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THE COURT VS CONNECTIONS 3RD ANNUAL
SMACKDOWN! WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 27TH!
DRAG FACTORY AT THE COURT!
MUD WRESTLING AT CONNECTIONS!
LIBERATED RICHARD MATIAS
Celebrate marriage equality
15.11.2017 Showtime Australia will present a critically acclaimed live production early next year that pays tribute to one of the greatest vocalists of our time. The Greatest Love of All - The Whitney Houston Show will honour the late great Whitney Houston’s talent, music and memory in a carefully crafted stage show. After 15,000 auditions over 12 countries, producers searched for the perfect person to embody Whitney’s spirit on the stage - finally finding their star in South Africa’s Belinda Davids.
“Houston is my personal idol and the inspiration for my career when I began singing at the age of 14,” Davids said. “I want people to remember Whitney for when she was amazing, for when she was the powerhouse, for when she was the voice. I want people to remember Whitney for when she was at the top of her game!” Davids’ will be accompanied on stage with a six-piece live band, dancers and a plethora of fabulous replica costumes and dazzling lighting and effects.
Having performed professionally from the age of 14, the Whitney superfan boasts an impressive four octave vocal range and a knack for every genre.
The two-hour extravaganza will tackle all of Whitney’s hits across her impressive 30-year career including I Will Always Love You, I Wanna Dance With Somebody, How Will I Know and of course, The Greatest Love Of All.
This year, Davids’ garnered international attention winning BBC ONE’s Even Better Than The Real Thing - a showcase of the best musical tribute acts in the United Kingdom - for her embodiment of Ms Houston.
The Greatest Love of All - The Whitney Houston Show will be at Crown Perth on Tuesday January 9th. For tickets and more information head to thewhitneyhoustonshow.com
Richard Matias’ photography book LIBERATED is the perfect Christmas gift. The stunning project from the local photographer donates all of its profits to supporting LGBTI youth via The Freedom Centre. Matias is an expert at capturing the male form, with his work appearing in DNA Magazine, as well as being commissioned by 2Wink Australia, LOLOS and other swimwear brands. To celebrate the recent YES win for marriage equality a limited edition run of the books have come out with a new dust jacket cover image. Richard Matias’ Liberated is available online now. To order your copy, head to www.waaids. com, or see more of Richard’s work at www. richardmatiasphotographer.com
December 1 1988 World AIDS Day is marked for the first time December 1 2008 Registered Domestic Relationships become legal in Victoria through the Relationships Act December 1 1989 Choreographer Alvin Ailey died of an AIDS related illness December 15 1973 The American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from its list of mental disorders December 16 2006 Nine year old Avery Jackson is the first transgender person to appear on national geographic December 18 1907 Washington Supreme court rules that sodomy is a justifiable reason to use deadly force December 31 1994 Australian performance artist Leigh Bowery dies from AIDs related illness
King of the World Local theatre identity Ivan King will be celebrated with a new Fringe World pop up The luxurious ladies of Toorak return to Foxtel this month for the fourth season of venue named in his honour. The Real Housewives of Melbourne. King’s Lair will be named in honour of Ivan King OAM, well known Perth theatre luminary, With the departure of Susie McLean, Pettifleur Berenger and original cast member Chyka historian and archivist of the Performing Arts Museum at His Maj. Keebaugh, two new ladies - former magazine editor Sally Bloomfield & lawyer Venus King’s Lair will be located in a basement room at HIs Majesty’s Theatre not accessible to the Behbahani-Clark - will join the frey. public until now. The pathway to King’s Lair is part of the charm – audiences will walk through Find out what Gina, Lydia, Jackie, Janet and Gamble have been up to on the program’s extended hiatus, and which relationships survived the dramatic end of season three… if any. backstage passages through historic show memorabilia curated by its namesake. Ivan King said he was thrilled with the honour. “It’s real ‘Phantom Of The Opera’ territory down Catch all 12 episodes of Real Housewives of Melbourne on Foxtel’s Arena from Wednesday December 6th. here. In fact I might display one of the elaborate gowns from that legendary show.”
