If you’re heading to a queer event in Sydney, chances are it’s hosted by Heaps Gay, and chances are its founder, Kat Dopper, has decked it out with enough inflatable decor to levitate a ship.
“If there’s colourful things around you and everyone’s happy, it’s just a vibe,” Kat, who founded the queer party brand in 2013, told PEDESTRIAN.TV.
Sift through the glitter long enough, though, and you’ll find that Heaps Gay is about far more than its dazzling venues, starry lineups, or a rogue pair of floating lips *mwah!* — although it delivers that in spades.
“[It’s about] creating spaces for us to come together, feel free, and express who we want to be,” Kat said.
More than a decade on from her first Heaps Gay event, and amid its ascendance as a premier party-thrower, it’s the curation of these spaces — as meeting points for community and glitter-flecked spotlights for queer culture — that remains Kat’s burning passion.
“It’s like a special recipe,” she says of curating these spaces. And with a dash of good music, a sprinkle of half-nakedness (and maybe a dancefloor kiss or two), a Heaps Gay party is born.
Peep our chat with Kat Dopper about the inception of Heaps Gay, sapphic pop girlies and the necessity of maintaining queer spaces below.
Hey, Kat! I know you previously lived in London, so I’m wondering how your experience with the queer scene there informed your work with Heaps Gay?
KAT: I grew up in Sydney, but when I was about 20 I headed over to London to work out who I was. I lived in East London — in and around Hackney and Bell Green. That’s actually where I realised I was queer. It’s essentially the big smoke in comparison to Sydney, so it’s where I was able to explore my sexuality and go out on the scene. That’s where Heaps Gay grew from.
There was an amazing pub in London called the George and Dragon. When you stepped into the space, it was really diverse in terms of sound and music. There was a no door policy. There was multidisciplinary art happening, and it just felt like this really loose house party in a pub.
I really felt welcome and safe there. I connected with community in the space, and everyone was really artistic and colourful and half-naked! It was really a moment in time for me where I felt like I was back home — that really is why I started Heaps Gay.
And the rest was history! How did Sydney’s queer scene compare to London’s?
KAT: When I got back to Sydney, I was really excited to go out on the scene and continue finding out who I was. Back in 2013, the scene was super different in Sydney. This is pre-COVID, pre-lockouts, pre-bushfires. It was just a completely different time. It was a time when marriage equality still wasn’t even legal, so it was a really different scene.
Oxford Street was still thriving. All those clubs were open, like The Oxford and GiRLTHING, but it was primarily gay men. There were some lesbian nights, too, but I feel like our scene was very segregated, and I didn’t really find where I fit within those spaces at the time.
I didn’t go to London with the intention of starting Heaps Gay, but I had that experience there and felt like it was missing in Sydney. So that’s what happened, and then the first Heaps Gay event in Sydney was at The Gladstone Hotel.
Did everything run smoothly at that first Heaps Gay party?
KAT: Well, the doors were falling off the loos and there was graffiti. It was just loose. We had around 600 people come through. It was back when you could drink in back lanes. It was fun!
I think that is what I’ve always aimed to achieve with the events since then. It was mostly about creating a space where everyone felt welcome. At the time, I didn’t really have a queer chosen family in Sydney, so it was through Heaps Gay that I was able to do that. So it was really inclusive from the start.
Heaps Gay has grown a lot since that first party, was that something you imagined?
KAT: I did not think for one second that that party would turn into what it is now. It just started with the one, then I did a couple more in that venue. Then it became a monthly thing for about two years until the pub was sold and we got booted from the space.
That was the motivation to start thinking about how to make the spaces great for community in different buildings, pubs, and streets. That’s why it evolved into a queer party brand that does a whole bunch of stuff based around community.
So how did you go about expanding those early days of initial growth for Heaps Gay?
KAT: When we first started, it was at a time when Facebook wasn’t about advertising like it is now. It was when everyone was just getting onto social media, so most people saw the posts you made.
