|
|
|
Beyond Boys at the Beach and Dykes on Bikes: Living at the Edges of Queer Identity.
Sharon Chalmers, School of Cultural Studies & Futures, University of Western Sydney, Nepean
| [ Go to this paper in the timetable ] |
Sydney has become internationally recognised as one of the gay and lesbian capitals of the (western) world. This label is primarily due to the overwhelming success of the Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras which is held annually in February. For the rest of the year there are now numerous events and venues which sustain lesbian and gay activities and visibility within the inner-city spaces of Sydney. However, for all intent and purposes the lives of lesbians and gays who live and work in the outer Western Sydney region (which constitutes half the Sydney area) are pretty well ignored.
One of the obvious reasons for this is geographic location. However, I will argue, that the latter is further complicated by lower socio-economic status, greater ethinic diversity and in general less access to education and health resources. This paper intends to explore some of these issues and to challenge the often over-riding celebratory Mardi Gras mind-set which tends to result in indifference to the very real barriers that face lesbians and gays living at the edges of both hetero- and homo-normative social practices. As a way into examining some of these issues I will discuss the process of planning an exhibition that is planned to take place in Liverpool (outer-Western Sydney) during the month of Mardi Gras (2001). Entitled Edges: Lesbian and Gay lives in Western Sydney, I will examine the needs, differences and indifference that arises through the planning and discussions of this exhibition in order to go beyond discussions of boys at the beach and dykes on bikes.