OUTinPerth
December 2017
3
As we’ve been working to create this edition of OUTinPerth we’ve been accompanied by the voices of parliamentarians debating marriage equality. Following the momentous result of the marriage postal survey, parliamentarians have been debating Senator Dean Smith’s Private Member’s bill that will finally deliver marriage equality in Australia. Days of arguing in the senate has been followed by a week of speeches in the House of Representatives. Elected members, who for years have argued that allowing same sex couples to marry was a low-order issue that didn’t deserve their time, are now lining up to make speeches about it. Over one hundred MPs have asked to voice their thoughts, dragging the discussion out for days. By the time you’ll be reading this the marriage legislation will be passed, the amendments will have failed, and as country will be trying to move on. Listening to politician after politician declare the postal survey was a success and a great unifying moment for Australian democracy has been frustrating. We need except the duality of facts. It was terrible process, and YES, we won. Participation is not endorsement.
Call Me By Your Name One of the most anticipated films of 2017 opens on Boxing Day. Armie Hammer and Timothee Chalamet star in this acclaimed film from Italian director Luca Guadagnino. Based on the novel by Andre Aciman it chronicles the love story between a 17 year old boy and his father’s older assistant. We’ve got five in-season double passes to giveaway.
OUTinPerth
Many people made this positive change happen. If we were to write a list, it would be too long, and undoubtedly we’d overlook someone who is well deserving of praise. It’s a battle that has been fought by thousands of soldiers, a few generals and some mighty warriors.
A man called our office last week. He wanted to voice his opinion that the survey was rigged, arguing that the real result was the combination of the No vote, with those who didn’t participate.
Graeme Watson Managing Editor Image: Clayton K Media
Love and everlasting gratitude to them all.
For ten minutes he yelled abuse down the phone line, he used every gay slur you can think of. He threatened to bash gay people, he told us how angry he was, he called us names, all of us, because for some unexplainable reason he was under the impression that the person who answered the phone was a representative for all queer people. Sadly his abuse was not the only instance seen during this campaign. Far from it. It’s been years since receiving death threats and abusive calls was par for the course of working in an LGBTI publication, and over the last few months we’ve travelled back in time.
Sam Smith Sam Smith has just released his second album, The Thrill of It All which features the singles Too Good at Goodbyes and One Last Song. We’ve got 5 copies to giveaway to OUTinPerth readers. Head to www.outinperth.com and click on the giveaways page to enter.
Pete Tong and The Heritage Orchestra DJ Pete Tong and the Heritage Orchestra give another bunch of house music classics the orchestral treatment on Ibiza Classics, including songs from Massive Attack, Adamski, Joe Smooth, The Chemical Brothers, Moloko and The Prodigy. We’ve got 5 copies to giveaway.
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When a plebiscite was first suggested we worried that younger people would find it a strain on their mental health, having not previously been exposed to the predicted homophobia. Maybe we were wrong. Maybe we should have been worried about the older members of our community, those who found themselves remembering long forgotten incidents from their past.
Decemberr 2017
Managing Editor: Graeme Watson graeme@outinperth.com Creative and Content Editor: Leigh Andrew Hill leigh@outinperth.com Advertising: sales@outinperth.com Graphic Design: N/A Studios Contributors: Stevie Lane, Bella Broadway, Zac Gower, Kyle Kash, Clinton Little, Scott-Patrick Mitchell, Lezly Herbert Photographers: Clayton Kieliszewski, Juan Vazquez Disclaimer: Copyright on contributions to any ads published in OUTinPerth is retained by the author/advertiser respectively. Permission to reprint should be sought via the creative team. The views of this publication are contained in editorials. Opinions expressed in columns or articles are those of the author/s and do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. Publication of the name, image or likeness of anyone herein does not indicate the sexuality or behaviour of that person. Advertisers are advised that all advertising copy is their responsibility under the Trade Practices Act. The appearance of any advert/advertorial herein does not imply endorsement by OUTinPerth. Contact Ph: 9227 0360 or 0402 549 811 Web: www.outinperth.com Find us on: Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Instagram Mail: 3/377 Newcastle Street, Northbridge, 6003 Publisher: Speirins Media Pty Ltd Printed By: Fairfax Printing ISSN: 1447-2678 Issue: #197 December Cover: The Yes Moment by Clayton K Media Secret Message: The Queen Is Dead, Long Live The Queen! Her Royal Highness & Queen of the Court; Donna Kebab.
