Court Orders Tasmanian Museum to Allow Men into Women-Only Exhibit

The Museum of Old and New Art's Ladies Lounge, designed to challenge gender norms, must open its doors to men following a legal dispute over discrimination.

A Tasmanian court has ordered the Museum of Old and New Art (Mona) in Hobart, Tasmania, to admit men to its previously women-only Ladies Lounge exhibit, following a legal challenge.
The Ladies Lounge, featuring works by Picasso among others, was created to challenge misogyny and male patriarchy by reversing themes of entitlement and sexism.
Jason Lau, a male visitor, argued that the exclusion was discriminatory under Tasmania’s anti-discrimination laws, leading to the court's decision.
The museum and exhibit creator Kirsha Kaechele, who intended the space as a living artwork, expressed deep disappointment with the ruling.
Supporters of the exhibit engaged in performance art during the court proceedings, which the judge found inappropriate and disrespectful.