Queerstories

Kelly Azizi reflects on the undramatic but bewildering process of breaking up with her once-best-friend. Kelly Azizi is currently a PhD candidate in the Department of Gender and Cultural Studies at the University of Sydney. Her research interests include the politics of ethno-cultural and diasporic identities, and institutional critique. Kelly plays an active role in Sydney's art community, and is an advocate of its self-criticality. She was the gallery administrator at 55 Sydenham Rd, an independent art space in Marrickville, from 2017 to 2018. She is secretly plotting a socialist uprising. Queerstories is an LGBTQI+ storytelling night programmed by Maeve Marsden, with regular events around Australia. For Queerstories event dates, visit www.maevemarsden.com, and follow Queerstories on Facebook. The Queerstories book is published by Hachette Australia, and can be purchased from your favourite independent bookseller or on Booktopia. To support Queerstories, become a patron at www.patreon.com/ladysing

Teddy Dunn recalls suits from his life, and explores what hindsight (and coming out as trans) does to those memories. Teddy performed this story in Sydney at Giant Dwarf, in Melbourne at Howler and at Adelaide Writer's Week in 2019. Teddy Dunn is an independent director, theatre maker and dramaturg who graduated from Flinders Drama Centre in 2015 with First Class Honours and a University Medal. Since his graduation, Teddy has directed four debuts of new Australian plays, he has directed students at AC Arts, and at Flinders University. He also works with a group of queer youth community members and ActNow Theatre. As an actor, Teddy has worked with State Theatre Company, the ABC, ActNow Theatre, Patch Theatre Company and Vitalstatistix. He was a participant in the 2015 Director’s Studio at Playwriting Australia, working on best practice for directors of new, Australian plays, and in 2016 won the Bendigo Bank Award with the Helpmann Academy. Queerstories is an LGBTQI+ storytelling night programmed by Maev

Everyone knows bisexual people aren’t real and don’t exist, so for someone who isn’t real and whose existence is a myth, Elaine has nevertheless seen some bullshit. Elaine Castillo was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. She graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a degree in Comparative Literature. She is a Voices of Our Nation Arts Foundation Fellow, and her writing can be found in Freeman’s, Lit Hub, The Rumpus, Taste Magazine, Bon Appetit, Electric Literature and elsewhere. Her short film, A Mukbang, was commissioned by the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art’s Open Space. America Is Not the Heart is her first novel. Queerstories is an LGBTQI+ storytelling night programmed by Maeve Marsden, with regular events around Australia. For Queerstories event dates, visit www.maevemarsden.com, and follow Queerstories on Facebook. The Queerstories book is published by Hachette Australia, and can be purchased from your favourite independent bookseller o

Clementine reflects on flying, pregnancy and ways to trick one's brain into managing anxiety. Clementine Ford is a freelance writer, broadcaster and public speaker based in Melbourne. She is the bestselling author of the feminist manifesto Fight Like A Girl. Her most recent book is Boys Will Be Boys. Queerstories is an LGBTQI+ storytelling night programmed by Maeve Marsden, with regular events around Australia. For Queerstories event dates, visit www.maevemarsden.com, and follow Queerstories on Facebook. The Queerstories book is published by Hachette Australia, and can be purchased from your favourite independent bookseller or on Booktopia. To support Queerstories, become a patron at www.patreon.com/ladysingsitbetter And for gay stuff and insomnia rants follow me - Maeve Marsden - on Twitter and Instagram.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Via possums, renos and Bridget Jones' Baby, Rick outlines his these for why his mother, Deb Morton, is a queer icon. Rick performed this piece at Sydney Writer's Festival and Adelaide Writer's Week. Rick Morton is an award-winning journalist with The Australian and is the author of One Hundred Years of Dirt. It explores intergenerational trauma, poverty, addiction and mental health and the role of a mother who tried to love enough for the failures of everyone else around her. Originally from Queensland, Rick has worked in Sydney, Hobart, Melbourne and Canberra where he was the social affairs writer for The Australian. Rick is the winner of the 2017 Kennedy Award for Outstanding Columnist. One Hundred Years of Dirt was longlisted for the 2018 Walkley Book of the Year and was Highly Commended in the Victorian Premier's Literary Awards 2019. Queerstories is an LGBTQI+ storytelling night programmed by Maeve Marsden, with regular events around Australia. For Queerstories event dates, visit www.maevemarsden.com, an

