Celebrating the day it was okay to be gay

The National Trust of Australia (Victoria) is celebrating 40 years since the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Victoria, with the powerful Bending the Bars exhibit, showing at Old Melbourne Gaol running alongside the annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. Curated by Andrew Gaynor, Bending the Bars tells a story of fighting for equality through text, images and original artwork.  The exhibit stands in contrast against the walls of the City Watch House, where those whose stories are featured were once imprisoned.  Bending the bars is on display until 17 May 2021, and celebrates those who paved the way for today’s LGBTQIA+ community, while reflecting on the darker times of a rich and vibrant history. Get a taste and book your visit at the Old Melbourne Gaol website.