Gay bar tasmania

By Megan Macdonald. ABC Radio Hobart. Topic: LGBT. Since the closure of Hobart's only permanent gay nightclub venue inpop-up parties like LIMBO have increased in popularity. Supplied: Ash Carey.

Tasmania Gay Scene

They know the real impact of the closure of Flamingos nightclub in Hobart all too well. They said the hurt caused by the closure of Flamingos, a gay in Hobart's queer community for 17 years, was felt during a time when isolation was widespread. Flamingos was one of those," Mx Rosengrave said. The co-owner of Flamingos, Gary Quilliam, said he still hoped to find a new home for the nightclub but it had been a difficult search.

I noticed more people coming out after it opened nearly 20 years ago. It gave gay Tasmanians visibility," he said. Like many venues, Flamingos fell victim to the coronavirus pandemic and gay its doors in the wake of the dancing ban and capacity restrictions. Mx Rosengrave remembers Flamingos fondly for the home away from home that it provided.

It was great for me to have a dedicated queer space to hang out, meet new people, and build communities — to feel safe enough tasmania express myself," they said. Flamingos was Hobart's only permanent gay nightclub venue for 17 years before its closure in Supplied: Devine Property. It is a sentiment shared by Charlie Burton, committee tasmania for Equality Bar, who said the loss of Flamingos was detrimental to the community.

It is difficult to believe now, but in Tasmania was the last state in Australia to decriminalise homosexuality — specifically the law that banned consensual sex between adult men in private. Next month marks the 25th anniversary of that law being repealed. Police lead gay rights activist Rodney Croome away from protests in Supplied: Roger Lovell, The Mercury.

Everyone seems to think that we've reached equality in Tasmania but, in the real world, we haven't," Mr Quilliam said. A series of pop-up events have filled Hobart's event calendars over the past two years, and continue to gain popularity. LIMBO, a not-for-profit queer party event founded in Hobart in the wake of Australia's vote on same-sex marriage, continues today.

Dexter Rosengrave said they were not surprised at all by bar community's response to having no permanent venue, like Flamingos, available to them. Mx Rosengrave added that the community's resilience was thanks to a long line of "older queer folk in Tasmania who have fought hard to get us where we are today".

That resilience has been reflected through the community's positive response to the range of Tasmanian pop-up events on offer. It's really great to see that and the creativity on display right now," they said.