This project is about developing a collective sense of Pride – and building our pride in our individual LGBTIQ identities.

The project began with conversations about the Expungement Scheme in Victoria. The Scheme offers men the opportunity to have historical convictions for consensual homosexual sex overturned. We heard that men who had been through Expungement reported it was cathartic – but few men have participated.

In conversations about why this was the case were we told this: the historic oppression of gay and bisexual men by law and society sought to create a sense of shame around homosexuality. In 1981 this oppression shifted in Victoria when legislative reforms saw consensual homosexual sex decriminalized; and then again in 2015 when the State Government implemented a scheme to expunge historical convictions for homosexual sex. While legislative reform is essential there is also a need to heal the stigma, hurt, shame and losses these laws created.

A process of healing began in 2016, when Premier Daniel Andrews made an apology in State Parliament for past injustices (read the apology here) or view the apology video below. While these reforms are significant – there is still a sense of shame around homosexuality. Many have suggested that the stigma and shame is a barrier to men accessing the Expungement Scheme.

First workshops – for gay & bi men

The first Pride workshops were held in 2017 and invited gay and bisexual men to participate to share their stories and build a sense of Pride in who they are – because Pride is the opposite of shame. The workshops were structured to:

1. Contribute to healing the wounds of past injustices
2. Reduce the stigma and shame associated with homosexuality
3. Affirm homosexuality as an equal way of being
4. Celebrate gay and bisexual men’s resilience and survival
5. Raise awareness of the Expungement Scheme.

We were pleased the workshops were popular with younger, middle and mature age gay and bisexual men. We invited them to write their messages of support to older men who were unjustly convicted (see below). We were surprised to learn that Pride is as important to the twenty years old participants – as it was the 80 year olds. We still need Pride.

The workshops were powerful and the photos were exhibited for Midsumma in 2018 (see below). In feedback on the workshops and exhibition, we heard the project needed to be expanded to include all LGBTIQ community members. We were made aware that Trans and Gender Diverse people and lesbians received criminal convictions (see Hold Hands on a Tram).

Tasty survivors

In discussing messages of support to older men – many workshop participants made reference to the Tasty night club raid and the importance of sending messages to the Survivors of the raid. A workshop was offered for Survivors of the raid and their allies – we hope this workshop will send messages of support to Survivors. Police have apologised for the raid.

Working with the City of Melbourne

In early 2018 we hosted four Pride Workshops, supported by a City of Melbourne Community Grant. A final workshop held on Sunday 17th June 1.30-4pm is a tribute to Tasty Survivors – we hope this workshop will produce messages of support for all the Survivors of the raid. The information sheet (here). Bookings essential

Masks and Stories

These portraits of LGBTIQ people their Pride masks were taken by Lisa White, The Social Photographer. You can also click on the link here to read the stories workshop participants shared.

My mask is about breaking down the barriers and showing your brave self. The copper represents strength and courage. It resembles being exposed and soft to show the real person that you are.

Michael Dalton:My mirror mask: being able to look at yourself in the mirror and like what you see, warts and all as they say. It’s an ongoing process.

Antony McManus:The journey to YES! Rally after rally, year after year, we persevered knowing that marriage equality would be realised. I thought it would happen sooner, but it was such an amazing journey. And now I am married to the man I love

Ron Van Houwelingen

Antony McManus and Ron Van Houwelingen

Matthew Wade: Growing up in country Victoria, I often felt I couldn’t express my true self. I couldn’t express my love of singing Mariah Carey ballads at the top of my lungs. I couldn’t express my affinity for late night re-runs of the trashy gay soap Dante’s Cove. And, most importantly, I couldn’t express my same-sex attraction (despite harbouring an intense crush on Will Smith circa Fresh Prince of Bel Air). This mask represents the person I wanted to see free in my country town.

Peter Hudson:My mask is black and white – signifying the ambivalence I feel towards my gay self. The tri coloured tears on the white surface are the blood, sweat and tears of struggling with life and relationships of a gay man. The tears are necessary and worthwhile and are blended in together. The ambivalence I mentioned is both my own feelings and the feelings of people close to me who struggle with acceptance and understanding of other world views

Paul Marshall

Jonathon

Jack Dow: I was born with a disability, so I questioned my validity at a very early age. I had parents that instilled a strong sense of self, that I could do whatever I wanted to do and be whoever I wanted to be. A few years later when I realised I was gay, I took it in my stride as I’d questioned myself once before and didn’t need to do it again. I used a strong blue against the white as I associate it with the disabled parking signs. I’ve also added my finger prints as we are all unique

My mask tells a story of a much younger me learning early to hide full expression behind an impervious barrier in a childhood landscape that was blue and green and straw yellow. It’s a landscape that hasn’t left me though the barrier has been mostly eroded.

