LGBTQIA+ community

LGBTQIA+ Ally Group

This group of Library staff leads initiatives that foster a more inclusive, accepting, and supportive environment for queer students, staff, and community members.

LGBTQIA+ Ally Group members undergo training coordinated by the University’s Pride Network and Diversity and Inclusion team, and can connect you with LGBTQIA+ resources and services offered by the Library and University.

You can contact us via email.

We participate in events that support and celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community, including Mardi Gras, Wear it Purple Day, and Pride Culture Club. Follow us on Instagram or peruse the Library calendar for the latest events taking place.

We curate in-house exhibitions that highlight the Library’s queer collections, and in 2022, we commissioned local artist Jeremy Smith to create a piece commemorating key moments in the LGBTQIA+ history of Sydney. This artwork—titled Queer Sydney: A History—now hangs proudly in the central stairwell of Fisher Library.

A photograph of a group of Library staff members wearing purple clothing, including extravagant flourishes like feather boas and papier mache hats

A brightly coloured, densely detailed artwork. Ink on paper. The artwork is a chrono-geography and a countermap of queer Sydney's history. It places the Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge with LOVE in the center. It is chronologically designed, and moves from Indigenous history, to early colonial/settler history, to the 1800's, 1900's, through to the 1980's AIDS crisis, and finishes in present day Sydney. Through out the work there are many historical references to different people, places, and events in queer history.

A photograph of two smiling women standing at a lectern in front of a computer. One of them is wearing a rainbow University of Sydney lanyard with a "she/her" pronouns badge. In the background is rainbow pride bunting.

A photograph of William Yang (a middle-aged Chinese Australian man) presenting in front of a large audience. The screens behind him display a black and white photograph that he took of two drag queens during the 1970s or 80s.

Library staff participating in Wear It Purple Day
Queer Sydney: A History by Jeremy Smith
LGBTQIA+ Ally Group members preparing for a Pride Culture Club event
Acclaimed photographer William Yang presenting at a Pride Culture Club event

LGBTQIA+ resources

Welcome Here project

The Library became a registered member of the Welcome Here Project in 2019. Run by community health organisation ACON, the Welcome Here Project highlights businesses and organisations throughout Australia that are visibly welcoming, inclusive safe spaces for LGBTQIA+ people.

Learn more about the Welcome Here Project

Pronouns and gendered language

We recognise the range of pronouns associated with diverse genders and respect people’s right to inform the Library of the pronouns they use. Many Library staff display their pronouns on badges, email signatures and on web conferencing software.

We have undertaken a review of gendered terms used on the Library website, and have developed guidelines for the appropriate use of pronouns in Library-created content. This initiative is a first among Australian academic libraries.

Read our guidelines for gendered terms

Related information

LGBTQIA+ collection highlights Pride Culture Club Pride Network Support for LGBTQIA+ students LGBTQIA+ community at the University

Contact

Email the Library's LGBTQIA+ Ally Group