 The inaugural event was held on 24 June 1978, and was organised by the Gay Solidarity Group and was intended to be a street festival, one of three events as part of a Day of International Gay Solidarity, produced in response to a call from the organisers of the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day, and highlighting local gay and lesbian rights issues.Following a police riot and assault at the end of the street festival, 53 were arrested; with over 120 more arrested at subsequent protests.The then Sydney Gay Mardi Gras subsequently became an annual event from 1979.