Queerstories

Charles O'Grady broke his ankle doing something very masculine. Charles O’Grady is a queer transgender theatremaker, poet, and journalist, who lives between Sydney and Melbourne. As a playwright he has written multiple works focused on intersectional queer and trans storytelling, including Kaleidoscope, Telescope, and Are We Awake? He has worked on productions with such mainstage companies as Griffin, Malthouse, Belvoir, and STC. Charles is a fierce advocate for nuanced trans representation and trans stories that are told by trans people, and has worked for the last four years to bring other trans and queer artists into the theatrical conversation. 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 suppor

A coming-of-age story about struggling with frizzy hair and a frenemy. Raveena Grover is a multidisciplinary creative who has written for Sweatshop Western Sydney, UTS Vertigo and Hijacked. She has also performed poetry with Bankstown Poetry Slam and Between Two Worlds. She is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of how South Asian culture and queerness intersect as a diasporic Punjabi. 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 pri

A reflection on growing older and the perils of dating - when you've tried chicken pecking and playing dead is it time to just give up? Laura Hart has been performing for over ten years, focusing on improvisation, comedy & drag. She performs regularly around Sydney, and has trained at Impro Australia, Improv Theatre Sydney & UCB. She has worked creatively with not for profit organisations such as Camp Quality, The Starlight Children’s Foundation, Ted Noffs & Milkcrate Theatre. Laura was a 2017 Young Social Pioneer with the Foundation for Young Australians – developing and sharing her improv comedy program for people with anxiety. She is the outreach and inclusion officer for Improv Theatre Sydney 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 purchas

A story of ongoing connection to Country of Indigenous LGBTIQ peoples through the eyes of a terrible fisherman. Steven Ross is Wamba Wamba man from Deniliquin in southern NSW and has cultural and familial connections to the Wiradjuri, Mutthi Mutthi and Gunditjmara peoples. Throughout his life, Steven has been a dancer, singer, actor and storyteller, and has designed and delivered cultural events and cultural education projects. Steven has worked in the public service in Indigenous policy, environmental affairs, LGBTQI projects, cultural and arts coordination, and local government. Steven has sat on the board for Murray Catchment Management Authority, Yarkuwa Indigenous Knowledge Centre and South-West Regional Arts. He is currently a board director for Inner City Legal Centre and sits on the Advisory body for the NSW State Library. 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

Krishna is trying their hand at stand up comedy. At Queerstories, they performed an excerpt from their first hour long comedy show, Beast. Krishna Istha is a performer, live artist and theatre maker. They have performed across the UK, Australia, USA and Germany. Currently, they are working on their new show 'Beast', an Arts House (Melbourne) commission, supported by public funding from Arts Council England, for Midsumma Festival 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.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf

Nath meets one of his heroes. Nath Valvo tours Australia and the world as a comedian, and has an impressive list of TV appearances under his belt having hosted ABC’s Comedy Up Late and recorded an hour long stand up special as part of ABC’s Comedy Next Gen. He’s also been on The Project, Dirty Laundry Live and Just For Laughs Sydney. 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.

Tropical island getaways are not for the faint hearted, and travelling alone can awaken some of the ugliest spiritual epiphanies, as Bobuq learnt on an Eat, Pray, Love inspired trip to Hawaii at the age of 20. Bobuq Sayed is a writer, multi-disciplinary artist, queer youth worker and community organiser of the Afghan diaspora. They have co-edited Archer Magazine in the past, and they are the co-editor of un Magazine's forthcoming issues 13.1 and 13.2. Their work has appeared in Kill Your Darlings, Black Girl Dangerous, Overland, The Lifted Brow, ACMI, Peril and VICE. 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 stu

When nothing is black and white, but actually a whole lot of grey and the world is turned upside down from one sentence. A family secret is revealed, changing everything. Rachael Oak Butler was born and raised in Albury/Wodonga and has worn many professional hats in her time, such as Professional musician, working in shearing sheds, becoming a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and then an Instructor for a time. She currently works as a personal trainer and teaches self defence to young people in high schools. 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 a

Peter reflects on his decades of activism. Peter de Waal is a foundation member of CAMP Inc (Campaign Against Moral Persecution) known for his 1972 appearance on the national ABC National TV program Chequerboard, with his late partner Peter Bonsall-Boone. His decades of activism encompass gay rights, the establishment of Phone-A-Friend, the precursor of the Gay and Lesbian Counselling Service, early Sydney Mardi Gras organising, health promotions, immigration rights and campaigning for marriage equality. 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&nbs

On living through Thatcher, creating family meaning, and pushing to create Safe Schools. Roz Ward co-founded and directed Safe Schools Coalition Victoria. She sustained ongoing personal attacks through the public debates about Safe Schools and as a result became one of the most well known 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.

