Our Stories
We've been gathering stories from individuals within the same-sex attracted community, aiming to document and preserve the uniqueness of our history and culture. Here, these stories are at your fingertips.
Finding Identity
A personal story about the struggles of adolescence and finding a place where you fit.
‘For those experiencing the emptiness of not knowing, of not seeing themselves or finding others to connect with, loneliness can be a strong motivator to latch onto an identity, even if it means silencing parts of yourself.’
The reality of being a lesbian
‘When I came out as a lesbian in the late 1980s and early 1990s I was welcomed into a thriving community of women. That community has helped and supported me through a range of life experiences, especially those experiences of exclusion that were prevalent at that time.’
Individual submissions in support of the Lesbian Action Group’s AHRC exemption application
Of the submissions submitted to the AHRC by organisations and individuals, a clear majority (397 submissions out of 498) supported the Lesbian Action Group’s request for a lesbian-only event. Although group submissions are available for reading on the AHRC website, individual submissions, which are not publicly available, provide insight into why single-sex lesbian and gay events matter to our community. Read some of them here.
I still can’t convince my mum I’m just a lesbian, not a transman
A personal story of a girl who knew she was a girl, despite what she did, wore or liked. A viewpoint not shared by some of the adults in her life.
'Despite this acceptance, my mother showed that she still doesn’t understand, asking me the same question again: “do you want to be a man?”'
'Lesbian' means . . .
Musings on the word "lesbian" from a lesbian in her 80s and how lesbian lives hid in plain sight.
Out of the shadows... and back again?
‘It is sometime in the late 1980s. We're strolling along Norton Street, Leichhardt (Sydney). 'Spotto!' mutters one of the younger dykes in our group. The rest of us smile in agreement. Yes, we have recognised a familiar, but we are not about to embarrass her with our acknowledgement.’
How We Learned Sex-Role Behaviours in the 1940s
‘Around us lived other girls and boys and we played together on the street, which was safe enough because there was no traffic; fuel was needed for the war effort and cars were up on blocks, their tyres removed. We preschool boys and girls played the same games using the same few toys. Still, there were differences.’
Living with Gender Dysphoria
‘It is possible to live a good and successful life as a butch woman. It takes hard work and perseverance but it is possible. And the gender dysphoria gets better, trust me, it really does.’