Mug shot of Neville McQuade (18) and Lewis Stanley Keith (19), North Sydney Police Station, early June 1942, from the Justice & Police Museum Collection, Historic Houses Trust of NSW Rec: 31234
At this time of year in Sydney, dressing up is high on the agenda for a lot of Sydneysiders, who are working out what to wear in the Mardi Gras parade, or to the various parties and events.
But the story of drag in Sydney goes back a lot further than Mardi Gras, and illuminates a history of gender-role policing, persecution, resistance and fabulous frocks that dates back to convict days.
Garry Wotherspoon‘s article on Drag and cross dressing in Sydney outlines this fascinating story, with multimedia that ranges from a Sidney Nolan painting to mugshots and newspaper clippings, as well as oral history about Sydney’s drag venues.
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In Mardi Gras month, it’s good to remember that Sydney has always had people of varying sexualities, and despite efforts to police them, they’ve always been here.
The Dictionary’s article on Lesbians in Sydney is by Rebecca Jennings, and traces the stories of female same-sex desire in Sydney from before the Europeans arrived. Rebecca’s work is based on both archival research and oral history, and adds greatly to understandings of what was, for much of the period, a hidden and private culture. Castigated as sinful and immoral in the nineteenth century, lesbianism was medicalised in the twentieth century and considered to be a psychological disorder. At the same time, the tabloid newspapers revelled in the sensational stories of lesbian murderers (such as Eugenia Falleni) or gangsters (like Iris Webber).
'Lesbian Brides' marching group, Mardi Gras 1994 by C. Moore Hardy. Contributed by City of Sydney Archives (061-061352)
With the advent of renewed movements for women’s rights and gay liberation, the lesbian underground became a public subculture and an important part of the city’s fabric. Women produced lesbian publications, such as Lesbians on the Loose, or LOTL as it is now known, plays, films and novels in Sydney, creating a vibrant cultural space in which lesbian issues were debated, often contentiously. These women were crucial to the development of second wave feminism in Sydney.
Lesbian activists were part of the Mardi Gras from its beginnings in public protest, and remain stalwarts of the festival, as parade participants, artists and cultural producers, activists and fans out to have fun.
Have a great weekend!
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Albury Hotel float, Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade, 1983 Photograph by William Yang, courtesy the National Library of Australia nla.pic-vn3097560
Where else would one find this intoxicating combination than the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras? It’s Mardi Gras time in Sydney again, and the rainbow flags are coming out, along with the Marching Boys and many other classics such as the Dykes on Bikes.
But every year the Mardi Gras finds new areas of interest and activism and this year will be no different.
You can read about Sydney’s pre-eminent parade in Garry Wotherspoon‘s article about the history of the Mardi Gras. Garry is a well known historian of the gay movement, and has been a participant in many of the struggles and celebrations he writes about.
Starting as a political demonstration in 1978, which escalated due to police behaviour, the Mardi Gras has developed into a full scale cultural festival, with multiple events over several weeks. It has also become a major tourist attraction, bringing visitors from all over Australia and the world.
Kicking off with the Fair Day at Victoria Park on Sunday 12 February, this year’s festival looks to be as diverse and outrageous as ever. Check out the program and see what you can get along to.
All Love is Equal, Mardi Gras Fair Day 2007 Photograph by Janissary/Bren Barnes, via Flickr (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
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