddy said it was important to acknowledge the role of elders like Mr Betts.
“He’s a really important part of pride history,” she said.
“It’s great to have him involved and to continue to have people like Kevin involved in events like this.”
A long road
Originally intended as a peaceful protest march for gay rights, the 1978 Mardi Gras descended into violence and brutality at the hands of the police.
Retrieving his bloodied friends from Darlinghurst jail back in 1978, Mr Betts said he felt galvanised to keep fighting for those who would inevitably come after him.
“We just had to fight for all those years, which we did,” he said.
“To look at the younger people today, how they can come out and are not afraid, I’m just so proud to say that I am a 78er.”
Part of his legacy to Orange’s queer community was a small bar called The Blind Pig, which Mr Betts established almost a decade ago with husband John Vanderburg.
Kevin Betts and John Vanderburg established Orange’s first inclusive social venue. (ABC Central West: Micaela Hambrett)
Mr Vanderburg said The Blind Pig became a social institution almost overnight because the region’s vulnerable suddenly had a safe space to be themselves.
“We had numerous young guys and girls come out to us at The Blind Pig,” he said.
“If people came in we didn’t recognise, we’d sit down with them and make them feel at home.
“Or we’d introduce people to one another and get them talking … it became a community.”
It was also the scene of Mr Betts’s drag queen debut as Central West Sophie.
Mr Vanderburg said he was anxious the younger crowd would not understand the cabaret-style performance.
“But it went off. The place was packed to the hilt, and it went absolutely bananas,” he said.
John Vanderburg and two Blind Pig patrons at the venue’s height. (Supplied: The Blind Pig)
A ‘safe, happy place’
Hitting retirement age, Mr Vanderburg and Mr Betts wound up their involvement in The Blind Pig last year.
But locals like Kate and Brian Berrill said its closure had left a gaping hole in the city’ social fabric.
“Coming from Sydney, there’s a lot of diversity and acceptance,” Ms Berrill said.
“We have two trans kids as well, so we were searching for a welcoming place.
“We found The Pig, it was such a safe, happy place.”
Brian and Kate Berrill are passionate about there being safe and inclusive spaces for people to socialise. (ABC Central West: Micaela Hambrett)
The Berrills were the driving force behind commemorating Mr Betts’s legacy at this year’s Rainbow Festival.
They said they hoped they could raise the need for another inclusive social space in the city.
“It’s a really important thing for Orange to have space where people can go out and be themselves,” Ms Berrill saidPassing the baton
Mr Vanderburg and Mr Betts are mentoring a former manager of theirs, Kristian Garlick.
He and his mother Lisa Garlick have purchased a nearby restaurant that they hoped would become the new safe hub for the city.
“[The Blind Pig] had a real community — from the elderly to young girls worried about being harassed, to the LGBTQIA community,” Mr Garlick said.
“Once it closed down, there was nowhere for them to go.”
John and Kevin are mentoring Lisa Garlick and her son Kristian. (ABC Central West: Micaela Hambrett)
The Garlicks said their new venture had been plagued by licensing issues and a perceived lack of support from Orange City Council.
But in a statement, a council spokesperson said the council was working with the Garlicks and remained strongly committed to supporting Orange’s LGBTQIA+ community.
“The Haze is approved to be used as a restaurant,” the statement said.
“The owner has been in touch with Council and we are waiting on an application for a change of use.”
A tattoo of The Blind Pig’s logo adorns Kristian Garlick’s arm. (ABC Central West: Micaela Hambrett)
Mr Betts and Mr Vanderburg believe venues have a major role to play for vulnerable people wanting to be themselves on a night out.
“I’m very pleased that a lot of people have come out of their closets to say, ‘Well, this is me’, and most parents stand by their kids these days,” Mr Betts said.
“But if a younger person wants to dress up or hold their partner’s hand [in a pub] they’re going to cop it,” Mr Vanderburg said.
“There needs to be a safe space.”