Queerstralia

From Cook to convicts to the ANZACS - most of us who’ve sat through primary school think we kinda know Australian history. But there’s another, hidden history - one of gay diggers, lesbian convict gangs, trans entrepreneurs, cross-dressing bushrangers, legendary drag acts and the modern-day heroes who have fought for change and acceptance.

Heck, Colonial Australia was essentially founded on homophobia. In 1787, Captain Arthur Phillip wrote that in the new colony “there are two crimes that would merit the sentence of death; murder and sodomy.” Criminalised and pathologised, living with the constant threat of persecution and worse, Queers have long known it makes sense to stay out of the spotlight. And consequently, LGBTQIA+ histories have stayed hidden. This means that for Queer people, attempting to find our predecessors is a tricky process. Our stories exist in the margins, and we have to read between the lines of the official texts to find evidence of our existence.

Across three episodes, you’ll understand how colonisation affected First Nations sexualities, importing and enforcing heteronormativity, robbing generations of the chance to understand their past. You’ll find out how the Queer community has found strength in diversity. You’ll encounter stories of protest and persecution, of love and despair, of adaptability and resilience. You’ll see how far this country has come and how far it has to go.

As a series and a process, Queerstralia is Queer in its DNA: a queer story, told in a queer way, by a majority queer team, filmed in queer spaces. (See if you can spot them). Throughout the series, Queer Australians of all stripes will join Zoë Coombs Marr to explore significant moments of their lives and our shared history. Nayuka Gorrie will also be on hand to help guide us through the First Nations perspective.