Meeting Joan Nestle at the Letters From Ger exhibition felt like stepping into living queer history. Everything I’d learned about the 1950s, Stonewall, and the early days of lesbian activism had always come from books or documentaries. Hearing Joan speak — a woman who has been out since the 1950s and founded the Lesbian Herstory Archives — awakened a hunger in me for real, tangible stories from elders in our community. What began as a chance encounter quickly became a friendship that reshaped my understanding of queer lineage, activism, and love.

Lesbian activists played a pivotal role in shaping Australia’s early gay rights movement. From the Daughters of Bilitis to CAMP INC, Gay Liberation, and Women’s Liberation, lesbians were central to public education, protest, and political organising throughout the 1960s and 1970s

Activist, athlete, 78er and late‑blooming storyteller Kate Rowe joins Silke for a powerful conversation about lesbian identity, protest, community, and aging out loud. From the night of the 1978 Mardi Gras arrests to the shifting “queer alphabet” of today, Kate reflects on courage, conflict, humour, and finding her voice in her seventies. Her stories bridge generations - reminding us why lesbian history matters now more than ever.

A heartfelt reflection on growing up queer in regional Queensland, discovering community through roller derby, navigating long‑distance love, and returning home with a non‑binary partner. This piece explores fear, visibility, Pride and the quiet acts of courage that help others step into the light.

A series of intimate, poetic reflections capturing the small moments that shape queer life — the ones we rarely talk about, but never forget.

For queer women, family isn’t always defined by blood. It’s built through loyalty, love, and the people who show up when it matters.

More queer women than ever are coming out in their 40s, 50s, and beyond. Their stories reveal something powerful: identity doesn’t expire — it evolves.