James Conlan: My mask, entitled Breaking Out, symbolises the gay struggle. The inner yellow is the egg yolk, the shells represent the barriers we face, which is slowly splitting and breaking apart. The outward eyes show that, despite out challenges, we are looking outwards and forwards.

Mohsin Ali: My mask shows my pride in my ethnicity, my sexuality, what I stand for and what I believe.

Max Primmer: The mask I made today encompasses me as a gay man, having come out at the age of 15 I have seen a lot of changes – some good and some not. But we are family. We are loved. Hugs to the World.

David Morrison:My mask has a group of soldiers ready to obey orders but as individuals they have minds of their own. Some will be gay and have infatuations of love and desire for each other. They would love to embrace in the bushes but they know being gay is forbidden and such feelings are supressed. The letters FRS+P represent my fears of my sexual feelings (F). (R) represents the risks I have taken in the process. (S) represents the guilt and shame I’ve experienced due to my religious teachings and the attitudes towards homosexuality. (P) represents the pride I now feel having broken down these barriers. I’ve shown a smiling mouth.

Rod White

James Heggie

Fernando Estrada: Through my mask I wanted to provide a glimpse of who I am. A man proud and about of being a gay man.

Messages to men who were unjustly convicted

Workshop participants and those attending the Exhibition were invited to send a message of support to men who were unjustly convicted. The responses are heart warming and we display them here in the hope that they will help to send a message of support.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Workshop process

The Pride workshops are a lot of fun – and a powerful process. Participants tell us that working on their mask and reflecting on Pride is quite uplifting and is an important process. Check out some of our workshop photos by Lisa White below.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

David Morrison: I like being gay

In one of our workshops, 86 year old David Morrison shared his historical experiences of homophobia and pride and concludes: I am happy now – I like being gay. In this short film David describes the mask he made.

Midsumma Exhibition

We were proud to partner with Midsumma Festival and the Abbotsford Convent Gallery in January 2017, to present an exhibition of photographs of men and their masks by Lisa White, The Social Photographer. View details of the exhibition here.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

As part of the launch exhibition we invited men who participated in the Pride Workshops to reflect on the project, the exhibition, their masks and Pride. Their responses are very touching and can be viewed in the YouTube video below.

The apology 2015

In May 2015 Premier Daniel Andrews issued a formal apology in State Parliament to gay men for past injustices – making Victoria the first state to apologise. You can view the apology below – courtesy of ABC News.

Below are a series of photos taken from the apology in State Parliament, which was open to the general public, and an extract from the apology.

The Expungement Scheme

In September 2015 a new scheme was implemented in Victoria to expunge historical convictions for homosexual activity that would not be a criminal offence today. Under the scheme, an individual (or the appropriate representative of a deceased person) can make a confidential application to the Secretary of the Department of Justice and Regulation to have their conviction or finding of guilt for an historical homosexual offence expunged. This application can be made free of charge. For more information about the Scheme go to the Department of Justice and Regulations webpage.

Human Rights Law Centre – here to help

The Human Rights Law Centre is a wonderful organisation that has set up an Expungement Legal Service to help people who work through the process of Expungement. If you have or know someone who has a historic finding of guilt or conviction for homosexual activity, the Expungement Legal Service can help: advise you on the expungement scheme (including if you are eligible to apply); assist you to prepare your application and relevant paperwork; and support you through the expungement process.

The Expungement Legal Service provides free and confidential legal help to anyone affected by these laws in any state or territory in Australia. The team is staffed by LGBTIQ identifying lawyers and includes volunteer lawyer Jamie Gardiner who has personal experience of the climate and police attitudes before the old laws were repealed. For more information go to the HRLC webpage on Expungement by clicking here.

More information

If you would like more information about this project please contact the project coordinator Dr Catherine Barrett by hone: 0429 582 237 or email at: director@celebrateageing.com

A Barrett-White collaboration

This project was bought to you by Catherine Barrett and Lisa White. Catherine and Lisa are passionate about engaging communities in real change for social justice – and are grateful to the following organisations and individuals:

1. Ro Allen, Gender and Sexuality Commissioner: project patron
2. Jamie Gardiner: for his advice and encouragement
3. Human Rights Law Centre: for supporting the project
4. Switchboard Victoria: for supporting the project
5. Vintage Men Inc: for supporting the project
6. Victorian AIDS Council: for supporting the project
7. Australian Lesbian and Gay Archives: for their display and the project Exhibition
8. Midsumma Festival: for partnering in a 2018 project Exhibition
9. Abbotsford Convent: for providing a venue for the 2018 project Exhibition
10. City of Melbourne: for providing a community grant for four workshops in 2018

In the Media

We are grateful to those working in the Media who have shared information about the project – your stories help us to challenge the shame around homosexuality and bisexuality.

1. Saturday Magazine (6th Jan 2018) with Jamie Gardiner: link