Joshua shares a poetic narrative about being Indigenous and queer in Canada. Joshua Whitehead is an Assistant Professor at the University of Calgary and he is the author of Making Love with the Land, full-metal indigiqueer and Jonny Appleseed all of which have received a litany of accolades and awards. He is also the editor of Love after the End: An Anthology of Two-Spirit and Indigiqueer Speculative Fiction, which won the Lambda Award in 2021. He performed this story at Sydney Writers...

Leanne shares her greatest failures for your entertainment and edification, and as a terribly public method of therapy, one might suppose. Leanne Yong started her career as an IT business analyst and is now an escape room creator who has designed internationally recognised games with her partner that weave unique puzzle mechanics with narrative. Two Can Play That Game is her debut novel. She performed this story at Sydney Writers Festival. Queerstories an award-winning LGBTQI+ storytelling...

Approaching 60, and reckoning with family histories, physical stuff, and the world at large, Sophie makes a list. Sophie Cunningham is the author of nine books, including the novel This Devastating Fever and the essay collection City of Trees. She is also a teacher, mentor, climate change activist and every day she posts an image of a tree on her Instagram @sophtreeofday. Sophie is the Chair of the Australian Society of Authors and an executive director of the Copyright Agency. She performed...

Daniel recounts the meaningful form of lying. Daniel Lavery is the cofounder of The Toast, served as Slate's Dear Prudence from 2016–2021, and the author of Something That May Shock and Discredit You. He performed this story at Sydney Writers Festival. Queerstories an award-winning LGBTQI+ storytelling project directed by Maeve Marsden, with regular events around Australia. For more information, visit www.queerstories.com.au and follow Queerstories on Facebook. The Queerstories book is...

Bernie shares her experiences with the supernatural. Best known as a judge from The New Inventors and her many years with ABC Science, Bernie Hobbs is an award-winning science writer and broadcaster. She performed this story at the World Science Festival in Brisbane. Queerstories an award-winning LGBTQI+ storytelling project directed by Maeve Marsden, with regular events around Australia. For more information, visit www.queerstories.com.au and follow Queerstories on Facebook. The Queerstories...

Alison is plagued by indecision when choosing between two seemingly perfect job opportunities in Germany. Dr Alison Wright is a Scientist at Griffith University working in the Office for Research. Her research specialised in Spinal Cord Injury stem cell treatments, and chemical tissue clearing microscopy techniques. As a prominent transgender scientist, she has been involved in outreach and advocacy to highlight LGBT individuals in STEM. Queerstories an award-winning LGBTQI+ storytelling...

Joni attempts to launch a rocket while discreetly transitioning; or she attempts to discreetly transition while launching a rocket. Dr Joni Sytsma is an aerospace engineer who began her career at the United States Air Force Research Laboratory before moving to Australia to join the Hypersonic International Flight Research Experiment program with Defence Science and Technology group. Today, Dr Sytsma is the Chief Technology Officer of the Innovative Launch, Automation, Novel Materials,...

Jesse reflects on the way her activism has shifted over the years, and the people who were fundamental to her work and life. Dr Jesse Hooley is a 78er and was part of the Transgender Liberation Coalition in the 90s – a story she’ll be sharing with you tonight. Jesse went on to an academic career, teaching sociology, and having retired recently, she has devoted her energies once more to trans activism, as well as watercolour painting. Queerstories an award-winning LGBTQI+ storytelling project...

Malaika rides the rollercoaster of grief and new beginnings. Malaika Mfalme {Angel King} is a singer, songwriter, guitarist, and event producer creating on Gadigal Land. Malaika is here to create a safe space focused on healing with a powerful message of kindness, acceptance and reflection vibrating through every one of their sonic outputs. They’re a producer for community event Queers of Joy, and they produce the podcast Womb For Improvement with their twin sister. Queerstories an...

C.Moore shares snapshots of her life. Along with an outstanding career as a queer social documentary photographer & exhibiting artist and curator, C.Moore Hardy was also a Director of PRIDE, (lesbian & gay community centre) in the 1980s. She was born in Darlinghurst and trained at National Art School, College of Fine Arts, and Sydney College of the Arts, and she has successfully left the corporate and community commercial photography world with her life intact. She performed this...

Lisa visits the Australian Queer Archives and is transported back to a different time in her life, shifting the way she thinks about her present. Lisa Salmon is a queer artist and writer from Naarm/Melbourne who debuted as a writer and publisher in 1989 when she and her then partner launched Australia’s first lesbian erotic zine Wicked Women. Lisa is currently writing a memoir and I cannot wait to read it. Queerstories an award-winning LGBTQI+ storytelling project directed by Maeve Marsden,...

Natali recalls a long-awaited visit to Chile that unknowingly set the scene for a life-changing moment. Natali Caro is a queer Colombian/ Chilean comedian, actor, drag king, writer and producer. They’re the founder of queer comedy cabaret GAG and PoC comedy lineup show Thanks For Having Me, they’re also the resident host of King’s & Queens, fBi Radio’s queer culture segment. You might have seen Natali on SBS The Feed, The Chaser War on 2021, Me&Her(pes), I'm Dying Inside, or your very...

