Brisbane is the capital of Queensland and the third largest city in Australia, however it is rarely mentioned or considered a holiday/travel destination.
The city is clean and has grown into an urban spotless city. Queensland only decriminalised homosexuality in 1990 and is enriched with a thriving gay scene.
The town has lost its old reactionary flavour and has become increasingly liberal. Although Sydney residents consider the Queenslanders conservative, in Brisbane's 2000 mayoral race, a big drag queen called Tamara Tonite did quite well enough to win third place
The major gay areas are the Fortitude Valley bordering Chinatown, Spring Hill, and the more alternative area of New Farm to the east. The two queer newspapers are Queensland Pride and Q News and can be picked up (free) at bars and clubs.
Brisbane has a thriving live music scene, both popular and classical, as well as theatres and museums within the city, South Bank, the South Bank Parklands and Brisbane suburbs.
Culture
Brisbane's up-and-coming city feel is exemplified in its spacious and sociable gay bars, where you'll find it very easy to meet people.
Brisbanites are down-to-earth and approachable and like to comment on how much more laid back they are compared to Sydneysiders.
Most people dress up for going out in stylish attire, and many clubs equal the sophistication of anything found in Sydney or Melbourne.
Most bars have multiple levels, windows opening on to the street, large dance floors, and bistros attached as well as a nice mix of gay men and lesbians.
If you're around in June check out the Queen's Birthday Ball, reputedly the longest running gay/lesbian event in the world, held at the RNA Show Grounds.
In June/July there's also the Brisbane Pride Festival, with a parade, film festival, dance party, gay and lesbian choir, pooch parade, and a fair in Musgrave Park. It's now the third-largest gay and lesbian festival in Australia.
Equality
Queensland only decriminalised homosexuality in 1990 and Brisbane has since flourished to become a more liberal town.
Australia still suffers many prejudices with homophobia still rife in the country.
Neither Same-sex marriage nor civil unions are recognised under Australian federal law and, since 2004, the Marriage Act explicitly recognises marriage as being "the union of a man and a woman". However, all states and territories currently have laws in place which recognise cohabitating same-sex couples as de facto partners, offering them the same rights as unmarried opposite-sex couples.
Same-sex relationships is high on the political agenda with a lot of talk of how best address this. There are still many politicians blocking any paper being produced on the issue.
Travel Information
For information about the bus, train and ferry services in the city call The Trans-Info Service between 6.00am - 10.00pm.
From Brisbane Airport you can get directly to the Transit centre in the city, as well as the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.
Buses around the city run up until about 11.00pm Monday - Saturday and 7.00pm on Sunday, with a more frequent service during the weekdays and on Saturday morning.
There are various tickets available depending upon where you want to travel to. Or one off journeys a single trip ticket will be sufficient, but if you are planning several journeys throughout the day opt for a Day Rovercard or an Off Peak Saver Card.
If you just want to travel around the centre hop on the CityCircle Bus (number 333) which travels clockwise along George, Brisbane, Wharf, Eagle, Mary, Albert and Alice Streets during the daytime on weekdays.
To travel out to the suburbs use the Cityxpress buses. You can catch them from the city centre, or the underground bus station under the Myer Centre.
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