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New Funding for
LGBTI Health The State Government has reaffirmed its support of Western Australia’s lesbian LGBTI community by providing $120,000 for the development of a LGBTI health strategy.
A large crowd gathered in the Northbridge Piazza on the morning of November 15th anxiously awaiting the results of the marriage postal survey. Despite the early 7am timing of the announcement, the piazza was filled with people desperately waiting to find out if the Australian public had voted in favour of allowing same sex couples to wed. At the end of a two month long postal survey process, and over a decade of campaigning - the tension was high. As Australia’s Chief Statistician David Kalisch revealed that 61.6 per cent of Australians had voted in favour of changing the laws. A massive 79.5 of eligible voters took part in the survey, a higher response rate that the Brexit poll in the UK, the Irish marriage referendum and the last US election. There were jubilant scenes in Northbridge as people embraced, cheered and cried at finally seeing the result. Around the country one of the most watched reactions was that of Labor Senator Penny Wong, who broke into tears as the announcement was declared.
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The issue soon returned to the parliament. The massive support for change saw the proposition of a ‘conservative version’ of the marriage legislation that had been proposed by Liberal Senator James Paterson being withdrawn. Senators debated Western Australian Senator Dean Smith’s Private Members Bill over several days. Several amendments to the bill will put forward, with conservative MPs arguing greater protections were needed for religious freedom, but time after time they were voted down. The bill passed the senate with no changes. As the legislation moved into the lower house over one hundred MPs lined up to speak about the bill. Some spoke about the success of the postal survey process, other maintained their criticism of the methodology. Liberal MP Tim Wilson used his speech to propose to his same-sex partner, a first for federal parliament. As OUTinPerth goes to print, the debate continues in the House of Representatives, as the third day of speeches winds on. There have been promises of more amendments being put forward, but many conservative politicians are already conceding that they are unlikely have the numbers to get any of them through.
Coordinated through the Department of Health, the strategy will provide a framework to raise awareness of the specific health and mental health challenges of LGBTI people. The funding will be used to engage relevant stakeholders and support the community consultation and engagement process. Speaking to OUTinPerth Health minister Roger Cook said it was important that the government effectively identified the gaps in service delivery that stopped segments of the population from engaging with health services. “The McGowan Government is working to make targeted services available for the LGBTI community in areas of high priority, with a particular focus on education, mental health, health and policing. “We are committed to ensuring that no legislation or government policies directly or indirectly discriminate against the LGBTI community.” Cook said.
Defamation is a wild beast. It’s hard to understand and even more difficult to explain how it works. It is the Khloe Kardashian of the legal world. Here is the black and white: for something to be defamatory a person must be able to prove that someone has published a matter, as defined in the Defamation Act 2005 (WA), containing one or more defamatory statements. What is a defamatory statement, you ask? That can be a little unclear. For many years we used UK common law and so the general “test” for defamation was whether or not a statement had caused harm to a party “in the right-thinking members of society”. Not personally knowing anyone who fits into that category, I can understand how this got a little murky. The position for defamation as stated by the Australian High Court is whether the published matter is likely to lead an ordinary reasonable person to think less of the person being defamed. So when is something considered to be “published”? Publication of defamatory statements occurs when that statement is made available to read by at least one other person. Due to the prevalence of social media and internet-based communication, proving publication can be a difficult task. This does not mean that people using social media cannot be held accountable
- courts can, and have, ordered disclosure by service provider of access records to determine whether publication has taken place. And what kind of “material” is a problem? Literally anything by which something may be communicated to a person. As this covers such a nebulous concept, we tend to leave determining whether material is defamatory or has defamatory meanings for determination to Judges alone. Quick guide as to how not to defame people online: Step 1: Don’t post things on social media, including Facebook, Twitter, your personal blog or any website, which has a substantial chance of deriding, diminishing or significantly demeaning another person, or their reputation, in the eyes of a third party.