Damien shares a story of his ancestors, connecting it to his present, to crossing oceans and preserving stories. Damien Webb is a proud member of the Palawa Diaspora, originally from Lutruwita (Tasmania). He has worked in state libraries for over 13 years, and he is currently Manager of the Indigenous Engagement Branch at the State Library of New South Wales. He performed this story at a special Queerstories event at the State Library in June 2023. Queerstories an award-winning LGBTQI+...

Ian recalls a treasured moment with his former coach, and reflects on how much things have changed. Ian Roberts started his career as a professional rugby league player in the mid 1980’s, playing for the South Sydney Rabbitohs, the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and the North Queensland Cowboys. He went on to play for NSW in 5 State of Origin series and over a dozen test matches for Australia. In 1994 at the high of his playing career Ian came out publicly and told the world he was a gay man, the...

Ellia was sure they were always destined to be someone and something, they just had to find their way to the truth of it all. Ellia Green is a retired professional rugby sevens player who was a part of the Olympic gold winning team at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Ellia is a national champion for change ambassador for the United Nations Australia, a Raise Ambassador and an Adopt Change ambassador. They performed this story at Riverside Theatres for Sydney World Pride. Queerstories an award-winning...

After a wild night of partying among fellow closeted friends, Patrick nearly loses the safety he has carefully created for himself. Patrick Abboud is an award winning journalist, documentary director and TV host. He is ambassador for Twenty10 and Wear it Purple advocating for LGBTQIA+ young people. Pat speaks Arabic and German and is Daddy to a two-year-old. He performed this story at Riverside Theatres for Sydney World Pride. Queerstories an award-winning LGBTQI+ storytelling project...

HANDSOME takes us through a series of moments, of community, connection and belonging. HANDSOME is a self-described tomboy pop artist who’s music celebrates the power of expression, creativity and fluidity and creates a space for anyone who longs to feel free. She performed this story at Riverside Theatres for Sydney World Pride. Queerstories an award-winning LGBTQI+ storytelling project directed by Maeve Marsden, with regular events around Australia. For more information, visit...

Bev shares her Mardi Gras journey Bev Lange volunteered on the Fair Day Committee for Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras and then went on to chair Fair Day and the Parade before 5 years on the Board with 3 years as President. Bev also volunteered as a Director on the boards of the Centenary of Federation, ncoss, Sydney Gay Games and more recently the Stepping Out Program and Human Society International (Australia). Bev lead the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation, was Director of Communications and...

Kerry discovers a fictional version of himself. Kerry Bashford started his queer career as a baby activist, organising rallies at the age of 18 in 1982, before escaping south to the big smoke. After several years of apprenticeship in gay, street and independent presses and countless queer arts endeavours, he scored a job at NineMSN where he worked as Producer of Online Portal and Entertainment and ended up as movie critic for the network. He ended his corporate career and became a copywriter,...

Shauna shares her path to 'The Town of Make Believe'. Shauna Jensen has lived, loved and worked in the music biz for over 50 years. An icon in the LGBTQI+ community, Shauna is also lauded as one of the best singers in Australia. Working for the majority of her career as a backing vocalist, studio singer, and vocal coach, she has worked with Jimmy Barnes, Cold Chisel, Noiseworks, Doug Parkinson, Richard Clapton, Hugh Jackman and Powderfinger to name just a few. Shauna has performed 4 main solo...

Amidst an earthquake, Erin is caught looting frocks. Erin ‘Bullet’ Heine is the Program Manager LGBTIQ+ at Sydney Local Health District. Originally from New Zealand, of Māori and European heritage, they are passionate about improving the health and wellbeing of LGBTIQ+ community. They won the Out Role Model at this year’s ACON Pride and Health in Wellbeing awards and completed the NSW health management traineeship program (2012-2013) including a Masters of Health Science, Health Service...

Neville reflects on how each of his platonic boyfriends has helped him grow. Neville Williams Boney is a proud Wiradjuri/Weilwan man from Wagga Wagga. Neville is a 2018 Graduate of NAISDA Dance College. He is currently an independent, interdisciplinary artist living on Dharug Lands. Neville danced with Karul Projects in their work CO_EX_EN premiering at Dance Massive (2019, he was a Collaborator for Phunktional’s Beyond The Wall (2019), Associate Producer for Sydney Festival and 2021 Artist...

How many breakups does it take to break someone? When western culture runs on the power of the romantic couple, it took losing a best friend to prove to Breakup Queen Brooke that she wasn't made entirely of stone and ice. Brooke Scobie is a queer Goorie woman, single mum, poetry and prose writer, podcast host and community worker. Born and bred on Bidjigal country, and now living on Darkinjung land, she considers herself first and foremost a creative weirdo. As a writer she is dedicated to...

CS has always been told they got their knack for storytelling from their family, oral histories passed down, told over and over. But are there more to those stories than meets the eye? CS Pacat is the author of the New York Times and USA Today bestseller, Dark Rise; the Captive Prince trilogy; and the GLAAD-nominated graphic novel series Fence. Born in Australia, CS Pacat has since lived in a number of cities, and currently resides and writes in Melbourne. Queerstories an award-winning...