"Queer People Were Just Really Pushed To The Fringes" (with Imogen Kelly)

So, gentrification is a bit of a dirty word around here, and you'll no doubt have heard me talk to at least one of my guests about how gentrification pushes out the queers and the misfits from areas where they once thrived.

One of the places in the world that has been totally transformed by gentrification is King's Cross in Sydney, Australia. When I was growing up as a little queer boy in Adelaide, King's Cross was known as a place of debauchery and sin, most famous for the strip bars and prostitution. Now the place has been completely transformed, full of yummy mummies and expensive coffee shops. 

Back in the 90s this week's guest, (with also happens to be Australia's first lady of striptease), Imogen Kelly, first started stripping at Stripperama, one of the clubs on the main strip. She's written a book about those times, and we caught up to discuss what King's Cross was like in those days, living during the HIV and heroin epidemic, police corruption, and the woman she fell in love with....

Do you have any memories of Stripperama, or clubbing from your own queer scene that you want to share? Well, if you have please get in touch - I want to create the biggest online record of people's memories and stories - go to www.lostspacespodcast.com and find the section 'Share a Lost Space' and tell me what you got up to! Bonus points for embarrassing photos!

You can also find me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/lostspacespod), Instagram (www.instagram.com/lostspacespod) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/lostspacespod)

Find out more about Imogen by visiting www.imogenkelly.com.au, or following her on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/theimogenkelly).