Co-Convenor's Report

Secretary's Report

Campaigns Report

Events and Fundraising Report

Treasurer's Report

Auditor's Report

Summary of Achievements

Anti-Violence Project

Gay and Lesbian History Project

Thank you

ANNUAL REPORT 2000-2001

Gay and Lesbian History Project Report

The launch of the GLRL's Centenary of Federation community history project took place on Monday 26 February 2001 at the Strangers' Bar in State Parliament House. The exhibition, entitled "Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know: lesbian and gay Sydney 1901-2001", used text and images printed on a series of panels forming two triangles; a TV played a continuous video showing a collage gay and lesbian themed scenes from film and TV from 1938-1982 and a computer allowed listeners to choose from a series of oral histories. It began with the story of the secretly homosexual NSW Governor Lord Beauchamp and explored the origins of Sydney's camp underworld in the balls and parties of mid century Sydney, following the development of the club and bar scene to the era of disco and Mardi Gras. Edward Young's struggle to gain recognition for his relationship with a WW2 veteran was highlighted, along with the beginnings of activism from the formation of CAMP Inc. in 1970-71, the emergence of lesbian identity and eventually the recognition of gay and lesbian relationships in 1999.

The exhibition was launched by theatre director Richard Wherrett, who recalled his early days as a waiter at the Purple Onion, a legendary early 60s drag club. Legislative Council President Meredith Burgmann, local MP Tanya Plibersek and former GLRL Co Convenor Alan Kirkland also spoke, thanking the range of volunteers, contributors and organizations who helped make the exhibition happen. A highlight of the launch was a performance by drag star Karen Chant, who performed Frances Faye's 'The Man I Love' at a grand piano, reprising a show she performed at the Jewel Box in King Cross forty years earlier. Karen proved she had lost none of her outstanding abilities as an entertainer in what was possibly the first public transgender performance within the precincts of the New South Wales Parliament.

The exhibition ran for two weeks while Parliament was sitting. Fed Nile was compelled to walk past it every time he went form his office to the Legislative Council chamber. The exhibition received wide coverage in the gay and lesbian print media, on OUT FM and local mainstream radio, as well as being featured in stories on ABC TV's Lateline, Stateline and the BBC TV World Service. South Sydney Council has expressed an interest in touring the exhibition in 2002, possibly in some local libraries. Although created as a Centenary of Federation project, the exhibition is not specifically tied to the centenary year and can go on as long as curiosity exists about what the queer side of life was like in 20th century Sydney.

Michael Flynn,
Curator, Mad, Bad & Dangerous to Know
Convenor, Gay and Lesbian History Project