Coming out in The
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28 November 2020 to 30 May 2021 LIST OF WORKS COMING OUT IN THE 70s A gay manifesto A special by Carl Wittman, 1970 reporter Before the 1970s same-sex relationships were Sydney University student broadside collection, HF 2014/34 taboo in most Western societies. In Australia, Cover letter and lesbianism was largely unrecognised and sex CAMP Ink typescript of Bulletin between men was illegal. Same-sex attraction article forced many people to live secretive and published by CAMP Inc by Garry Wotherspoon, 1971 fearful lives. August 1971; November 1971 (Queensland issue); Garry Wotherspoon papers, ON OFFER The 1960s ushered in an era of change. Civil August 1972 (David Widdup rights movements around the world created election campaign issue); Bulletin, 13 March 1971 opportunities to reform society. The 1969 December 1972 (sexism and Stonewall riots in New York triggered the rise women’s liberation issue); Q079/15A of gay rights movements internationally and February 1973 (aversion Australians soon took up the fight. Sydney therapy issue); April 1975 (International Women’s Day Graphics: quickly became a hub of activism. ‘Coming out’ issue); March 1977 (Anti- — openly admitting same-sex orientation at Discrimination Act issue) CAMP Ink (remaining issues 1970–77) the risk of rejection, discrimination, abuse or Gay[s] Counselling Service of New South even death — became a brave political strategy, Wales records, MLMSS 5836/Box 6 Gay[s] Counselling Service of New South challenging the sexually conservative attitudes Wales records, MLMSS 5836/Box 6 of Australian society. The manuscript This exhibition marks the 50th anniversary of cupboard the emergence of the gay and lesbian rights photo by Eve Langley, movement in Australia. Although the struggle September 1970 for equality is not over, sexual diversity is widely Eve & June Langley pictorial collection, acknowledged in Australia today and celebrated PXE 1333/Folder 17 through annual pride festivals like the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. Many of the rights Lesbian film makers, we take for granted are the direct result of the July 1978 personal sacrifices and hard-fought activism of photo by Geoff Friend the 70s. 1001674/ Item 05; FL6071536 Macquarie Street Sydney Australia 2000 sl.nsw.gov.au Being seen Invitation: Feminist press Gay book launch MeJane, March 1973 Angus & Robertson, 2 July In the 1970s few Australians had any MLMSS 3999/MLK2981 understanding of sexual difference, and 1973 the mainstream media rarely mentioned Dennis Altman papers, MLMSS 3969/ Box 2 Cauldron: A Feminist homosexuality except as sinful, criminal Journal, vol 1, no 2, 1975 or sick. Fed up with lies, ridicule and abuse, John Lee, David a small group of lesbians and gay men 396.05/6: McDiarmid, Robert decided to speak out. Tucker and another Pandora’s Box, c 1976 Sydney friends and neighbours Christabel Poll going to Altman’s MLMSS 9782/Box 77 and John Ware started the Campaign Against book launch in Moral Persecution (CAMP Inc) as a letter writing July 1973 Refractory Girl, no 5, campaign to challenge public statements photoprint from digital file summer 1974 misrepresenting gay people. On 10 September 396.05/6 1970 The Australian reported the formation Courtesy Gregg Blachford of CAMP with an invitation to join the group. A week later Ware was interviewed on the Black Hours Student press ABC television program This Day Tonight. by Wayne King, 1996 Honi Soit, May 1976 The effect of this prominent media coverage 305.89915/161 University of Sydney was electric. Newspapers, magazines, radio and Students’ Representative television rushed to report on the ‘new-found’ All That False Council (SRC) minority group and public attitudes began to instruction Lent by Rare Books and Special Collections, University of Sydney Library shift. The media coverage also let gay men and by Elizabeth Riley women across the country know they were (Kerryn Higgs), 1975 Tharunka, Gay Pride not alone. 823/R573.2/1 Week edition, 8 September 1973 Kerryn Higgs at University of NSW Students Going public Mainstream abortion rally, Union Australian, 19 September media Martin Place Craig Johnston collection, MLMSS 4620/ MLK3926 1970 TV Times, 29 June 1974 photo by Anne Roberts, BN453 c 1975 Q654.1705/1 O’Week show bag, PXA 962/35 c 1975 Cleo, July 1976 Peter Murphy papers, MLMSS 6642/2 Shadow and Media monitors Q 059 180 Substance: Scrapbook of Show bag contents, Reflections newscuttings relating Women’s Day, 1976 of a Lesbian to the early history 3 September 1973 KY sachet, badge, ‘A guide of gay liberation in Q640.5/7 by Joyce Geake, 1973 to your gay show bag’ brochure, (reproduction) Australia and on the MLMSS 8701 magazine covers AIDS epidemic Homosexual: Oppression and Gay[s] Counselling