Mapping Queer Footprints: Victoria’s Queer-Ways Project Chronicles LGBTQIA+ History
In an effort to preserve and document LGBTQIA+ history in Australia, multidisciplinary artist Luciano and project partner George Keats have launched the Queer-Ways initiative. Supported by the Australian Queer Archives, this project aims to retrace the queer footprints of everyday Australians, past and present, by mapping important queer sites throughout Victoria. The ultimate goal is to create an interactive map that showcases the lived experiences of the queer community.
Luciano, who prefers not to use a surname, compared Queer-Ways to the iconic Melways, a popular mapping resource in Australia. The project began by documenting the history of Melbourne and expanded to regional areas such as Daylesford, Mildura, and Wodonga in 2023. Looking ahead to Victoria’s Pride 2024, the organizers are now seeking input from the queer community in Ballarat, Geelong, and Shepparton.
Deb Lord, the executive producer of the LGBTQIA+ variety show LaNCE TV based in Ballarat, expressed the importance of archiving Ballarat’s queer history through the Queer-Ways project. Lord emphasized the significance of representation for rainbow communities living in rural areas, as it validates and acknowledges their experiences.
Another advocate for the project’s broader significance is Sam McColl from Ballarat, who highlighted the importance of analyzing and accurately portraying Australian history. McColl stressed the role of Queer-Ways in uncovering untold stories and correcting historical narratives, especially during public debates about the rights of trans people. By showcasing the pivotal role trans individuals played in the LGBTQIA+ rights movement decades ago, Queer-Ways aims to inform and guide the community’s future.
Luciano expressed his desire to expand and grow the Queer-Ways project, urging queer community members across the state to submit their own significant sites. The project hopes to foster connections among regional communities and ensure comprehensive representation of regional queer experiences.
As Queer-Ways continues to chart queer footprints and map out LGBTQIA+ history, it serves as a powerful tool for preservation, education, and community building. By capturing and sharing these stories, the project aims to honor the past, inform the present, and inspire a more inclusive future.