Teresa shares her story, spanning decades, of life, love, family and climbing the ladder in a male dominated industry. Teresa Avila is cofounder of the Red Rattler Theatre and was founding chair and treasurer for 10 years before stepping down last year. She has worked in engineering and heavy construction for over 20 years and is one of the industry’s few operational facing senior women. She is a recreational pilot and served on the board of directors of Recreational Aviation Australia and, in 2013, founded Avila Aviation Pty Ltd. Queerstories is an LGBTQI+ storytelling night programmed by Maeve Marsden, with regular events around Australia. For Queerstories event dates, visit www.maevemarsden.com, and follow Queerstories on Facebook. The Queerstories book is published by Hachette Australia, and can be purchased from your favourite independent bookseller or on Booktopia. To support Queerstories, become a patron at www.patreon.com/ladysingsitbetter And for gay stuff and insomnia rants follow me

Yen tells a story of moving to Canberra as a bright eyed undergraduate, seeking love, identity and shoes. Yen Eriksen is an advocate, writer and digital storyteller based in Canberra, interested in exploring the intersections between identity, race, gender and queerness. Queerstories is an LGBTQI+ storytelling night programmed by Maeve Marsden, with regular events around Australia. For Queerstories event dates, visit www.maevemarsden.com, and follow Queerstories on Facebook. The Queerstories book is published by Hachette Australia, and can be purchased from your favourite independent bookseller or on Booktopia. To support Queerstories, become a patron at www.patreon.com/ladysingsitbetter And for gay stuff and insomnia rants follow me - Maeve Marsden - on Twitter and Instagram.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Kate shares a story about having a very gay year in 2009 - living in queer share houses, discovering mooncups and enjoying lesbian blogs. Kate Duffy is a community lawyer and educator. She established the Safe Relationships Project a domestic violence court assistance scheme for the LGBTIQ community whilst working at the Inner City Legal Centre, and the domestic violence resource Ask LOIS whilst working at the Women’s Legal Service NSW. More recently Kate has been working at the Marrickville Legal Centre as a Youth Solicitor and at Legal Aid NSW presenting crime prevention workshops to high school students. Kate is also a retired singer songwriter, vegetarian aspiring vegan, keen composter and gardener, and a Mum. Queerstories is an LGBTQI+ storytelling night programmed by Maeve Marsden, with regular events around Australia. For Queerstories event dates, visit www.maevemarsden.com, and follow Queerstories on Facebook. The Queerstories book is published by Hachette Australia, and can be purchased fr

Jonny reflects on his history, on family, and on how he grew up to be exactly who he is. Jonny Hawkins is an actor, writer and big time DJ. He was the recipient of the 2016 Sydney Theatre Critic’s Best Newcomer Award and you may have seen him in the TV Mini series PETER ALLEN: NOT THE BOY NEXT DOOR or the ABC film RIOT. In 2017 he made a short film called Joy Boy, which won best film at the Melbourne Queer Film Awards. Jonny is also one half of disco DJing duo The Dollar Bin Darlings, who you may have caught at The Bearded Tit, at Sydney Festival or at other excellent happenings around the traps. Queerstories is an LGBTQI+ storytelling night programmed by Maeve Marsden, with regular events around Australia. For Queerstories event dates, visit www.maevemarsden.com, and follow Queerstories on Facebook. The Queerstories book is published by Hachette Australia, and can be purchased from your favourite independent bookseller or on Booktopia. To support Queerstories, become a patron at www.patreon.c

For years, Maeve and DeAnne have planned to host an event called Super Lesbo FunTime. This story has nothing to do with that, I am just trying to manifest the event by including it in this description. Enjoy! DeAnne Smith, a Canadian Comedy Award winner, has performed at Just for Laughs, JFL42, the Winnipeg Comedy Festival, Melbourne International Comedy Festival, the New Zealand International Comedy Festival, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and the Iceland Comedy Festival to name a few. She’s also been on TV all over the darn world, including on Last Comic Standing and The Late Late Show in the U.S., as well as in Canada, Australia and the UK. Her video “Straight Men, Step Your Game Up” has over 46 million views. You can watch her half hour special, Gentleman Elf, on Netflix. Please do. Queerstories is an LGBTQI+ storytelling night programmed by Maeve Marsden, with regular events around Australia. For Queerstories event dates, visit www.maevemarsden.com, and follow Queerstories on Facebook.