Realistically The conclusion I’m drawing you to is not one that really empowers people. Realistically, people are defamed online all the time and typically, very little comes of it. Most of it has to do with money. Defamation actions are usually only brought by people who have significant public visibility, and are subsequently impacted by defamatory claims against them, to a greater extent than you or I. Going to court to get someone to take down a defamatory Facebook post or a tweet is rarely a viable option for the ordinary person as it is a very expensive and time-consuming process. Realistically.
Jo Wynaden Sonder Legal
Step 2: Don’t deliberately distribute public content from other people that has a substantial chance of diminishing or significantly demeaning another person, or their reputation, in the eyes of a third party. UNLESS you are reasonably certain that what you are saying is substantially true or is an honest opinion which you hold based on material which you’d be confident to present to a court as being substantially true.
sonder : the realisation that each passerby has a life as vivid and complex as your own
family law wills & probate inheritance disputes debt recovery personal injury elder abuse
Sonder Legal 2/62 Fitzgerald Street, Northbridge (08) 6558 1718 / 0449 886 499 Sonder Legal is proud to provide safe spaces for our LGBTI community
With so much love in the air, our team of experienced and reliable house sitters are ready to keep your home safe and secure and your pets loved and cared for in their home environment when you’re away celebrating! All our sitters have police clearances and, as animal lovers themselves, they will look after your pet and your home as if it were their own.
Book your holiday now knowing your home and pets will be happy and safe with us.
ednndying! W e th y jo en d n a x a el R Je
For full details call Jenny on 0400 611 840 Email jenny@houseandpetsitters.com.au
www.houseandpetsitters.com.au
OUTinPerth
December 2017
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If you aren’t able to get hold of any of these people, the amazing folks at QLife are ready and waiting as your back up. They will be more than happy to let you debrief, remind you how wonderful you are and to suggest some ideas that might help you get through that moment.
Ah, the holidays.
Say No
For some, Christmas and New Year is about religious or spiritual observance, for others it’s a celebration of the year that has passed and a chance to spend time with loved ones, and for others again it is a time of disconnection and challenges. For the rest - lets be honest - its mainly about the presents. For many LGBTIQ+ folks this time of year can be problematic, for a whole host of reasons. Already tense family situations can be made even more complicated with the addition of extended family. Folks who are not in contact with their birth family may feel vulnerable and isolated, and even for those people who do have wonderful supportive birth and chosen families the “silly season” can simply be exhausting. So, what can we do to increase our resilience, step up our self-care and have a Merry Queermas? Stand up for yourself If this time of year places you with people that you may not ordinarily choose to be around, remember: You don’t have to answer invasive questions. You don’t have to listen to comments or opinions that express trans/bi/intersex/ homophobia or that are hurtful to your sense of self. If it is safe to do so let people know that this is not ok and if it continues, you will leave. Find an ally Maybe it’s your sibling, your cousin or your friend. Hopefully, there is at least one person who gets you and who will be there to rescue you from difficult conversations, be there to let you vent when you need to, or to share a well-timed look of understanding or eye rolling. If you don’t have an ally who can be there in person, get one on the phone. Arrange with a friend or friends that you can text or call when you need to. Now is a great time to connect with your support people and prepare them by letting them know the ways they can best help you during these next few months. Connecting with local LGBTIQ+ groups online is another way to get support. There is a handy list of these in the back pages of OUTinPerth.
