There were aetheist societies, gay and lesbian groups, pagan groups and a couple of others who defied definition. Watching in amazement from the sidelines were a dozen or so Sex Party members. All were equally pissed off that groups like Catch the Fire have managed to gain serious influence in the federal parliament.

Some of the confrontations between young lesbians and old Christians were very tense and neither side gave ground in their belief. At times the speaking in tongues and the opposing chants threatened to boil over into a full on brawl but both sides seemed aware of a virtual line that had been drawn and no one crossed it.

Pastor Danny Nalliah roused his troops like a circus master. He looked like the head waiter on the Love Boat in his white Nehru jacket with gold buttons and black trousers. He wielded a megaphone like a union organiser. I’m sure he was who Frankie Goes to Hollywood had in mind when they penned Two Tribes – ‘Cowboy No. 1/ A born-again poor man's son/ On the air America/ I modelled shirts by Van Heusen /(working for the black gas) yeah. ‘

There were cosmic and spooky events too. Pastor Danny had said before the event that he would ‘remove the dark clouds that hang above Parliament’. As Saturday morning dawned the weather bureau forecast a fine day however as Pastor Danny and his followers started speaking in tongues he seemed to hex himself somewhat as a storm moved in from the Brindabellas and quickly caused a big black cloud to develop over Lake Burley Griffin and Parliament House! Although only a few drops fell on Mt Ainslie, the effect was stunning. And whether it was a witch’s spell or whether it was Pastor Danny’s reverse pike with triple somersault that caused it, three old crows descended on top of the communications tower and stayed there for at least an hour.

The event really came out of nowhere. No one expected anything like it. Although the Christians were outnumbered two to one, Pastor Danny must have been delighted with the theatrics of the day. There were also clear messages for Kevin Rudd and Malcolm Turnbull and possibly even Bob Brown. Gay and lesbian people are ready to take Mardi Gras into the federal parliament if gay marriage and other social equity issues are not met. Rationalists in the community are now ready to take on the archbishops and the Imams whenever they see religious agendas masquerading for moral legislation.