Service of NSW compiled by Terrence Bell, Joyce Geake records, MLMSS 5836/Box 08 c 1966–89 Liberation photoprint from ‘Shadow MLMSS 8689/11X by Dennis Altman, 1972 and Substance: Reflections of a Lesbian’ 301.424/38; ML Book Jackets/1972 Graphics: (A-Bo) MLMSS 8701; FL17974033 Newsclippings Sydney Mardi Gras, 24 June 1978, photo by compiled by Dennis Altman, Poster: Peter de Waal and others, Branco Gaica 1970–79 The body politic Gay press Courtesy Branco Gaica, Sydney Gay presents Dennis and Lesbian Mardi Gras records, MLMSS Dennis Altman papers, MLMSS 3969/ William & John, vol 1, 9332/ BOX 81X Box 2; Peter de Waal papers, Altman, author MLMSS 6089/Box 6; EPHEMERA/ no 1, 1972 HOMOSEXUALITY/ Box 1 of Homosexual: W/Q059/178 Gay Solidarity / Oppression & Women marching, Liberation William & John, vol 1, morning of first Mardi Chat Centre, Toronto, c 1971 no 1, 1972 (Victorian Issue) Gras, 24 June 1978, photo Dennis Altman papers, MLMSS 3969/ W/Q059/178 by Sallie Colechin Box 2 Sallie Colechin collection, ON OFFER Butch, vol 1, no 1, 1972 Q059/179 Domain following May Day March, Stallion, August 1974 5 May 1974, photo by Anne Roberts Q059/289 Tribune collection, ON 160/Item 0034; FL4499349 Gayzette, September 1974 F059/73 St Clement’s Being heard CAMP member Gabrielle Antolovich, demo 1972, detail from Talking openly about homosexuality sparked Handbill: Chequerboard rushes hope in many lesbians and gay men living ‘Blatant oppression’ Peter de Waal papers MLMSS 6089/ in isolation around the country. As activists Box 5; reproduced with permission from Gabrielle Antolovich and the Australian produced by Sydney Gay fought for change, they created one of the most Broadcasting Corporation – Library Sales Liberation, 1972 successful reform movements in Australian © 1972 Peter de Waal papers, MLMSS 6089/ history. Box 5 Protesters outside Activists lobbied politicians and community ABC headquarters, Letter leaders for law reform to address discrimination July 1972, photo by John Storey from ABC to Peter Bonsall- and violence. They used humour and catchy Boone, 23 October 1972 slogans to attract media attention and gain Courtesy Gregg Blachford Peter de Waal papers, MLMSS 6089/ public support. They made the personal political, Box 5 marching in solidarity and ‘shocking the straights’ with spontaneous actions known as ‘zaps’. Reform Letter Graffiti affirmed that ‘Lesbians are lovely’ and from St Clement’s Church ‘Gay is good’, while newsletters, manifestos, CAMP Ink, December to Peter Bonsall-Boone, flyers and posters spread the word about gay 71/72 9 November 1972 issues. Badges and T-shirts proudly displayed a Gay[s] Counselling Service of New South Peter de Waal papers, MLMSS 6089/ Wales records, MLMSS 5836/Box 09 Box 5 connection to the cause. Gay and lesbian groups encouraged shared identity and offered safe meeting places. Brochure: Demonstration at Camping: A society St Clement’s Church, Festivals and conferences created temporary for the rights of the Mosman havens of community and the chance to build homosexual, 1970 b&w photoprints by new fields of study. Gay Pride Week 1973 was a produced by CAMP Inc, News Ltd/the Australian, highpoint for Sydney’s gay rights movement, but c 1970 12 November 1972 it was also a turning point as groups began to Lex Watson collection, ON OFFER Peter de Waal papers, MLMSS 6089/ change or split apart, looking for different ways Box 5 to achieve their goals. In 1978 and 79 Sydney activists joined tens of thousands in solidarity Membership card: Demonstration at in International Days of Gay and Lesbian events CAMP Inc St Clement’s Church, around the world. produced by CAMP Inc, Mosman 1971/72 colour photoprint from Lex Watson collection, ON OFFER digital file Getting Poster: Courtesy Gregg Blachford organised Family portrait (John Membership badges Ware and David Widdup) produced by CAMP NSW, William & John, produced by CAMP NSW, 1970s November 1972 CAMP Inc T-shirt, 1972, photo by Phillip Potter Lex Watson collection, ON OFFER; W/Q059/178 lent by Peter de Waal AM, CAMP Inc 1970 Lex Watson collection ON OFFER foundation member Lent by Peter de Waal AM, CAMP Inc foundation member Poster: Graphics: Brochure: ‘Sydney Gay Sisterhood feels good Do you know CAMP Film rushes, Liberation’ vest, 1970s produced by Times Change NSW Chequerboard, ABC Press NY, 1971, photo by produced by CAMP NSW, TV, 31 October 1972 embroidered by David Donna Gottschalk McDiarmid for John Lee c 1973 POSTERS/2015/308 Peter de Waal papers, MLMSS 6089/ EPHEMERA/HOMOSEXUALITY/Box 1 Box 5 reproduced with permission from Robert French collection ON OFFER Gabrielle Antolovich, Peter de Waal, Sue Wills and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation – Library Sales © 1972 ABC Brochures: Gay Lib T-shirt, 1970s Graphics: Phone a friend First Ten Years of Sydney