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To putting yourself in situations that are not healthy for you - give yourself permission to say no when you need to. To being the continual advocate or activist - this might be a great time to take a break for a wee bit. It has been a pretty big year, right? To spending every day as a day of indulgence. If you do drink, maybe plan some alcohol-free days so you can treat your brain to some down time. To the credit card- spending more money than you should can add extra stress to your life and who needs that? Find other ways to gift to others. Offer your time, bake something or create something from the heart. To invitations- do you suffer from FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out)? Spending time with lots of people can be exhausting. Make time to sit in bed and read a book; watch an entire season of something or even to take a nap. Prioritise Yourself Now is not the time to slouch on self-care. Schedule in all those things, big and small, that help fill up your cup and increase your ability to handle what life throws at you. Tips that are particularly helpful at this time of year include pre-making and freezing some healthy meals to reheat when you are pressed for time; arranging some walking or swimming dates with someone, and planning to have some time screen free time (even if just for 30mins a day). Make Plans What a wonderful time of year in Perth to arrange a picnic or day at the beach! Arrange to bring people together for free fun. LGBTIQ+ people have been through a lot this year, so let’s celebrate together as a community and recognize our collective awesomeness. Look out for others Look around for friends, acquaintances, people in your neighborhood, people in groups you are in, work colleagues. Don’t just assume that this time of year is a joy for everyone. Ask if people have plans and if they don’t, include them in yours.
We have been hosting an “Orphans Christmas” for the last 20 years, where we invite friends (and friends of friends and friends of friends of friends) to come together to debrief their family event, to be connected to others if they don’t have an event they are going to and just to generally be around wonderful humans and have a great time. Maybe you could consider making this your annual tradition too? If you are worried about the wellbeing of someone who usually (or recently) struggles at this time of the year, do something about it now. Have a chat with them and ask what supports they would find helpful for the coming weeks. If you aren’t sure how to do this, or you are worried about someone’s safety - tell someone about it. You’d better recognise! Take some time either alone or with some friends to talk about or write down all the things from the last year that you are proud of. The small victories you had, the great moments that made you laugh deep in your belly, the times you helped someone else, the secret smiles you shared with another and the great memories that you made. The year may not have been all sunshine and roses and while it is important to acknowledge the hard stuff (this is how we learn and grow), we need to get better at deliberately taking time to point out all the good things that happen in a year. The more you do this, the more you will start to see great things all around you. So, to my wonderful queer family, whatever your Christmas and New Year may bring- Have fun. Stay connected. Stay safe. Look after each other and Celebrate!
Bella Broadway
culture
The Importance Of Chosen Family I came out to a friend recently as trans and non-binary. As they so easily checked in with me about my name, pronouns and overall well-being, I thanked them for being so understanding. I know I shouldn’t have to thank someone for the basic act of accepting me for being myself, but being a part of such a marginalised group of people, it’s almost instinctive to do so. Of course, they responded as any amazing human would with “you don’t have to thank me; you’re a good egg and nothing is going to change that.” This conversation made me think about our relationship with each other, and although I call this person a friend, I told them I think of them more as family. The idea that family can only be classified as the people who raised you and/or people you are biologically related to, to me, seems absurd. There are certain people in my life, though we may not see each other as much as we’d like to, who have helped form the person I am today. When, even after long periods of time, we do spend time together, the love and comfort I feel in their presence goes beyond friendship, it’s family; chosen family. Chosen family is so important for many LGBTIQ+ people. For some, it is all they have. When coming out to family, we want to believe the people who raised us will love us unconditionally, and not see us any differently, but unfortunately this is not always the case. Approximately 40% of homeless youth are LGBTIQ+, due to having been kicked out of home, or having self-selected out because of safety. Family acceptance is the most protective factor, particularly for young people. So, when someone experiences rejection from their family because of their sexuality and/or gender, it can have an extremely negative impact on their mental health and well-being.
