Gender and sexuality protests

The long and ongoing fight for rights and equality for women and LGBTQIA communities is well documented in our collections. Use this guide to help find and access resources in our collection about women’s suffrage, equal pay for women, women's march for justice, the Mardi Gras protest, decriminalisation of Homosexuality and the Say Yes to Marriage Equality movement.

In our collections

The long and ongoing fight for rights and equality for women and LGBTQIA communities is increasingly well-documented in our collections. While the nature of gender and sexuality protests often see great diversity, this guide focuses on material held by the Library including women’s suffrage, equal pay for women, women's march for justice, the Mardi Gras protest, decriminalisation of Homosexuality and the Say Yes to Marriage Equality movement.

A group of four people who are very colourfully dressed, holding signs in a park. There are more groups of colourful people in the background.

Jiayuan Liang, The LGBTIQA+ communities assemble at Light Square before at the Pride March, Adelaide, 5 November, 2022, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3144558245

Jiayuan Liang, The LGBTIQA+ communities assemble at Light Square before at the Pride March, Adelaide, 5 November, 2022, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3144558245

Just getting started?

For general sources and search tips to navigate our collections on protest, participation and dissent in Australia, go to our protest and dissent research guide.

Womens suffrage

In 1894, the women of South Australia won the right to vote in South Australian elections (which was still a colonial state at the time).

The right to vote, which became known as the enfranchisement of women, would be given to all non-Indigenous, non-migrant women of Australia in 1902.

A newspaper spread with the title "100 years of womens suffrage"

Education: journal of the N.S.W. Public School Teachers Federation, Vol. 75 No. 01, p. 10, 7 February 1994, nla.gov/nla.obj-525471579

Education: journal of the N.S.W. Public School Teachers Federation, Vol. 75 No. 01, p. 10, 7 February 1994, nla.gov/nla.obj-525471579

Key sources

The Library has a large collection of contemporary print material from the women’s suffrage movement, including newsletters, journals and a strong collection of manuscript material.

Search tips

Use keywords to search by title, author or subject in the catalogue or Trove.

Try these search terms:

  • Women’s Suffrage
  • Women's Votes Australia
  • Enfranchisement Women Australia
  • Bessie Rischbieth
  • Jessica Street
  • Ruby Rich

Where else to look

For another great resource, go to the State Library of South Australia’s Women’s Suffrage research guide.

Equal pay for women protest

Following the Second World War, the fight for equal rights for women in the workplace quickly took centre stage. However, it wasn’t until 1969 that women were first rewarded with equal pay - but only for certain roles.

A poster with three levels: Management at the top, computer programming, design, marketing, analysis, and sales in the middle, and data processing, typists, and keypunch operators at the bottom. Text includes facts about clerical work and gender disparities in Australia.

Department of Employment and Industrial Affairs, Who controls the keys? who punches them? nla.gov.au/nla.obj-133716706

Department of Employment and Industrial Affairs, Who controls the keys? who punches them? nla.gov.au/nla.obj-133716706

Key sources

Our collections substantially document this part of Australia’s history, including some interesting and unique collections and material.

Search tips

The language used to describe the issue has varied greatly over the years. That can make it difficult to search for material using only keywords.

Try these subject headings in the catalogue:

Mardi Gras Protest 1978

The first Sydney Mardi Gras was held in 1978, to commemorate the Stonewall riots in New York in 1969 and support the lesbian and gay community in San Francisco (who were at the time fighting the Brigg Initiative). During the 1978 Sydney Mardi Gras, participants were met with strong opposition and violence from police, with many being jailed for their participation.

William Yang hero image - abstract art at Sydney Mardi Gras

William Yang, [Abstract colour designs on parade float], Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras, 1985, nla.obj-136925205

William Yang, [Abstract colour designs on parade float], Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras, 1985, nla.obj-136925205

Key sources

We hold unique collection material about the 1978 Mardi Gras protest, with material that cannot be found anywhere else.

