Exhibition Dates: February 2024 to present

Curator: Dr Liz Bradshaw (Head Curator, December 2022 – March 2024)

Lesbians on the Loose is an inaugural exhibition presenting a timeline of lesbian representation through the long-running publication Lesbians on the Loose (LOTL). Founded in 1990 by Frances Rand and Jackie Sherer, the magazine was lesbian-owned and staffed and published for more than 30 years. It now continues as an international online podcast.

The exhibition documents LOTL’s coverage of political, social, and cultural change from a lesbian perspective, including coming-out stories, parenting, adoption, IVF, health, activism, and community life. It also records the publication’s role in celebrating lesbian events, drag king culture, First Nations stories, television representation, and everyday cultural practices.

The exhibition presents a chronological selection of magazine covers alongside access to the complete LOTL archive. Together, these materials document the publication’s role as a platform for storytelling, advocacy, and connection within lesbian communities, and its ongoing adaptation to changing media and audiences. This exhibition was combined with Sydney Star Observer to create a queer media room in May 2025.