Additionally, certain times of the year can be particularly difficult for LGBTIQ+ people who have faced family rejection and strained relationships because of their sexuality and/or gender, namely, family focused holidays such as ChristmaChristmas can be a difficult time for people generally, where levels of depression, anxiety and loneliness increase in the general population. To add to this, a reminder of rejection at such a family focused time of year can be unbearable for many LGBTIQ+ people. Precious family time spent together is often positioned as the ultimate goal during the festive season; a string of picture perfect moments filling our TV screens and shopping catalogues alike. However, not every LGBTIQ+ person has the love and acceptance of the family that raised them. It’s important when we talk about family, particularly in the context of Christmas, we include images of chosen family as well, something so important to many LGBTIQ+ people. It’s important when thinking about a future where we can fully accept ourselves, to know that our chosen family will be viewed on the same level as those we are related to and/or those who raised us. Being a part of the LGBTIQ+ community, the term resilience gets mentioned a lot, and for good reason. I see resilience in my LGBTIQ+ peers every day, and for this I am proud. I think resilience really relates to the fact that we continue to create our own families by seeking and surrounding ourselves with people who accept us for who are, despite negative past experiences. I think it’s important for LGBTIQ+ people out there who might not necessarily have a supportive family network to know that there are people out there who will love you unconditionally, regardless of your gender and/or sexuality. How other people treat you
doesn’t define you. It is possible to surround yourself with people who love and support you and accept you for who you are. Sometimes, you’ll be surprised at the level of support and validation you receive from those around you. I don’t think my friend will ever truly know how important it was for me to hear those kind words of support when I came out to them recently, particularly at this time of year. Their support for me has given me the confidence to start slowly opening up to other people about my identity and experiences. It has also played a part in me starting to put myself first when it comes to affirming my gender, and not letting other people’s opinions deter me from being my authentic self. Though Christmas isn’t quite here yet, I can honestly say I’ve already received the greatest gift of all; a loving and supportive chosen family that continues to grow, and for that I am truly grateful.
Stevie Lane
Michele Adams
PICYS HONOURED
Authorized Marriage Celebrant
Earlier this year, Perth Inner City Youth Service was celebrated for their work with young LGBTIQ+ Western Australians at the Youth Affairs Council of WA 2017 Youth Awards. Since 1980, PICYS has been working with young people to help enhance their sense of belonging, with hands on support for every day living and well-being. Much of PICYS’ activities today revolve around combatting homelessness, through their Household Network service and improving the mental health of those struggling.
Man to man Woman to woman
Same sex marriage ceremonies Pop-up marriage ceremonies available
Executive officer Andrew Hall says PICYS have recorded increasing numbers of LGBTI+ identifying youth in recent years. “Over the last three years we have seen an increase in the numbers of young people who identify as LGBTI openly engaging with our services and staff, from one in four three years ago, to one in three two years ago, to one in every two over the last year,” Hall said. “We are so priviliged to be considered trustworthy in our relationships with each young person.” Young LGBTI people who have recruited PICYS’ services and nominated the organisation for the award have celebrated the organisation’s inclusivity. “Because there is a mixture of LGBTI and others - it teaches about people who are different from you,” one said. “It’s just one group of people - not LGBTI - just people - so because the LGBTI is so normalised it exposes straight kids to the LGBTI community in a normal situation,” said another. PICYS’ award nomination was also supported by PFLAG WA and the Acting Director of Youthlink, Jennifer Griffiths.
MICHELE@FWAAC.COM.AU / 0414 353 646
To find out more about PICYS or to support their work, head to PICYS.org.au
OUTinPerth
December 2017
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health
to people and maintaining a stable self-image. Though distressing, people do recover. This is not often known or acknowledged, which can lead to stigma, discrimination and isolation. Carissa draws many similarities between the stigma, discrimination and isolation she has experienced because of her mental health, and what she has experienced as an LGBTI person. “We already struggle being accepted into a society that still views sexuality and gender very narrow-mindedly,” she said. Throw in mental health and it comes hand in hand; people with mental illness already experience stigma and discrimination on a daily basis.”
