HOMOPHOBIA: AN AUSTRALIAN HISTORY

QNews readers are invited to attend the launch of the first book considering the history of homophobia in Australia. The book, Homophobia: An Australian History, is edited by Bond University lecturer Dr Shirleene Robinson and has contributions from a number of Queensland historians.

The book explores a number of topics, including what life was like for lesbian women in the late 1800s, how homophobia developed in Queensland in the nineteenth century and how the anti-sodomy laws in Tasmania were finally removed in 1997.

The book also points out that the gay press – including newspapers like QNews – have played a vital role in fighting against homophobia in Australia’s past. Shirleene Robinson says that “even today, the gay press provides much information to the queer community that the mainstream media will not report.”

Shirleene Robinson told QNews that the book examines the embedded homophobic attitudes that members of Australia’s queer community have fought to change. She says “When you consider the level of prejudice that has existed in Australia’s past, you really do realise just how incredible the achievements of gay and lesbian activists have been.”

Further information about the book is available on the publisher’s website at www.federationpress.com.au

Homophobia: An Australian History will be launched by Shelley Argent from PFLAG at Avid Reader bookshop at 193 Boundary Street, West End at 6pm on Friday 12 December. RSVPs are essential and should be directed to books@avidreader.com.au or Telephone: 07 3845 3422.