Because of that time for marketing, with the name being Heaps Gay, if you were queer or curious, you were instantly clicking on the event page. That in itself was enough to give it groundswell. It felt like it didn’t even need marketing, it was just the right place at the right time.
Honestly, it was so loose and silly, and it was back at a time where it felt like there were no inhibitions. It didn’t really feel like there were any rules. From there, we had a few opportunities, like VIVID asking us to do parties, and I did a few others along Oxford Street.
Absolutely! What are the key distinguishers of a Heaps Gay event that you’ve carried with you as it’s grown?
KAT: I feel like Heaps Gay is not really a club party. It is that, in some ways, but the best parties we’ve had are not in a club. They’ve been where you’re free to talk to each other or sit together in a back street. It sort of feels a little rougher around the edges and has that house party energy. That, for me, has always been such a passion — the creation of the space.
I find the challenge of creating the ultimate vibe really satisfying. Every time you move into a new space, you have to think about what that means from the music, to the decor, to the community, and how it all comes to life.
It’s like a special recipe. I got really addicted to creating space and creating these awesome worlds in new spaces.
I feel like a part of that creation is the iconic name. How did you land on Heaps Gay?
KAT: I grew up in Condobolin, five hours west in New South Wales. It’s where Shannon Noll is from! So Heaps Gay was about reclaiming that slogan; “It’s so gay,” “you’re so gay,” — which is what I grew up with there in the 80s and 90s.
For me, it made total sense for empowering the community and making them feel like we own our identities and who we want to be. To be your whole self everyday and not be ashamed of that. So that’s how the name came about. I sat around a barbecue with some friends and “Heaps Gay” was the first thing we said.
From those humble beginnings to now! What’s it been like to watch Heaps Gay grow?
KAT: I was just thinking about this today, because the world is bonkers! Back when we started Heaps Gay in 2013, we were fighting for marriage equality and for the rights of queer people to live free everyday. A decade on, though, I wake up every morning and I’m seeing terrible things happen overseas. I’m getting a bit teary, actually — I didn’t think I would.
But we’re still in this place now where we are fighting for equality for our trans and gender-diverse friends and queer people. What’s going on is going to affect our community here. So the queer spaces that we’ve been doing are essentially creating spaces for us to come together, feel free, express who we want to be and find a chosen family. Today, that is still so relevant and so important.
I think that’s why Heaps Gay events feel especially important right now.
KAT: For sure, and the thing I’ve learned about that importance is that community is key. Collaboration and working together is one of the most important things I’ve learned to continue to stay vital for our community.
I’m not 25 like when I started Heaps Gay, I’m 44. So I’m working with young people everyday to inform what the events are and to create platforms for the next generation to create space and curate. It’s about giving that opportunity so that the next generation can come together.
Absolutely! Is there a time when that sense of community felt especially strong?
KAT: Since I’m able to work with community, I’m able to listen to their needs to know what is important. So, for example, when we went into lockdown, we created Loud n Queer TV. We pivoted and had an online streaming of our events every Friday.
We had artists coming in, and we were still able to pay artists during lockdown. Then, for marriage equality, we would host events to fundraise. So being able to listen to community is really important, to still think about the grassroots.
You’ve also responded to the community through your side projects. How did your experience as the 2020 Creative Director of Sydney Mardi Gras influence your work with Heaps Gay?
KAT: Mardi Gras is so relevant and important for young people, in terms of equality and the rights we continue to fight for. When I was at Mardi Gras, I would work with the team to diversify the offering with a focus on young people. So taking what we do with Heaps Gay and bringing that to Mardi Gras, in a way. Mardi Gras is such an amazing organisation and has done such a great job, and it’ll be fantastic this year!
I’m looking forward to it! On the music front, is there any behind-the-scenes goss around how Heaps Gay manages to pull all those starry lineups?
KAT: I like to know what’s going on in and around our amazing scene in Sydney, and in all the wonderful subcultures. What we try to do is hero the voices that may not have had an opportunity otherwise. I think that’s the key.