The festive season, for many Australians, is a time filled with positive associations of giving and appreciating what they have in the company of loved ones. Unfortunately, for others, it is a time filled with added pressures of expectation or reminders of loss, which can lead to increased levels of anxiety, depression and loneliness. Because of this, it is Lifeline WA’s busiest time of the year. For LGBTI people especially, Christmas can be difficult due to the experience of stigma and discrimination which can lead to and remind people of family loss or rejection. Though social acceptance of LGBTI people is improving, stigma and discrimination remains a major reason behind mental health issues experienced by people in the community, leading to increased feelings of loneliness over the Christmas period. Fortunately, there are people in the LGBTI community who are at a point in their journey where they won’t let mental health define them or take control over their lives; people who are constantly helping to shine a light for life and help others who may be going through similar experiences. One of those people is Carissa Wright. Carissa has Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). BPD is a relatively common mental health illness experienced by 1-4% of the population. People affected have difficulty managing emotions, impulses, relating
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Carissa is a passionate advocate for suicide prevention and wants to shine a light for life this Christmas, as part of Lifeline WA’s Christmas campaign, because she knows the positive ripple effect it can give people who are struggling and encourage them to speak out about their internal struggles. “Having campaigns such as this one brings people together who are feeling like an outcast and who may feel like a minority,” she said. The Shine a Light for Life Campaign aims to raise awareness of loneliness, mental health issues and suicide at Christmas. All Western Australians, from the community to government and business, are encouraged to support the campaign by donating at www.lifelinewa. org.au. Contributions to the campaign will help train new Telephone Crisis Support Volunteers and continue to provide valued existing volunteers with ongoing training and support so that they can help the thousands of people who call 13 11 14 for help. People are also encouraged to shine their own light for life by uploading their Christmas lights photos to social media with the caption “I am helping #shinealightforlife.” When talking about shining a light for life, Carissa wants people to know there is help available out there for people with BPD, and those considering suicide “Speak up about it to someone who you can trust,” she said. “The first step to preventing is speaking about it; no one’s pain is invalid.”
She also wants people to know there is help and acceptance out there for those who may be struggling or questioning their gender or sexuality, particularly over the difficult holiday period, including Lifeline WA. Regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, religion or sexuality, Lifeline’s trained volunteers are ready to listen and provide support and referrals. “Not everyone is fortunate enough to have a supportive family network, so being able to talk to people can really give people a sense of belonging when they are feeling incredibly isolated and alone,” she said. Life is a lot more manageable and clear for Carissa these days. She is currently receiving treatment known as Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), designed to help with the recovery of Borderline Personality Disorder specifically, and help with suicidal thoughts and behaviours. It can assist people with BPD learn and use new skills and strategies to develop a life they experience as worth living. She also surrounds herself for people who accept her for who she is. “I still have challenging days, however due to my DBT therapy I am able to ride through those days with healthier coping mechanisms rather than resorting to self-harm and acting on my suicidal ideations,” she said. My relationship with myself has become more respectful, and I keep close the people who were there for me when I was at my lowest; the roller coaster ride has definitely slowed down for me and has abled me to take in all the positives and work through the challenges ahead.” No one has to face their problems alone this Christmas. Call Lifeline on 13 11 14, available 24/7.
