Welcome to Queers Past, the podcast spilling the tea on Canberra’s hidden queer history. Join Zev Aviv—activist, artist, and your friendly queer guide—as we explore iconic and overlooked LGBTQIA+ sites around the capital.
Each episode explores a mix of iconic and lesser-known LGBTQIA+ sites, revealing that queer people have always been integral to our city’s story, shaping history on both local and national levels. From clandestine meeting spots to pioneering activist groups, Queers Past brings you the incredible untold history of the ‘gAyCT’. It's the guide to queer history you never knew you needed.
Queers Past is proudly supported by funding from the ACT Government's Office of LGBTIQA+ Affairs as part of the Capital of Equality Grants Program.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
In the season finale of Queers Past, host Zev Aviv explores how queer spaces, media, and legal battles have shaped Canberra’s LGBTQIA+ history. We visit iconic beats like Haig Park and Yarramundi Reach, uncover stories of public toilet crackdowns, and learn how activist-driven campaigns pushed back against discrimination.
We also shine a light on John Newfong, a pioneering gay Aboriginal journalist and activist whose fearless advocacy helped change Australia’s political and cultural landscape. This episode is about resistance, resilience, and how communities came together to fight for safety, visibility, and justice.
Visit our website at sheshapeshistory.com.au/podcast (https://sheshapeshistory.com.au/podcast) for transcripts and references, and follow us on social media @queerspast for behind-the-scenes content and archive photos! Want to visit these sites in person, hear the stories that didn’t make the cut, and meet Zev? Book into our Pride in the Capital tour, running every Saturday afternoon (or by request for private tours) at sheshapeshistory.com.au/canberra-walking-tours/queertour (https://sheshapeshistory.com.au/canberra-walking-tours/queertour).
Queers Past is proudly supported by funding from the ACT Government's Office of LGBTQIA+ Affairs as part of the Capital of Equality Grants Program.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
16 Dec 2024
Episode 6: Finding Your Local
Host Zev Aviv takes listeners on a stroll through Canberra's iconic queer-friendly spaces, exploring how finding your local has always been about finding your people.
9 Dec 2024
Episode 5: From Star Signs to Social Change at PANDA and Quirk
Zev explores the vibrant world of PANDA and Quirk, two trailblazing queer publications that brought LGBTQIA+ Canberrans together through cheeky star sign columns, classified ads, and heartfelt community stories.
2 Dec 2024
Episode 4: Climbing the Stairway to Heaven
Zev takes listeners on a journey through Canberra's 1990s queer nightlife, exploring the iconic Heaven nightclub as a sanctuary of joy, resistance, and community.
25 Nov 2024
Episode 3: The Meridian Club, AIDS Action, and Growing a Queer Community
Zev explores the Meridian Club's peak in 1980s Braddon, the AIDS Action Council's founding, and the resilience of Canberra's queer community amidst the AIDS crisis.
18 Nov 2024
Episode 2: Hostels, Kamp Men, and a Whole Lot of Lesbians
In episode two of Queers Past, your host Zev takes you on a journey through Canberra’s inner city to explore what life was like for gay and bisexual men and women from the 1930s to the 1970s—with a dash of the 1980s for extra context. This episode focuses on two iconic locations: the Gorman Arts Centre (formerly Hostel No. 3) and the Mercure (once known as the Hotel Ainslie).
Originally built in the 1920s to house low-income public servants, these spaces became unexpected backdrops for moments of connection, community, and resilience in the early chapters of Canberra’s queer story. Along the way, Zev provides a brief overview of the national and global events that shaped LGBTQIA+ lives during this time.
Visit our website at sheshapeshistory.com.au/podcast (https://sheshapeshistory.com.au/podcast) for transcripts and references, and follow us on social media @queerspast for behind-the-scenes content and photos of everything we uncovered in the archives! Want to visit these sites in person, hear the many stories that didn't make the cut, and meet Zev? Book into our Pride in the Capital tour, running every Saturday afternoon (or by request for private tours) at sheshapeshistory.com.au/canberra-walking-tours/queertour (https://sheshapeshistory.com.au/canberra-walking-tours/queertour).
Queers Past is proudly supported by funding from the ACT Government's Office of LGBTQIA+ Affairs as part of the Capital of Equality Grants Program.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
17 Nov 2024
Episode 1: Welcome to the gAyCT
Welcome to Queers Past by She Shapes History, a podcast uncovering the stories of LGBTQIA+ Canberrans. In this first episode, your host Zev (they/them) warmly welcomes you to The gAyCT, the queer capital of Australia. Zev sets the scene for the season ahead, sharing what you can expect, exploring the idea of history as a concept, unpacking the power of language, and reflecting on their own journey to becoming your guide for this podcast. With personal and political insights woven throughout, this episode is your primer for an unforgettable exploration of Canberra’s LGBTQIA+ past.
Visit sheshapeshistory.com.au/podcast (https://sheshapeshistory.com.au/podcast) for transcripts and follow us on social media @queerspast for behind-the-scenes content and photos of everything we uncovered in the archives! Want to explore these stories in person? Meet Zev on our Pride in the Capital tour, running every Saturday afternoon (or by request for private tours). Book your spot at sheshapeshistory.com.au/canberra-walking-tours/queertour (https://sheshapeshistory.com.au/canberra-walking-tours/queertour).
Queers Past is proudly supported by funding from the ACT Government's Office of LGBTQIA+ Affairs as part of the Capital of Equality Grants Program.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
5 Nov 2024
Trailer: Queers Past
Welcome to Season 1 of Queers Past, the podcast that unearths the rich, untold LGBTQIA+ history of Canberra. Join Zev Aviv—activist, artist, and your friendly queer guide—as we dive into everything from the city’s 1930s lesbian hostels to the birthplace of Australia’s first LGBTQIA+ activist group. It's going to be an incredible season and we're so excited to have you along for the ride.
Visit our website at sheshapeshistory.com.au/podcast (https://www.sheshapeshistory.com.au/podcast/queers-past) for transcripts, and follow us on social media @queerspast for behind the scenes content and photos of everything we dug up in the archives! And as always, to visit these sites in person and meet Zev in real life, book into our Pride in the Capital tour, running every Saturday afternoon (or by demand for private tours!) at sheshapeshistory.com.au/canberra-walking-tours/queertour (https://sheshapeshistory.com.au/canberra-walking-tours/queertour/).
Queers Past is proudly supported by funding from the ACT Government's Office of LGBTQIA+ Affairs as part of the Capital of Equality Grants Program.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
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