Liberate!

Fabulously fierce! Experience LGBTQIA+ Sydney, from fighting for our lives, to defiantly queer Mardi Gras.

Drawing from the City of Sydney’s archives, Jacqui North curates this exhibition. Experience life as seen through the lens of C. Moore Hardy and other social documentary and queer photographers.

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

C. Moore Hardy writes, “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, the photographs in this exhibition reveal “the vibrancy, diversity, subversiveness and fabulousness of queer life and community” says C. Moore Hardy.

Come and share dance floor memories and 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

On 星期六 18 二月 meet the artists, activists, and creatives at a panel discussion. Share the history-making moments in the city and streets where it all took place.

Exhibition Creative Producer: Jacqui North
Exhibition Design: Leveur Design
Image: Lesbians as Lemons, Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, 1997, C.Moore Hardy, City of Sydney Archives, A-00065692

Opening Hours:
星期一 to 星期六 9am to 8pm
Sundays 9am to 5pm