Then we try to pull it all together, while thinking about all the different audiences. So for our Mardi Gras Heaps Gay coming up, there’ll be around 6,000 people — it’ll be crazy! I
In terms of the curation, we try to think about all the different communities that will come, and make it so people will be like ‘what the hell is going on!’ We have some amazing, very secret international artists that are in town that are coming to play. I think we’re allowed to tease that soon!
OMG! Can’t wait! In terms of that curation, what is the special sauce that makes Heaps Gay stand out?
KAT: It’s definitely the house party vibe. We don’t take ourselves too seriously. You come along and you don’t really know what you’re going to get. One thing I do, maybe more so than any other producer, is I’m obsessed with decor.
My storage unit right now — if you need an inflatable anything, I’ve got it. I should start allowing others to borrow them!
I try to create these insane worlds. If there’s colourful things around you and everyone’s happy, it’s just a vibe! But there’s so many amazing queer producers, lots of next generation people coming out and creating really cool stuff!
Do you know what might be behind that new generation of queer events and nightlife?
KAT: You can go out on any weekend and there’s a queer event happening somewhere, which is different to when Heaps Gay started. There were ones like Kooky, House of Mince and Bad Dog that have been around forever and are incredible, but lots of newbies came out of COVID. They’re all good! They’re all fun!
I think Drag Race has really catapulted the queer scene into the mainstream. We’re also seeing all these amazing musicians in pop in such a sapphic time for pop culture. So what’s important to think about as queer culture becomes more popular is that we have to continue to make sure our queer spaces are safe.
So much of creating that space comes down to the venues, which Heaps Gay more than delivers on! Any particular venues that stand out for you?
KAT: It’s those non-traditional event spaces like libraries and car parks and town halls that are basically my fave. They’re such hard work, but ultimately they’re such a vibe and everyone has the best time. Some of my favourites were Pleasures Playhouse, which is the old Chinatown cinema — that was incredible.
The party we did in Melbourne at the State Library as part of Music Week was also insane. There’s just something about creating queer space in those institutional buildings where you don’t really feel like you’re allowed to be there. It’s like you’re going to dirty the carpet and someone’s going to yell at you!
As one of Sydney’s ultimate party-throwers, what advice might you give to a Heaps Gay partier who is feeling a little worse for wear the morning after?
KAT: Get tickets to the Kylie [Minogue] concert! That’s what I’m doing! I’m going with a bunch of queeros in a pink hummer! I’d just say to take lots of photos and videos, so when you’re feeling worse for wear, you can relive the magic!
5 Quick Questions with Kat
1. Fave queer spot in Sydney?
KAT: The Bearded Tit.
2. Fave queer spot not in Sydney (Australia or international)?
KAT: Milkshake Festival in Amsterdam.
3. Fave queer book / movie / TV show / artist / etc?
KAT: I’m obsessed with Schitt’s Creek, does that count?
4. #1 tip for surviving Mardi Gras?
KAT: Make sure you have tickets to all your events! If you’re going to the parade, take a milk crate so you can see better. Just think through where you’re going to go on parade night, because it’s hectic!
5. Describe your first crush with an emoji:
KAT: I really love the little smiley face with two hands on either side! Cheeky! Ultimately I think that represents my personality. It’s literally me! [🤗]
This story is part of our Mardi Gras digital issue, celebrating the LGBTQ+ culture makers and game changers who make this city thrive.
Read more from this issue:
- House Of Silky’s Father Xander Khoury on Ballroom’s Past, Present & Shining Future
- Felicia Foxx on Queer Blackfella Excellence & Change Through ‘Artivism’
- Kath Ebbs on Non-Binary Joy, the Pink Dollar, and Falling in Love Over Line Dancing
- Alix Higgins on Friends As Muses & Twisting Masculinity In Fashion
The post Heaps Gay’s Kat Dopper on Community, Chosen Family & Creating The Ultimate Vibe appeared first on PEDESTRIAN.TV .