From Ani DiFranco to the Spice Girls, via Sophie B. Hawkins and Gia, Jess McGuire celebrates the inexplicable magnificence that is your QUEERFORCE. Jess McGuire is a DJ, writer, broadcaster, MC, and trivia host based in Melbourne. She appears regularly on ABC Local Radio and Double J as a reviewer and cultural commentator, and for many years she was the editor of pop culture website Defamer Australia. She was a former co-host on Triple R’s Breakfasters where, amongst other things, she had to read out the sports news and mangled more tennis players names than she cares to remember. Queerstories is an LGBTQI+ storytelling night programmed by Maeve Marsden, with regular events around Australia. For Queerstories event dates, visit www.maevemarsden.com, and follow Queerstories on Facebook. The Queerstories book is published by Hachette Australia, and can be purchased from your favourite independent bookseller or on Booktopia. To support Queerstories, become a patron at www.patreon.com/ladysingsitbe

An excerpt from a piece written for Archer Magazine, Julian Dahne Molony shares their journey to wholly embodying their gender. Julian Dahne Molony is an interdisciplinary artist who works with painting, video, performance and fibre art. They also operate an Artist Run Initiative named ‘Intersect Space’ based in Marrickville. This piece is adapted from a story they wrote for Archer Magazine, and was performed at the Archer Magazine launch in Sydney in March 2019. Queerstories is an LGBTQI+ storytelling night programmed by Maeve Marsden, with regular events around Australia. For Queerstories event dates, visit www.maevemarsden.com, and follow Queerstories on Facebook. The Queerstories book is published by Hachette Australia, and can be purchased from your favourite independent bookseller or on Booktopia. To support Queerstories, become a patron at www.patreon.com/ladysingsitbetter And for gay stuff and insomnia rants follow me - Maeve Marsden - on Twitter and Instagram.  Se

A collection of tales from Ro's journey to becoming the Victorian Commissioner for Gender and Sexuality. Ro Allen is the Victorian Commissioner for Gender and Sexuality, has been a member of three Victorian Government LGBTI ministerial advisory groups. As founding CEO of UnitingCare Cutting Edge, Ro established Victoria’s first rural support group for young LGBTI people. In 2003 Ro received a Centenary Medal and in 2009 was inducted into the Victorian Government Honour Roll. Queerstories is an LGBTQI+ storytelling night programmed by Maeve Marsden, with regular events around Australia. For Queerstories event dates, visit www.maevemarsden.com, and follow Queerstories on Facebook. The Queerstories book is published by Hachette Australia, and can be purchased from your favourite independent bookseller or on Booktopia. To support Queerstories, become a patron at www.patreon.com/ladysingsitbetter And for gay stuff and insomnia rants follow me - Maeve Marsden - on Twitter and Instagram. &n

Tilly Lawless describes four momentous bookings that either taught her something about herself or allowed her to process the personal through the professional. Tilly Lawless is a queer, Sydney-based sex worker who uses her Instagram to analyse her relationships, romances and motivations. Growing up in rural NSW her writing is often a bucolic love letter to the countryside she grew up in, whilst also being an intimate look into her work and emotions. Queerstories is an LGBTQI+ storytelling night programmed by Maeve Marsden, with regular events around Australia. For Queerstories event dates, visit www.maevemarsden.com, and follow Queerstories on Facebook. The Queerstories book is published by Hachette Australia, and can be purchased from your favourite independent bookseller or on Booktopia. To support Queerstories, become a patron at www.patreon.com/ladysingsitbetter And for gay stuff and insomnia rants follow me - Maeve Marsden - on Twitter and Instagram.  See omnystudio.com/listener

Four scenes from a journey to parenthood: the terrors, tensions and tenderness of falling into parenthood from the margins. Gala Vanting works to create nuanced, compassionate, justice driven dialogue about sexual culture, sex education, gender and power, and access to embodiment and wellbeing for our gendered and sexual selves.  They have spent 15 years working in this field – which has manifested through writing, speaking, filmmaking, performance, facilitating discussions and experiences for individuals and groups, and working as an advocate, activist and peer in alternative sexual cultures and in the mainstream. Queerstories is an LGBTQI+ storytelling night programmed by Maeve Marsden, with regular events around Australia. For Queerstories event dates, visit www.maevemarsden.com, and follow Queerstories on Facebook. The Queerstories book is published by Hachette Australia, and can be purchased from your favourite independent bookseller or on Booktopia. To support Queerstories, become a patr

