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Witness History: Anti-gay police raid at Tasty nightclub

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Anti-gay police raid at Tasty nightclub

21/06/2023 GMT

BBC World Service - Witness History, Anti-gay police raid at Tasty nightclub

On 7 August 1994, police raided Tasty, a gay nightclub in downtown Melbourne, Australia

Police strip-searched more than 450 people when they raided a gay nightclub, Tasty, in Melbourne in 1994 searching for drugs.

In the early hours of 7 August 1994, police raided Tasty, a gay nightclub in downtown Melbourne, Australia. 
 
On the hunt for drugs they strip-searched more than 450 people in a raid that lasted hours.
 
Many people felt what happened was homophobic and that the police had abused their powers. 

Some of those searched took legal action. 

Damages were awarded and years later Victoria Police gave a formal apology.  
 
Gary Singer who was in Tasty when the raid happened and was the organiser of the class-action lawsuit tells Alex Collins about how his night out on the town went from joy to despair once the police entered the club.

(Photo: People being searched by police in Tasty)

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