The SSO A-Z guide to queer Sydney

F IS FOR

Family With the exceptions of the odd current or past staff member, the Star is yet to start printing birth announcements. It can’t be far off, though, with lesbians (and increasingly, gay men) clucking over prams all over town. In our modern city, queer families come in all shapes and sizes, from groups of close friends to single parents and almost-nuclear couples with kids. This is nothing new, although kids of queer parents are less likely to be the result of a former straight relationship these days. Lesbians have long embraced their desires to have kids. Now, more and more modern gay men are getting in touch with their inner dad. And like all new parents, they’re finding it a life-changing experience. Father of two (by an overseas surrogacy arrangement) Lee Matthews told the Star in September he wouldn’t have it any other way. It certainly cools the lifestyle down, there’s no doubt about that. But it opens up whole new social experiences that are quite wonderful and rewarding.

Fag Tag Music journalist Tim Duggan started the Fag Tag parties in Sydney in August 2004 with the intention of getting the gays out of the ghetto and into unexplored straight bars. The idea was to give queer partygoers who were bored with Oxford Street a whole new experience. The monthly parties -“ held at hip straight venues like Chinese Laundry, Ruby Rabbit, The Eastern, Opera Bar and Dome -“ quickly proved a hit, becoming one of the hottest tickets in town. Today Fag Tag is the party to be at, famous for attracting the beautiful, trendy and Bohemian. In fact Fag Tag is credited by some for contributing to the swing away from Sydney’s massive super parties like Sleaze, Mardi Gras and the New Year’s Eve party formerly known as Pride. Queer partygoers are going nuts for smaller, more intimate events like Fag Tag and its sister event DTPM at Sydney club Tank.