It's here, it's Queer: Sydney's landmark new LGBTQIA+ history museum is now open
Qtopia Sydney has transformed a former police station in Darlinghurst for the world’s largest centre for Queer history and culture.
It’s been a long and winding rainbow road to get here, but the doors are now open to Sydney’s brand new museum. Qtopia Sydney delves into the rich, complex, at times tragic, and always defiantly fabulous history of LGBTQIA+ communities of the Emerald City, the nation, and beyond. Aligning with the 2024 Sydney Mardi Gras Festival, the museum is open to visitors as of Saturday, February 24, following an opening ceremony and special preview for invited guests on Friday, February 23 – and Time Out was there to get a first look. Three levels of government were represented at the launch, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, NSW Premier Chris Minns, and Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore all showing their support. The museum opens with no less than 17 thought-provoking and immersive exhibitions guided by five major themes: Human Rights, Sexuality & Identity, Media Representation, First Nations stories and the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Each of these themes will be expanded over time, with new exhibitions opening in coming months.
CEO Greg Fisher made a statement that really drives home the significance and potential of this project: “One of our wonderful patrons, Michael Kirby, when responding to what he thought was Qtopia Sydney’s main purpose, said ‘education, education, education.’ For it is education that can drive tolerance over intolerance [and] respect over hate. At a recent City of Sydney safety summit, University of Newcastle senior lecturer of criminology, Dr. Justin Ellis, spoke of the importance of ‘pre-bunking’ as a strategy to mitigate the spread of mis- and disinformation.
Mr Fisher continued: “Dr. Ellis noted that one of the Honourable Justice Sackar’s recommendations to the New South Wales government’s Special Commission of Inquiry into LGBTIQ hate crimes was that there should be a comprehensive Queer heritage project. He said that Qtopia Sydney, hosting exhibitions exploring Sydney’s and the Queer history of Australia is such a response.”
Dr Justin Ellis is affiliated with the University of Newcastle.
This article was originally published in Time Out Sydney. This article was written by Alannah Le Cross, read the full article here.
Contact
- Justin Ellis
- Email: justin.ellis@newcastle.edu.au
Related news
- Launch of the School Students’ Statement on the Right to a Healthy Environment
- Funding boost to technology for lower emission steel
- Newcastle team on mission to improve childhood cancer outcomes
- Shanae’s passion for caring delivers her dream to work in health
- Food and nutrition degree serves Keren a rewarding career
Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.