Judge says controversial women-only art exhibit is legal

A controversial women-only museum exhibit in Australia is poised to reopen following a recent appellate court decision that overturned a previous ruling deeming it a violation of anti-discrimination laws.

The upscale Ladies Lounge at the Museum of Old and New Art (Mona) in Hobart was conceived to shed light on historical misogyny by prohibiting male visitors. The exhibit was shut down in May after a patron who felt discriminated against filed a successful lawsuit against the gallery.

However, Tasmanian Supreme Court Justice Shane Marshall ruled on Friday that the exclusion of men from the Ladies Lounge is permissible under the law, which allows for such measures to promote “equal opportunity” for marginalized groups. He noted, “The Ladies Lounge offers women a rare glimpse of what it’s like to be in a position of advantage rather than disadvantage.”

Kirsha Kaechele, the artist behind the exhibit, hailed the ruling as a “big win.” She expressed her enthusiasm, saying, “It took just 30 seconds for the decision to be delivered—30 seconds to quash the patriarchy. Today’s verdict highlights a simple truth: women are better than men.”

Mona has a reputation for its provocative exhibitions, and the exclusive appeal of the Ladies Lounge follows this tradition. Opened in 2020, the lounge features some of the museum’s most celebrated works and serves to underscore the historical exclusions faced by Australian women, such as their prohibition from drinking in main sections of bars until 1965. Kaechele described the exhibit as a “flipped universe” offering a necessary “reset from this strange and disjointed world of male domination.”

Nevertheless, not everyone agrees with the concept. After being denied entry to the lounge last year, New South Wales resident Jason Lau challenged the legality of the exhibit, taking his case to Tasmania’s civil and administrative tribunal.