Susie explores the ways that Aboriginal people, especially women, continue to be Othered by white-colonial ways of seeing. Susie Anderson is a Koori writer from western Victoria who lives and works in Sydney. Her writing typically focuses on erasure of Indigenous narratives throughout Victoria and Australia, and attempts to reconnect within this fragmentation. She has been published in publications like The Lifted Brow, Rabbit Poetry, un magazine and was part of the anthology Growing Up Aboriginal in Australia. Queerstories is an LGBTQI+ storytelling night programmed by Maeve Marsden, with regular events around Australia. For Queerstories event dates, visit www.maevemarsden.com, and follow Queerstories on Facebook. The Queerstories book is published by Hachette Australia, and can be purchased from your favourite independent bookseller or on Booktopia. To support Queerstories, become a patron at www.patreon.com/ladysingsitbetter And for gay stuff and insomnia rants follow me - Maeve Marsden - on Twit

How going into battle in live action role-play battle unlocked Scout's hidden gender quest. Scout Boxall is a non-binary comedian, clown and low-fi misandrist based in Naarm (Melbourne). After bursting onto the comedy scene in 2018 and making it to the Raw Comedy National Finals, they trained at the Philippe Gaulier clown school and performed in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival under the Tessa Waters Mentorship Program. When Scout isn't transcribing court documents for their day job or writing and performing comedy, they can be found making period garb and crafting characters for LARP (live action role-play). Queerstories is an LGBTQI+ storytelling night programmed by Maeve Marsden, with regular events around Australia. For Queerstories event dates, visit www.maevemarsden.com, and follow Queerstories on Facebook. The Queerstories book is published by Hachette Australia, and can be purchased from your favourite independent bookseller or on Booktopia. To support Queerstories, become a patron at www.patre

Declan shares an un-inspirational coming of age story. Declan Greene is an award winning theatre-maker and Resident Artist at Malthouse Theatre. As a playwright, his work includes Moth, Pompeii, L.A., Eight Gigabytes of Hardcore Pornography, I Am a Miracle, and The Homosexuals, or ‘Faggots’, which have been produced across Australia, Europe, the US, and the UK. Alongside Ash Flanders, Declan co-runs queer independent theatre company Sisters Grimm. In 2019 he is directing and adapting Kenneth Cook's Wake In Fright for Malthouse Theatre. Queerstories is an LGBTQI+ storytelling night programmed by Maeve Marsden, with regular events around Australia. For Queerstories event dates, visit www.maevemarsden.com, and follow Queerstories on Facebook. The Queerstories book is published by Hachette Australia, and can be purchased from your favourite independent bookseller or on Booktopia. To support Queerstories, become a patron at www.patreon.com/ladysingsitbetter And for gay stuff and insomnia rant

Dibs speaks about unexpected challenges they encountered after starting hormone replacement therapy. Dibs Barisic Sprem is an energetic and avid queer rights enthusiast who identifies as non binary. Since their early teens Dibs has advocated solidly for the sex and gender diverse community. They have volunteered for LGBTIQA not for profits Wear It Purple, ACON and the Pinnacle Foundation, where Dibs is alumni. In 2017 Dibs co developed a transgender and gender non conforming language guide for the general public, businesses and journalists. Queerstories is an LGBTQI+ storytelling night programmed by Maeve Marsden, with regular events around Australia. For Queerstories event dates, visit www.maevemarsden.com, and follow Queerstories on Facebook. The Queerstories book is published by Hachette Australia, and can be purchased from your favourite independent bookseller or on Booktopia. To support Queerstories, become a patron at www.patreon.com/ladysingsitbetter And for gay stuff and insomnia rants follo

Brandon reflects on his changing relationship with his father - influenced by webcams, men in uniform and bad jokes about Les Mis. Brandon Bear was born in Penang, Malaysia but moved to Western Sydney as a nine-month-old baby. After growing up and spreading his wings he began a career working with marginalised community members including managing a sexual health project for homeless and at-risk young people and managing a mental health storytelling program. He also began volunteering with Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and Camp Goodtime, a camp for HIV+ young people from across Australia and New Zealand. Brandon has recently stepped down from five years on the board of Mardi Gras, and continues to attend Camp Goodtime, while struggling through the last year of a Bachelor of Arts and working as the Manager of Policy, Strategy and Research at ACON. Queerstories is an LGBTQI+ storytelling night programmed by Maeve Marsden, with regular events around Australia. For Queerstories event dates, visit www.maevemars