Key Takeaways
- The Bookshop Darlinghurst, a iconic LGBTQ bookstore in Sydney, is closing its doors after 40 years due to financial pressures.
- The store has been a haven for the LGBTQ community, providing a safe space for people to explore their identity and connect with others.
- The closure of the store has been met with grief from the community, with many customers expressing their sadness and gratitude to the staff.
- The store’s owner, Charles Gregory, announced the closure in September, citing financial pressures and delays in moving to a new development.
- The store’s staff, including Noel Lee, have been providing support and guidance to customers for decades, and will be deeply missed by the community.
Introduction to the Bookshop Darlinghurst
The Bookshop Darlinghurst, a beloved institution in Sydney’s LGBTQ community, is closing its doors after 40 years. As the doors open for the day, owner Noel Lee puts out the pink sign on Oxford Street, reading "Read Gay Books". Despite the impending closure, the store is still bustling with activity, as customers come to browse the shelves and say their goodbyes. Lee, who has worked at the store for 24 years, is greeted with warm smiles and hugs from the regulars, who have come to rely on the store as a safe space and community hub.
A History of Support and Community
The Bookshop Darlinghurst has been a constant presence in the LGBTQ community, providing a supportive and inclusive environment for people to explore their identity and connect with others. Over the years, the store has seen significant changes in the community, including the decriminalization of gay sex in 1984, the height of the AIDS crisis, and the legalization of same-sex marriage in 2017. Through it all, the store has remained a steady source of support and guidance, offering book recommendations and life advice to customers of all ages and backgrounds. As Lee notes, "This has never been about just selling books. It’s been about looking after people and the community."
Regular Customers and Their Stories
As the day goes on, regular customers begin to arrive, each with their own story and connection to the store. Reino Okkonen, a 78-year-old customer, has been coming to the store since 1982. He and his partner, Jim, would often walk to the store on sunny Saturday mornings, and later, after retiring to Coffs Harbour, they would order books by phone and visit the store whenever they could. Okkonen is visibly emotional as he browses the shelves, remembering the many happy times he had with his partner, who passed away 11 years ago. Lee, who has known Okkonen for decades, is on hand to offer a listening ear and a comforting hug.
Serendipitous Connections and the Power of Community
As the day goes on, more customers arrive, each with their own story and connection to the store. Marc Linke, a 61-year-old customer, is proud to have self-published a book about his adventures in the 1980s, which was later stocked by the Bookshop Darlinghurst. He is followed by Oscar Balle-Bowness, a 30-year-old customer who grew up in Cairns and found solace in the store’s welcoming environment. As Lee notes, the store has a "palpable sense of transmission", where customers can connect with each other and with the community in meaningful and unexpected ways. These serendipitous connections are a hallmark of the store’s success, and will be deeply missed by the community.
The Closure of the Store and Its Impact
As the days go by, the reality of the store’s closure begins to sink in. Lee, who has been dealing with the grief of customers for months, is still coming to terms with his own emotions. He notes that he will not fully process his feelings until his final shift is done, but is grateful for the 24 amazing years he has had at the store. The closure of the Bookshop Darlinghurst is a significant loss for the LGBTQ community, and will be felt deeply by the many customers who have come to rely on the store as a safe space and community hub. As the store’s doors close for the final time, it is clear that the legacy of the Bookshop Darlinghurst will live on, a testament to the power of community and the importance of inclusive and supportive spaces.