Writer and poet Ellen van Neerven reflects on team sport friendships, new cities and personal geographies. Ellen van Neerven is a writer of Mununjali Yugambeh and Dutch heritage.Her first book, Heat and Light (UQP, 2014), was the recipient of the David Unaipon Award, the Dobbie Literary Award and the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards Indigenous Writers Prize. Heat and Light was also shortlisted for The Stella Prize, the Queensland Literary Award for State Significance, and the Readings Prize. Ellen’s second book, a collection of poetry, Comfort Food (UQP, 2016) was shortlisted for the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards Kenneth Slessor Prize and Highly Commended for the 2016 Wesley Michel Wright Prize. 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 yo

Hayley Katzen shares a vivid and colourful account of her experience of moving to a remote cattle farm in Northern NSW to live with her farmer girlfriend, Jen. Hayley is a writer who lives on a small cattle farm west of Lismore. Her play ‘Pressure Point' was performed at the Byron Community Theatre and her short stories and essays have won awards and been published in Australian and American journals and anthologies. The first publication she worked on was The Bride Wore Pink, a community discussion paper on the legal recognition of same sex relationships produced by the Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby in 1992. 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 w

Virginia Seymour, born rugged, queer, alcoholic, tells how niche skills acquired through survival of an average dysfunctional family of origin are embraced and repurposed as "Super Powers" to escape probable disaster in the outback. Virginia Seymour aka Virg and Fur Mir is an ecologist and is a well-known legend in the local area for her environmental advocacy and restoration efforts. An ex chef, gender non-conformist, recovered alcoholic and all round handy hero, Virginia is lovingly referred to as McGyver or McGayver. 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

Fiona McGregor reflects on a long held family tradition. Fiona McGregor is a Sydney novelist, essayist, art critic and performance artist. She has published five books including Strange Museums, a travel memoir of a performance art tour through Poland. Her latest novel Indelible Ink won Age Book of the Year. She writes for The Monthly, The Saturday Paper, Overland, RealTime, Runway and Running Dog. Fiona’s performance, prioritising endurance and durational forms, has been presented internationally. Since the 90s, Fiona has been active in Sydney’s queer alternative culture, currently co-producing dance party UNDEAD, the annual fundraiser for Unharm, a grassroots organisation campaigning for drug law reform. 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

After turning 36, Miranda imparts a little advice she's learnt along the way. Miranda Sparks is a wearer of many hats. She is a writer, public speaker, superhero fetishist, and presenter on Joy FM’s radio show The Gender Agenda. In what spare time she has left, she expands the prose universe of her personal superhero Glimmer Girl. 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.

A trip to the 'homeland' of Slovenia teaches Krissy Kneen a thing or two about how cultures, individual families and individuals deal with trauma in such very different ways. Krissy Kneen is an award-winning writer and a beloved member of the Australian literary community. She has written memoir, poetry and fiction, and her latest novel, An Uncertain Grace, was shortlisted for the 2018 Stella Prize. Her other work includes Affection, Steeplechase, Triptych and The Adventures of Holly White and the Incredible Sex Machine. 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

Vanessa remembers a trip she took to Cairns more than 20 years ago. Dr. Vanessa Lee, from the Yupungathiand Meriam people, is a social epidemiologist, educator and public health/ health sciences researcher in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Sydney. Dr. Lee is a director for Suicide Prevention Australia and she chairs the National Public Health Indigenous Leadership in Education Network, and she also holds a number of current expert advisory positions, including the National Advisory Group Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Informatics and Data, Australian Health Care Reform Alliance, and Close the Gap. She has a PhD (social epi.), MPH (epi.) and BTEC degree. 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 boo

For the first time in Charles' very talkative life, he has nothing to say. Charles O’Grady is a queer transgender theatremaker, poet, and journalist. As a playwright he has written multiple works focused on intersectional queer and trans storytelling, including Kaleidoscope, Telescope, and Are We Awake? He has worked on productions with such mainstage companies as Griffin, Malthouse, Belvoir, and STC. 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 aca

Gay rugby, a missed flight and finding new confidence in performance. Simon Copland is a PhD candidate in Sociology at the Australian National University. He is a freelance writer who has been published in the Guardian, SBS Online Australia, BBC Online, and co-produces and presents the podcast Queers, not to be confused with the podcast you’re currently on, which you should all subscribe to. Simon is the co-editor of the online publishing site Green Agenda. 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

Ally shares a cautionary tale about the dangers of meeting up with a drug dealer. Ally Garrett has been writing and speaking on body politics and fat activism for the past decade, with her writing featured in The Guardian, Daily Life and ABC Life. 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.