What Happened at The Tasty Night Club Raid in Melbourne?
06 Aug 2024
As we commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Tasty night club raid, we reflect on this significant event in Melbourne's queer history.
On a recent episode of Well Well Well on JOY Media, guests Stephen and Gerry, who experienced the raid firsthand, shared their memories and insights, offering a reminder of the challenges and resilience of the LGBTQ+ community.
What Was the Tasty Night Club?
Tasty was a vibrant and inclusive night club in Melbourne in the early 90s. Described as one of the first truly queer clubs in the city, Tasty welcomed a diverse mix of gender identities and sexualities.
In my opinion, it was probably the first club that was really queer, a whole mix of gender identities and sexualities.
Stephen
Gerry, another guest, emphasised the sense of safety and community that Tasty provided: “It also was really safe... a really safe club that you went to at 11:00 PM to 12:00 PM... every week for as long as we could.”
Music played a significant role at Tasty, with notable DJs like Gavin Campbell creating an energetic atmosphere. The club also featured a unique area known as the Grope Maze, which Gerry described as “a dark room” that was integral to the club's inclusive and safe environment.
Tasty was also somewhat of a sanctuary amid the HIV epidemic, providing a space where people could express their sexuality safely, with condoms and other products supplied by the club. Stephen noted, “There was possibly more of an acceptance of HIV at that time because we’d been... 10 years into the epidemic... people felt freer to come back and celebrate and just explore sexuality and explore gender identity.”
What Happened at the Tasty Raid?
The raid occurred around 1:30 AM, following a tip-off. Stephen recalled the chaotic scene: “The DJ pressed the smoke machine button, and the place filled with smoke... police burst in in uniform and came running at you with batons yelling to put your hands above your head or on the wall.”
The police then conducted traumatic strip searches and detentions. “They didn’t find anything on anyone... they didn’t make any arrests. And so that really angered the person in charge... he made a decision to strip search 463 patrons,” Stephen said. Police forced patrons to stand against the walls with their hands up for hours before being taken one by one to be strip-searched in full view of everyone.
The raid had a profound impact on patrons and the wider community.
I was already fearful as a young gay man that I would contract HIV. And then to experience this treatment by the police, you know, I guess part of me was thinking I can't escape this.
Stephen
How Did the Community Respond?
The community's response was swift and determined. Key figures, including lawyer Gary Singer and patron Sally Gordon, led a class action against the police. Stephen highlighted the importance of this legal battle: “If it wasn’t for Gary Singer... and Sally Gordon who was a patron there on the night... representing all of us for that first case and was successful.”
The class action was a monumental effort. It took years, but ultimately, the police were held accountable. Patrons received an apology and compensation, but more importantly, it set a precedent for how the police interact with the LGBTQ+ community.
Reflecting on the long-term significance of the Tasty raid, Stephen and Gerry noted it was a pivotal moment in Melbourne's queer history, highlighting how it encouraged police reform and influenced the introduction of more inclusive services like LGBTIQ+ Liaison Officers.
As we look back on the Tasty raid 30 years later, it remains a powerful reminder of solidarity within the LGBTIQ+ community and our ability to pull together.
Listen to the full interview with Gerry and Stephen on the JOY website.
Some of Tasty’s organisers and DJs are hosting an anniversary event for the raid. Get the details here.