Living Out Loud A History of Gay and Lesbian Activism in Australia

9781864489491

1864489499

From law reform to Lesbian Sex Wars, from Young Gays to Grey Gays, via demos, drag and dancing... For 40 years, Australian lesbians, gay men and their friends have struggled to change the way homosexuals are treated and thought about. And they have been remarkably successful.Laws dating back to King Henry VIII have been repealed in all states and territories. But even before that was achieved, demands for full legal equality had moved on to the public agenda; the points of view of homosexual men and women became part of mainstream media.In transforming society, lesbians and gay men have also transformed themselves. The old attitudes of fear and self-loathing are gone. Gay Pride is now a powerful force in the lives of millions. The communities that have been forged along the way are a significant part of Australia's rich multicultural mix - and major players in the economy.Living Out Loudis the first full-length account of this remarkable movement and the first to attempt a national perspective. Lively, thoughtful and often surprising, this is a story of events and people who changed society.