Search tips

There is also a large collection of digitised newspapers, magazines and journals available. Use keywords to search by title, author or subject in the catalogue or Trove.

Try these:

  • Mardi Gras 1978
  • First Sydney Mardi Gras 1978
  • Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 1978
  • 78’ers Mardi Gras

Content note

Some material in the catalogue may include content and language that is upsetting or triggering. The historical nature of this material means it may include terms and language that may be seen as offensive. Records reflect the language and attitudes of the historical period in which they were created and do not reflect the views of the National Library.

Decriminalisation of homosexuality

The 1970s and early 1980s were a time of powerful political protest.

The decriminalisation of homosexuality happened over a period of 22 years, with South Australia becoming the first state to decriminalise homosexuality in 1975. The rest of Australia’s states and territories followed over the years, with Tasmania decriminalising homosexuality in 1997.

Key sources

We hold unique collection material on the decriminalisation of homosexuality, particularly in our oral history and manuscripts collections.

Search tips

Use keywords to search by title, author or subject in the catalogue or Trove.

Try these:

  • Discrimination and homosexuality
  • Decriminalisation of homosexuality
  • Gay liberation or Gay liberation movement

You can also use these subject headings to find resources:

Subject headings that are unique to Australia may have variations or state-based equivalents, such as:

It can be helpful to use the 'Subject' limit when you are looking at search results to identify similar subject headings.

Say yes to marriage equality protest

In 2017, the Australia Government received a 61.6% ‘Yes’ vote to the voluntary postal vote for Marriage Equality. This result came after many weeks of protest from the ‘Say Yes’ campaigners.

A group of people gathered on a lawn, cheering and smiling, holding signs with slogans such as "Australia Said Yes" and "Politicians Get It Done." Several individuals at the front are clapping and wearing colorful clothing. The crowd appears jubilant, celebrating together outdoors.

Sean Davey, Magda Szubanski, surrounded by a crowd of people, celebrating the passing of the Australian marriage equality bill on the lawn of Parliament House, Canberra, 7 December 2017, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-735215730

Sean Davey, Magda Szubanski, surrounded by a crowd of people, celebrating the passing of the Australian marriage equality bill on the lawn of Parliament House, Canberra, 7 December 2017, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-735215730

Key sources

We hold a large collection of material from the marriage equality movement.

Search tips

Use keywords to search by title, author or subject in the catalogue or Trove.

Try these search terms:

  • Say Yes to marriage equality
  • Say Yes marriage equality campaign Australia
  • Voluntary Postal Vote 2017
  • Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey

March for justice against domestic violence

The March4Justice rally saw thousands of people across Australia protest the abuse and sexual violence faced by women. These rallies were held in major cities across Australia and has become one of the most well-known protests of 2021.

A large crowd of demonstrators gathered outdoors, many wearing masks and holding signs with messages such as "Justice for Survivors," "Survivors Deserve Better," and "Enough." Some individuals clap while others raise placards. Trees line the background.

Leigh Henningham, Demonstrators holding placards at the Women's March4Justice rally, Treasury Gardens, Melbourne, 15 March 2021, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2937256575

Leigh Henningham, Demonstrators holding placards at the Women's March4Justice rally, Treasury Gardens, Melbourne, 15 March 2021, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2937256575

Key sources

We have acquired a large collection of photos from this recent protest, with works from photographers noted for their documentation of social issues and protest in Australia.

Search tips

Use keywords to search by title, author or subject in the catalogue or Trove.

Try these search terms:

  • #March4Justice
  • Claire Williams March4Justice
  • Leigh Henningham March4Justice

Get help with your research

Our specialist staff can help you with your research, to locate resources and to use our microform and scanning equipment, but they cannot undertake extensive or ongoing genealogical, historical or other research on your behalf.

Find out more in our Information and Research Policy.

Ask a Librarian

Page published: 26 Sep 2024

Need help?

Our librarians are here to guide you.

Ask a librarian