| Melbourne is known for its arts and culture unlike most of Australia. The country's second-largest city and home to about 3.2 million people, it's the world’s most liveable metropolis according to a recent survey. |  |
 | Melbourne has the Midsumma Festival, a three week event where lesbians, gay men and their friends put it out there with community events, theatre, arts, cabaret and a great street fair. For one night of the year Commercial Road in Melbourne’s southside gay precinct, is closed to traffic and the lesbian and gay community descends en-masse. The venues along the strip provide entertainment on stages, rooftops, awnings, anything strong enough to withstand a drag queen and a posse of dancing boys. There’s bootscooting, tattoo competitions, art, street theatre and an awful lot of meeting and greeting going on. |
| There's almost no time for rest before it’s into the cossy and off to the hottest wildest and reddest party this side of the black stump Red Raw — Already known on the international circuit, this party has become famous for its innovative design and show concepts. In recent years, the organiser, the ALSO Foundation, has persuaded a series of designers and directors to lend their creative visions to the party, with brilliant results - the dance party as an art form! | |
| As well as hosting one of the premier parties of the year, Midsumma includes the Pride March, an event attracting over 38,000 people. With over 100 organisations involved, Pride March is a show of solidarity which culminates with an exciting evening’s entertainment on the St Kilda foreshore. Other major events for Midsumma include Ride: the carnivale grotesque at Luna Park and Carnival: the climax event of the Festival where you can experience a wide range of entertainment and exhibitions in the scenic Alexandra Gardens. And there’s even naked lube wrestling if that’s your thing. |  |
Gay MelbourneThe rivalry between Melbourne and Sydney over which really is the nation’s premier city is part of Australian lore. The gay and lesbian communities are not ones to shirk their role in the competition. Melbourne may not have the brash attention-grabbing Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras but it certainly has a large and active gay and lesbian community. Melbourne’s lesbian and gay population is spread quite evenly across the city so there is not a clearly defined “ghetto”.There are a few areas that are particular favourites and where several venues are clustered together with more than a whiff of queer in the air. Commercial Road, Prahran is probably the best-known area with Three Faces, the Exchange Hotel, the Blue Elephant Cafe and Diva Bar. Commercial Road is particularly handy for those keen to unleash their plastic on Melbourne’s famous shopping. It’s just round the corner from Chapel Street, an area which is a must for any fashion conscious gay man. Collingwood is the another gay and lesbian-dominated area, with the famous Peel Hotel, the Laird (this is Melbourne’s leather bar, which holds an annual charity auction — putting everything you could imagine under the hammer!), many other venues and friendly shops. The bayside suburb of St Kilda has long been a popular area for lesbian and gay men to live in and the growth of venues there reflects this. Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, is a perfect place to hang out, day or night. You can lounge in cafes sipping exotic coffees and liqueurs as a stream of wondrous nocturnal people passes by. There are also numerous dance parties, many of them all-night events. In addition to the vibrant gay scene, the city is also known for it’s excellent shopping, theatre and, of course, great places to eat. A place for all the senses, and for all the people who love to indulge them.
Text:Sydney 2002 Photos:Gamarada/Australian Tourist Commission/Midsumma | |