The City Of Sydney draft LGBTQIA+ social and cultural place strategy will promote inclusive businesses, fund new public artworks and support establishing a pride museum around the famed retail and entertainment strip.

“We love Oxford Street. It’s one of our greatest and most-loved streets and we're committed to building on its reputation as an iconic gay and lesbian and creative precinct, buzzing with activity day and night,” Lord Mayor Clover Moore says.

“Over the course of our consultation for new planning controls for the area, we heard loud and clear that you want the area’s LGBTIQA+ character protected and enhanced.

“That’s why we have developed this LGBTIQA+ Cultural and Social Place Strategy for Oxford Street. The strategy is one of only a handful in the world to explore ways to protect and preserve LGBTIQA+ culture and communities, and the first in its kind in Australia – reflecting the importance of this precinct and local LGBTIQ+ community to Australia’s past and future.

“In February 2023, Sydney will host WorldPride 2023. It promises to be one of the largest events in Sydney since the 2000 Olympics and presents the perfect opportunity to bring this place strategy to life.

“This strategy, together with new planning controls, will help us deliver more cultural spaces in the precinct – galleries, space for artists, theatres, restaurants and nightclubs – a 24-hour precinct that has more inclusive and diverse cultural offerings that include the full spectrum of the LGBTIQA+ communities.”

There are five priority areas under the draft strategy.

- Recognise historic LGBTQIA+ places/spaces
The City Of Sydney will review plans of significance in the area, and update the heritage inventories for important sites to reflect their social and cultural significance to the LGBTQIA+ communities

- Increase visibility and reflect the LGBTQIA+ communities
To ensure LGBTQIA+ culture and communities are visible across the precinct, public art positive messaging, flags, banners and other creative concepts will be explored

- Sustain the character
Controls and guidelines for businesses will be introduced to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTQIA+ customers and communities are welcome and respected in the area

- Increase spaces
The City Of Sydney will support the opening of a pride centre or LGBTQIA+ museum, and work with advocacy groups and the government to seek funding and a suitable location

- Ensure the community is safe/supported
The City Of Sydney will work with partners to improve access to relevant programmes, services and safe spaces for young LGBTQIA+ people, transgender and gender diverse people and older/vulnerable members of the community.