LGBTQIA+ collections

Discover ephemera, photographs, posters, costumes and other items that celebrate the diversity of LGBTQIA+ communities in Queensland. Watch, listen and read the stories of people coming out, struggling with prejudice and learning to embrace life.

Browse a curated list of LGBTQIA+ related collections at State Library on our One Search catalogue.

Demonstrators wearing wedding gowns at Marriage Equality Rally Brisbane

Love is love: Brisbane Marriage Equality Rally photographs and video

Thousands turn out in Brisbane in support of marriage equality. Same-sex marriage was legalised on 9 December 2017.

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Gay pride badges and flags from the Shayne Wilde collection

Shayne Wilde collection, 1980-2010

Shayne was an active member of the Queensland Assoc.for Gay Law Reform (QAGLR) and the Pride Collective in the 1990s.

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Robert Cosgrove Collection 1976-2006

This collection includes photographs, hat pins, ticket stubs, necklace, theatre programs, T-shirts and a Mardi Gras outfit. It presents a picture of LGBTQIA+ history through the lens of ephemera and the costumes that belonged to Robert Cosgrove. [Acc 27579]

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National Day of Action for Marriage Equality Rally

National Day of Action for Marriage Equality rallies were held in every capital city to mark the 7th anniversary of the ban on same-sex marriage. In Brisbane the rally on 13 August 2011 commenced at Queens Park, opposite the Treasury Casino. Speeches included Labor MP Grace Grace for the state seat of Brisbane Central and Queensland Greens Senator Larissa Waters.

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Demonstrators at the 2011 National Day of Action for Marriage Equality Rally in Brisbane

Discover LGBTQIA+ memorabilia

Help others find our LGBTQIA+ collections! You can request ephemera, posters and other collections. Let us know what’s in the collection that relates to LGBTQIA+ communities and we will update our catalogue records to improve discoverability.

Equal Love Brisbane collection

A nationwide organisation formed in 2004 in response to the Howard Government’s amendment of the Marriage Act prohibiting marriage between people of the same sex. Equal Love Brisbane donated the collection in 2014. The blog story (link below) provides more images and details on this collection.

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LGBT objects featured in the collection 29397 Equal Love Brisbane Memorabilia 2012 – 2014 [Accession number 29397].

Ephemera collection

Ephemera is often the item we throw away, however over time it can become historically significant. State Library collects ephemera, including items relating to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer and Asexual + communities. A separate collection exists for the Brisbane Pride Festival.

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Photo of various ephemera items including brochures, pamphlets and programs.

Collection of posters on gay and lesbian themes - Set 1

As the title indicates, this collection contains colourful posters from various events, including rallies, Pride Week celebrations, dance parties and more. This collection can be requested and viewed onsite at the John Oxley Library.

Additional LGBTQIA+ themed posters can be found in other collections, such as the AIDS Archive collection.

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Oral histories

LGBT Lives: Oral Histories, 2011

A series of interviews conducted in 2010 recording the history of LGBTQIA+ culture in Brisbane.

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Greg Weir oral history 2010 -2011

Greg Weir discusses his involvement in civil liberties movements and campaigns for gay law reform.

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LGBT Thought and Culture: a database

Online resource hosting books, periodicals, archives documenting the political, social and cultural movements and evolution of gay rights in the twentieth century to the present day. It features rare works from notable publishers Alyson Books and Cleis Press, as well as trade and university publishers.

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Brisbane Marriage Equality Rally protesters in Queens Gardens, Brisbane, Queensland, 10 September 2017

Rainbow Research Fellowship

The Rainbow Research Fellowship supports research, exploration, and creation of new knowledge about Queensland’s LGBTQIA+ histories and communities using the John Oxley Library and State Library collections and resources.

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Things to read

Groom and groom cake toppers from the Equal Love collection

New Accession: Equal Love Brisbane Collection

A donation from the pressure group, Equal Love Brisbane relating to the Marriage Equality campaign.

2005 poster for the Brisbane Queer Film Festival

Queensland LGBTQIA+ collection highlights

LGBTQIA+ photographs, oral histories, posters, t-shirts, flyers, & magazines. Read more.