Lesbians are Lovely!

Join UNSW’s Centre for Ideas in celebration of all things lesbian and lovely.

Mon Schafter | Kath Ebbs | Kate Rowe | Jackie Turner

We’ve come a long way since references to lesbians could potentially land you jail-time and lesbian culture was less visible in literature and the arts, social commentary and public life. From anthemic pop icons Chappell Roan and Billie Eilish to commercially successful flicks like Bottoms and Love Lies Bleeding, lesbian culture is having a moment.

In the fifty years since the rallying cry “Lesbians are Lovely!” was sprawled across walls, bodies and picket boards in the fight for recognition and liberation, there have been many developments in queer identity and culture. But are we making space for all lesbians and how can we celebrate every part of our community?

Join UNSW’s Centre for Ideas for an evening of all things lesbian and lovely. Hosted by Walkley Award-winning journalist, presenter and producer Mon Schafter (they/she) and featuring a trailblazing lineup of panellists, including Kate Rowe (she/her), an activist and advocate ‘78er who marched in the original Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras; Kath Ebbs (they/she) queer actor, presenter and content creator; and Jackie Turner (she/her), trans woman, social justice and climate organiser, and Director of Trans Justice Project.

This event is co-presented by the UNSW Centre for Ideas (in collaboration with Dr Yves Rees) and Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.

Image credit: Ponch Hawkes

Live Event & Venue Information

This event will take place at Carriageworks, Public Space. For all venue and visitor safety information, please visit the Carriageworks website here. Please note this is a live event only, and will not be available via livestream.

Access

Wheelchair Access

An access ramp leading to the main entrance is located at street level at 245 Wilson Street. Venues within the Carriageworks precinct are all level access.

Accessible Parking

Accessible parking is available at the end of Carriageworks Way. Enter via 229 Wilson Street.

Captioning
Live captioning on personal devices will be available at this event.

For further information on accessibility at Carriageworks, please click here.

Public Transport & Parking

Carriageworks is located at 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh. This is a 10 minute walk from Redfern Station, City Road bus stops and Macdonaldtown Station. Catching public transport is strongly recommended as residential parking in the area is strictly limited. For more information on transport visit transportnsw.info.

Contact

For all enquiries please email centreforideas@unsw.edu.au or call the Centre for Ideas on 02 9065 0485.

The Centre for Ideas is happy to receive phone calls via the National Relay Service. TTY users, phone 133 677, then ask for 02 9065 0485. Speak and Listen users, phone 1300 555 727 then ask for 02 9065 0485. For more information on all other relay calls visit here.

For all venue related enquiries, please call Carriageworks on 02 8571 9099.

Speakers

Mon Schafter - they/she

Mon Schafter (they/she) is a Walkley Award-winning journalist, presenter and producer, and the founding editor of ABCQueer. Mon has hosted the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade on ABC TV, the Innies + Outies podcast showcasing uniquely Australian coming-out stories, and has reported extensively for programs including 7.30 and the comedic current affairs show Hungry Beast.

Mon has interviewed Hollywood icons such as Jodie Foster and Margot Robbie, human rights pioneers including former High Court Justice Michael Kirby, and LGBTQIA+ trailblazers like Mercury Prize-winning artist Anohni — as well as hundreds of everyday Australians with extraordinary stories. Mon created the ABC’s cross-generational series OK Boomer, OK Zoomer, and in 2020 was named one of Australia’s Outstanding 50 LGBTQI+ Leaders in the Out50 report.

Kath Ebbs - they/she

Kath Ebbs (they/she) is a queer actor, presenter, writer and content creator. With over 100,000 followers on Instagram, their work focuses on visibility and advocacy with storytelling at its heart. Arguably one of the original Instagram influencers, Kath grew their online following through meme culture as part of one of the first content collectives and has continued to foster that community whilst harnessing the power of new-age advertising.

They continue to push for change in these spaces both on and offline by fusing their creativity with their love for what it means to be human.

Kate Rowe - she/her

Kate Rowe (she/her) is a Londoner by birth, and Aussie by choice. Kate has been sober for 48 years, she is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and adult rape, a ‘78er who marched in the original Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras which became her political and sexual awakening. While it led to her being outed and almost losing her job, she has been committed to lesbian politics and feminism ever since.

In 2025 she published a memoir, How the F*ck Would I Know, and in January of 2026 can be heard on the ABC’s Conversations. At 74 she believes it’s time to hand over the baton to the new generations of LGBTQIA+ people.

Jackie Turner - she/her

Jackie Turner (she/her) is a trans woman and a long time social justice and climate organiser. Growing up on Jagerra/Turrbal Country in Meanjin [Brisbane] Jackie is passionate about community power, developing the leadership of trans and gender diverse people, and building movements that can win. She is the Director of Trans Justice Project, the first trans-led national campaigning organisation. Their mission is to build a powerful, trans-led movement standing up for freedom, justice, and equality for all trans and gender diverse people.

Over the last 10 years as an organiser and campaigner she has led national mobilisations, trained and mentored hundreds of volunteers, and run campaigns across movements for climate and economic justice.