Liberate!

Fabulously fierce.

Experience LGBTIQA+ Sydney, from fighting for our lives, to defiantly queer Mardi Gras.

Celebrating 45 years of community-led social change, Liberate! highlights significant social issues and events; the creation of queer organisations and world-leading HIV education campaigns; the thirteen-year struggle for marriage equality and the historic and monumental win. 

Creative Producer, Jacqui North has curated an exhibition featuring life as seen through the lens of LGBTIQA+, First Nations and social documentary photographers; Aman Kapoor, C.Moore Hardy, Jamie James, Joseph Mayers, Mazz Image, Peter Elfes, Sally Colechin and Sarah Malone. Exhibition design by Leuver Design.

Come and share dance floor memories, chant with us at all our rallies, and support today’s drive for freedom of gender expression against attempts to discriminate and divide.

Wonderful memories. We were so lucky, I made many of the closest friends of my life.

– Rob Patmore, Mardi Gras President, 1995

‘Stop police attacks on gay, women and blacks’ was a very regular chant… It was mass defiance, it was exhilarating... but we were marching into danger.

– Dianne Minnis, lesbian 1978er, First Mardi Gras

We fought for human rights whilst being abused on the streets. As Australians we have many rights, although we need to stay vigilant. Featuring lesbian, First Nations, trans and gender-diverse communities, this exhibition reveals the vibrancy, diversity, subversiveness and fabulousness of queer life and community.

– C.Moore Hardy, queer photographer

WorldPride Arts, presented in association with Sydney WorldPride festival

Images

• Moogahlin Performing Arts: Koori Gras Black Nulla Cabaret 2019, Photo Jamie James

• We love our trans kids 2022, Photo Aman Kapoor

• Mardi Gras Party 1990, Photo Peter Elfes

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Mardi Gras 2018, Photo C. Moore Hardy