Inscriptions & markings
Cover title. Subtitle: National newsletter of the Bisexual Movement in Australia. Produced by the Australian Bisexual Network, incorporating Biways newsletter form Western Australian Bisexual Network.
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the place now called Victoria, and all First Peoples living and working on this land. We celebrate the history and contemporary creativity of the world’s oldest living culture and pay respect to Elders — past, present and future.
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this website may contain culturally sensitive material — images, voices and information provided by now deceased persons. Content also may include images and film of places that may cause sorrow.
Some material may contain terms that reflect authors’ views, or those of the period in which the item was written or recorded but may not be considered appropriate today. These views are not necessarily the views of Victorian Collections.
Users of this site should be aware that in many areas of Australia, reproduction of the names and photographs of deceased people is restricted during a period of mourning. The length of this time varies and is determined by the community.
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Cover title. Subtitle: National newsletter of the Bisexual Movement in Australia. Produced by the Australian Bisexual Network, incorporating Biways newsletter form Western Australian Bisexual Network.
Poster features a purple and white photograph of a group of women marching at a rally, against a white background, with a purple line border, and text in purple at the base.
Additional text: "Meet: March 8th at Assembly Hall, 156 Collins Street, 7.30pm. Meet: March 10th: City Square, 10am. Women of the world unite!"
women's liberation
The use of the colours purple, green and white reference the colours used during the first wave feminist movement initially in the UK by the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU), and subsequently emblematic of the Australian women’s movement.
Graphic illustration of a naked female seated figure in purple, white and red, against a background with 'rays' of purple, green and white. Main text in red, with additional text at base in purple.
Additional text: "A woman's place is… …in the struggle : 24th consecutive rally and march : 6:30pm steps of Parliament House : Dance afterwards 8:30pm Brunswick Town Hall (cnr. Sydney Rd. + Dawson St.)."
women's liberation
leather, bdsm, fetish
leather, bdsm, fetish
In October 1982 the Australian Transsexual Association (ATA), supported by the Gay Solidarity Group (GSG), staged the first transgender protest in Australia. The protest was held to challenge a recent judgement against two transgender women, who a Magistrate ruled were men. In response NSW Attorney-General said that ‘Attorneys-General of the six states had committed to new legislation to recognise the validity of sex changes’.
transsexual, transgender
This t-shirt was produced for Bisexual Visibility Day 2017, also known as Celebrate Bisexuality Day, which is celebrated on the 23 September.
White short-sleeved t-shirt.
A rectangle on the chest with a vertical bisexual pride flag is overlaid with text in white.
bisexual
BAM (Bisexual Awareness in Melbourne) was a group of bisexual individuals and allies that provided information and support for bisexuals, their partners, and friends. BAM provided newsletters, and ran social, discussion, and political groups.
bisexuality, bisexuals
The attached paper was presented to the Radicalesbian Conference held in Sorrento over the weekend of 6-8 July 1973. Barb Creed presented this paper written by Barb, June, and Jenny. As Chris Sitka notes in her history of the Radicalesbians, the paper was easily the most controversial of the Conference, generating a significant amount of hostility. The implication that many drew from the paper was that 'bisexuality was the really non-sexist form of relating because only bisexuality was breaking down gender divisions.' Participants subsequently highlighted their resentment towards the paper as stemming from the 'fact that we were reclaiming our lesbianism... Meanwhile bisexuals were only trying to reap the privileges of heterosexuality while enjoying benefits of lesbianism.'
radicalesbians, bisexuality
The Strategy Against Right-Wing Attacks (S.A.R.A) kit was produced by wimmin from around Australia following the 1980 National Wimmin's Conference, Darwin, NT. It includes a fantastic set of papers from a forum on the state of feminism in Australia discussing right-wing attacks on women's organisations, and highlights success stories for attacking back. The kit was meant to be added to through a national network of SARA contacts in each state.
women's liberation movement, lesbian feminism, darwin
Associated text: "Cyclone Productions presents : His own special friend : a two man show by Darwin author Dino Hodge, based on the first chapter of his book : Did you meet any malagas? A homosexual history of Australia's tropical capital. 3 nights only Dec 9, 10, 11, Brown's Mart. In conjunction with the show will be an exhibition of Male nudes and Territory landscapes, by Ian Hanse. Exhibition opens 7:30pm. Performance at 8:30pm. Drinks and copies of the book available.
darwin, gay, aboriginal and torres strait islander
This banner was produced by the Gay Solidarity Group (GSG) for use in the first Mardi Gras, one of the events held as part of the Day of International Gay Solidarity, held on 24 June 1978. The banner was displayed on the side of the truck that was used in the Mardi Gras. It was subsequently used in numerous protests and demonstrations by GSG into the late 1980s.
White text on green canvas backing, ends folded and stitched with red cotton, reinforced by black tape.
