Queers of the
Desert
What is it all about?
An online project to record and publish the queer history of Alice
Springs and surrounding areas.
Why is it being done?
A history of the Top End; Did You Meet Any Malagas?, was published
by Dino Hodge in 1993. After 10 years it's about time the Centre's
own stories were told.
Who is behind it?
The project is being managed by a small working group of current and
former residents. If you have some time and effort to contribute and
have been a resident of Central Australia, you are welcome to join
in and help.
Will it be a book?
There is currently no intention to publish any of the material as a
book. However, it is possible that some time in the future a
historian will want to write about the queer history of the Centre.
If this happens it is expected that the project will provide them
with some very useful resources.
What will happen to the profits?
The project will definitely run at a loss and could benefit from
donations. Steps are being taken to pursue some small sources of
funds for copying archival material and promotional activities. But,
nobody will be making any money out of it.
Can I be paid or have my expenses covered?
There is no plan for the project to have paid staff and there is no
money to pay people for their contributions. Individual contributors
will need to cover all their own expenses.
Who can participate?
Anyone who has lived in, or even just visited, Central Australia and
has a story to tell about some aspect of queer life there.
How do I participate?
By simply writing and sending us the text of your story and any
images to go with it. The best way to send your material is by email
to qotd@indigoz.com.auStories
should be in the form of a Word or similar text file. You can format
it if you like. However, it is expected that a uniform format will
be developed for all pages. Images should be scanned at 100% and a
high resolution (e.g. 200 dpi) and saved to .jpg or .gif format if
possible. Contact us in advance and discuss your contribution to
clarify any issues and avoid any problems.
What if I don't have internet access?
If you don't have access to the internet or computer facilities we
may be able to put you in touch with someone who does. If you can't
get internet access, but can use a computer, you could always post
your material on disk. Just make sure to print it as well and keep a
copy on disk yourself. If you have pictures but can't access a
scanner you could post them to us and we will scan them for you and
return them. If there is no alternative you could send your story
written on paper. However, there may be delays in finding time to
type it for you.
Can I be interviewed?
Only as a last resort. If you are interested in having your story
included but not able to write it yourself you might be able to
record it on tape and post it to us. If this is not possible we
might be able to get someone to visit you with a tape recorder. But
this is likely to be difficult to organise. And there may be delays
in finding time to type it for you.
Who will own my story?
You will. Copyright in all material will be vested in the individual
authors. The project will not be exercising ownership over anything
except the structure and design of the site itself. We will also be
asking you to accept responsibility as publisher for your own
material. So, if there are any issues with what you have written it
will be up to you to respond to them.
Can my story be published anonymously?
You can have your story published under a pen name if you don't want
to be publicly identified. However, the project team will need to
know who you really are and how to get in touch with you so they can
refer any issues with your story to you.
What kind of material can be included?
If it happened in Central Australia and involved lesbians, gay men
or their supporters, we are interested in it. It may be your
personal history, recollections of events, news clippings,
newsletters, flyers or photos. We would like the project to be as
flexible as possible. So, anything is open to consideration, as long
as it's queer, Central Australian and history.
What can't I say?
As long as it is relevant to the project, really happened and
doesn't put anyone at risk of legal action it is acceptable. On this
basis your story must not breach any relevant censorship or privacy
laws, or defame any person, or place you or the project at any risk
of damages claims. This
means you will not be able to name anyone in your story without
their written consent. To deal with this limitation it is
suggested that you give all characters in your story false names, or
refer to them by an initial or some other means that will not permit
their identification. We will also be asking you to sign an
indemnity form before your story is published that says you are the
copyright owner and publisher and accept all responsibility for any
action arising from it. This may sound a bit intimidating, but it
simply means if we don't take any risks we won't get into any
trouble. So, no outing or payback!
What about old newspaper articles and other archives?
We are seeking to access some funds to cover the costs of searching
the NT Archives in Alice and Darwin. We are also hoping to undertake
a comprehensive search through back issues of the Centralian
Advocate in the Alice Springs library. If you have the time and
interest to undertake some of this research we'd love to hear from
you! If you already have some newspaper clippings or other documents
you would like to contribute we would be glad to receive them.
However, for newspaper articles and any other copyright material we
will need to obtain publication details and may need permission from
the owners before we can republish them.
What sort of style should I use?
Because this will be a published history it is largely preferable
that it is written in a factual and fairly serious style. In a sense
you are giving evidence of the past. While it is certainly expected
that there will be funny stories and the need to recount the words
of specific individuals, you should be mindful that it is not a
creative writing contest or a comedy script. That said, you are
encouraged to tell your own story in your own words. There is no
need to adopt a false literary personality!
Can I get help with my writing?
If you need assistance with any aspect of your writing we can try
and help you or suggest someone who can. There are several people
involved in the project who write professionally or teach and may be
able to assist.