MELBOURNE’S gay community is set to mark the 20th anniversary of the infamous police raid at the iconic club Tasty.

A Facebook page for the anniversary event says: “A bunch of defenceless homos were held hostage by police. They are our forefathers and we salute them.”

The August 7, 1994, incident — in which 463 clubbers were strip searched and detained for seven hours — sparked a huge public backlash, successful legal action against Victoria Police, and a $10 million payout to patrons.

Former Tasty promoter Gavin Campbell said: “We come together, 20 years on, to commemorate this watershed moment in Australian LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) history.”

Campbell likened the Tasty raid to Stonewall, a reference to a police raid at a famous New York gay club, which led to riots and later, better gay rights.

He said: “Many raid victims couldn’t find a voice, too traumatised, too closeted, too much to lose. These silent victims of the Tasty raid, qualify as an inspiration in our fight for rights, they epitomise the injustices …”

Indeed, for the gay community, times have changed dramatically since the raid.

“Today, it’s all about marriage equality,” Campbell said. “Back then (in the 1990s), inexplicably, we found ourselves in a fight for equality itself.

The Tasty Raid 20th anniversary will happen at Poof Doof, in South Yarra, on August 9, with British DJ Jon Pleased Wimmin and former Tasty stars Campbell and Peter McNamara.

Originally published as Iconic anniversary for gay community