Produced for Enola Gay's participation in Hiroshima Day, Sat 6 August 1983, assembling at Belmore Park at 10 am under the Enola Gay banners. 0:00: Introduction and song; 3:50: Japanese instrumental music; 9:08: Commentary resumes - history of the bombing of Hiroshima, 6 Aug 1945, and Nagasaki 3 days later; 15:30: Music Tomorrow never comes until it's too late; 19:45: Commentary including accounts from survivors; 26:58: Music, Take the toys from the boys; 29:25: Commentary regarding arms race, including voice of Fabian LoSchiavo regarding dissident religious views in the USA; 33:05: Music, California dreaming; 36:10: Commentary re the practicalities of bomb shelters; 38:00: Music, Cancer, cancer; 41:40: Commentary re peace marches in Europe, health effects of radiation, civil defense in nuclear war, music; 47:35: Music, Universal soldier (cut off towards end), anti-war parody of Yankee Doodle Uncle Sam with Australian refs (Omega, Pine Gap etc); 59:10: Commentary regarding nuclear bomb testing at Marilinga (SA) and Monte Bello islands; 1:01:15: Music, 'But I aint a marchin' any more'; 1:04:05: Commentary re costs of arms race - refs to gay and feminist anti-war groups overseas; 1:05:58: Music, Down by the riverside/Aint gonna study war no more, promo for Enola Gay and prep for Hiroshima Day, instrumental music, music US forces (Midnight Oil), Soft touch (Poison Girls); 1:26:56: Music, Thank Christ for the bomb, eerie instrumental music, Maralinga (Midnight Oil), Not another bomb song, ending at 1:39:00.
Maxwell UD XL I - C90 cassette tape
Inscribed in biro on label: "ENOLA GAY Disarmament Special - Gaywaves 2SER 4/8/83."
anti-nuclear activism, gay and lesbian activism, hiroshima day
Blue denim overlay (sleeveless jacket), with main back patch for the Griffin Motor Club, Canberra. Additional patches on the back include an Australian flag, and on the front include South Pacific Motor Club (SPMC), SPMC 20th Anniversary, Griffin MC 20th Anniversary, Griffin MC Associate Membership, Jackaroo MC Associate Membership, Southern Cross MC Associate Membership, Jackaroos Tasmania Run 1981, BMW, Australian National University (ANU) and unidentified.
Offset lithographic print. Poster is annotated version of campaign poster for the 'Inter-Campus Campaign Against Violence'.
Event annotations at the base of the poster read: "Thursday 12th Sept / Melbourne University / Concrete Lawns (in front of Union Building) / Speakers - 12.30pm." Back of poster includes a letter from to Cheryl [Berkovitch] compere on 3CR Radio's Gay and Lesbian Program, regarding speakers for the day coming from Centre Against Sexual Assault (CASA), Men Against Sexual Assault (MASA) and Gays and Lesbians Against Discrimination (GLAD), and asking for promotion of the event. The letter is signed Melbourne University Feminist Collective, Melbourne University Lesbian Collection and Gaysoc.
aboriginal and torres strait islander
Black and white reproductions of vintage photographs on purple paper, text in black.
Additional text: "Presented by the Sexuality Department of the Students' Association of the University of Adelaide and Adelaide University in association with the Australian Lesbian and Gay Archives and Feast 2001 - Adelaide's Lesbian and Gay Cultural Festival."
queer
Additional text: "The participants: 1. Professor Ian Webster is Professor of Community Medicine at the University of NSW; 2. Dr Bob Webb is former Director of Health Education with the NSW Health Commission; 3. Roberta Perkins is a Sociologist majoring in transsexuality; 4. Bill Crews is Director of the Crisis Centre of the Wayside Chapel; 5. Dr. Ron Barr is a Psychiatrist with Prince Henry Hospital; 6. Bruce Miles is a Sydney solicitor who is well known for defending needy people."
transexual, transgender
transsexual, transgender
non-binary
Acquired at an Equal Love (Melbourne) rally in 2015.
Finger painted rainbow on white card, with text inscribed in black marker.
Verso: "painted by Will (age 3)", signed with an "X"
marriage equality
Image of a megaphone and two placards reading 'Equal love' and 'Love knows no gender'.
Additional text: "1 pm Sat 24 November State Library cnr Latrobe & Swanston. Endorsed by Victorian Trades Hall Council, National Union of Students."
Digital file; JPEG; 4.00 MB
White text on a rainbow flag background.
Additional text: "Authorised by Luke Halikari, Secretary Victorian Trades Hall Council, 54 Victoria St, Carlton South, 3053. Printed by Kosdown Printing, 10 Rocklea Dr, Port Melbourne, 3207."
Additional text: "DJs Milly, Scott, Dirty Den, Curlee."
The Line Up was produced by David Mitchell and David Penfold.
drag
drag queen
Victorian Collections acknowledges the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first inhabitants of the nation and the traditional custodians of the lands where we live, learn and work.