Iznajmljivanje Queer festivala je otkazano po nejasnom zakonu iz 18. stoljeća.

Organisers of a queer-themed arts and music venue known as Divine Playhouse have been evicted from a historic Sydney church under an obscure 18th-century law, according to reports published on July 20, 2026. The lease for the venue, located at 420 Kent Street in the heart of Sydney’s Central Business District, was officially terminated by the property owner, a Sydney-based property investment trust named KCSYD Pty Ltd, citing the tenant’s alleged violation of an 1842 New South Wales law concerning “offensive trade.” The law, originally designed to address issues such as foul smells and industrial waste, has now become the subject of controversy due to its application to the tenant’s artistic and cultural programming. The venue, previously known as Unholy Playhouse, was established by Kat Dopper, founder of HG Events, and operated as a hub for LGBTQIA+ artists, musicians, and performers. The space, housed in a 158-year-old deconsecrated church, had recently undergone a major transformation with support from a $100,000 grant from Create NSW. This funding enabled the organisation to host a four-month multidisciplinary arts festival aimed at fostering creativity and inclusivity. However, the initiative sparked backlash from some Christian groups, who accused the events of mocking or demeaning their faith. On July 15, the property owner issued a formal breach notice to HG Events, stating that the tenant had engaged in “offensive trade” that had caused “grievance and disturbance to owners of adjoining properties and to the general public.” The notice included specific allegations that the tenant’s activities insulted and mocked the “sincerely held religious beliefs of millions of Christian Australians.” The eviction order gave the tenant until 5 p.m. on Wednesday to vacate the premises, removing industrial bar fridges, flooring, artworks, customised signage, and other installations made during their tenure. Legal representatives for HG Events, led by Michael Bradley of Marque Lawyers, described the grounds for eviction as unprecedented. Bradley explained that while the lease contained a standard clause prohibiting “offensive trade,” the interpretation of this term had historically been tied to public health concerns, such as those associated with abattoirs and other industries posing hygiene risks. He emphasized that there was no precedent for extending the definition of “offensive trade” to include matters of “moral” offensiveness, particularly in relation to artistic expression. Professor Cathy Sherry, an expert on land law at Macquarie University, commented on the implications of the case, noting that it presented a complex challenge for liberal democracies. She highlighted the importance of tolerating diverse viewpoints, even those that may be deeply controversial, and warned against allowing individuals or entities to police public expression. “When you are granted a lease, you are given exclusive possession and are generally free to do things as long as they don’t damage the property, are illegal, or compromise landlord insurance,” she said. “It is an unusual thing for landlords to police a point of view.” Dopper expressed her determination to fight for the survival of Divine Playhouse and the broader independent arts scene in Sydney. In a statement, she called the situation a threat to the safety of all artistic spaces, arguing that the ability of a landlord’s personal beliefs to determine the acceptability of art undermines the principles of freedom of expression. “If a landlord’s personal beliefs can shut down an arts venue, no stage in this country is safe,” she said. “Who decides what art is acceptable? Right now, the answer is whoever owns the building.” HG Events is currently seeking a new home and has reached out to developers, landowners, and private space holders with unique offerings. The organisation is also planning a sing-in rally in Sydney’s CBD following the termination, and a fundraiser is being organised to support affected artists whose events at the venue were cancelled. The case has drawn attention beyond the immediate stakeholders, raising broader questions about the boundaries of private property rights and the role of public expression in democratic societies.