This month I was given the chance to get down to Beatty Park and check out the training program of the guys from The White Pointers water polo club. The White Pointers club was founded at the beginning of this year, as an offshoot of The Phantoms Water Polo club, and is the only gay water polo team in Perth. The team train a couple of times a week and are a social and fun group of guys. Vice President Brendan says one of the major benefits of playing water polo is the complete body workout. Training sessions last anywhere up to an hour and half and are comprised of laps, swimming drills, ball skills and the infamous pyramid. You can start training with The White Pointers at any fitness level, though you do need to have some swimming skills under your speedos before you jump in the water. The training begins and the team start sprinting for one lap…then two, three, four and five laps. This set keeps repeating, but Brendan reassures me that you work up to this pace. Phew. Apart from the fitness benefits of swimming multiple times per week, the team are an extremely social bunch with regular dinners, outings and trips. Between the training, games and social events, you summer calender will be full in no time. The White Pointers also regularly run boot camps for potential new team members. You can come and try a few sessions and see what it is all about before you sign up. You might just unearth some hidden talents. They will be holding another boot camp early 2018 so head to their Facebook page to register your interest. If water sports aren’t your thing than try something else this summer. Water polo is only one sport within Team Perth, which is an umbrella group of various sports aimed at giving LGBT people the chance to be part of a team and get fit. For more information on the White Pointers and other local LGBTI+ clubs, head to teamperth.info
Zac Gower Zac is a trainer with LA Fit
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December 2017
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health
CLUBS
PUBS
BARS
Lesbian Mud Wrestling
Karaoke Sundays
For over ten years Lesbian Mud Wrestling has been the biggest event on a Wednesday night, it’s people wrestling in mud! Although not always lesbians, sometimes there are dirty boys too. Every Wednesday from 8pm, Connections Nightclub, 81 James St, Northbridge
Warm up those pipes! The Court has a brand new tradition with Karaoke Sundays. With performances from host Feminem and $20 pizza & jug deals, it’ll be a perfect end to the week. Every Sunday from 5:30pm, The Court Hotel, 50 Beaufort St, Perth
Drag Brunch
Bingay It’s the most fun you can have a Thursday night, bingo hosted by a drag queen. On Thursday 23rd and Friday 24th there will be a special Christmas edition. Every Thursday from 10pm - Late, Connections Nightclub, 81 James St, Northbridge
POP! Nothing but bright, bubbly, sugar coated pop tunes at this popular mid-week get together hosted by our very own BarbieQ. Drag shows at 1am, or even try your own wig on the stage for Dragathon! Every Thursday from 10pm - Late, Connections Nightclub, 81 James St, Northbridge
Must Be The Music Each week Connections DJ’s play with you and tease you and they lead you through a journey through disco, house, progressive and even a touch of techno. Every Friday from 10pm - 5am, Connections Nightclub, 81 James St, Northbridge
Showpony Saturday nights in December feature the brand new show A Bae in a Manager. Connections has your Saturday night’s sorted. Every Saturday from 10pm - 5am, Connections Nightclub, 81 James St, Northbridge
Cocktails, brunch, snappy service and drag performances with the one and only Swish. Sunday 10th December 11am - 3pm, The Moon, 2/323 William St, Northbridge
Pride Networking Event #4
FESTIVAL Falls Downtown Flume* / Fleet Foxes / Run The Jewels / The Kooks / Glass Animals* / Peking Duk / Angus & Julia Stone / Foster The People / Liam Gallagher / Vince Staples / Jungle / Dune Rats / The Smith Street Band / D.R.A.M / Daryl Braithwaite / Everything Everything / Allday / The Jungle Giants / Thundamentals / Methyl Ethel / Slumberjack / D.D Dumbo / Anna Lunoe / DZ Deathrays / Confidence Man / Julia Jacklin / Bad//Dreems / Cosmo’s Midnight / Winston Surfshirt / Luca Brasi / Alex Lahey / Camp Cope / Flint Eastwood / Ecca Vandal / Dave / Total Giovanni Saturday January 6th - 7th in Fremantle.
Catch up with the crew from Pride WA to celebrate the end of the year. Thursday, December 14th 5:30pm - 7:30pm, Tika AF, 91A James St, Northbridge
COMMUNITY 3rd Wednesdays A casual gathering of LGBTI friends and supporters for drinks, nibbles and meeting new people. Wednesday August 16th from 6pm – 8pm, Brisbane Hotel, Cnr Beaufort & Brisbane St, Perth
Lesbian Walking Group This friendly walking group is always open to new members and meets every third Sunday of the month. For the details of this month’s walk, email Janice at jmlfrater@ yahoo.com.au
YOUTH Freespace A safe social drop-in session for all people under 26 who are same sex attracted, intersex, trans* and/or gender diverse. Weekly on Wednesdays 5 - 8pm & Fridays 4pm-8pm, Freedom Centre, 93 Brisbane St, Perth
WA Wanderers The social men’s walking group for gay guys and their friends meets every third Sunday of the month. For more information or to RSVP, call 0415 249 265
GenderQ A free session for anyone who is intersex, transgender, and/or gender diverse and questioning their gender and/or sex assigned at birth. First Thursday of every month, 5 - 8pm, Freedom Centre, 93 Brisbane St, Perth
PUBS Drag Factory Throw on a frock, slip on a wig, pick out a tune and give drag a whirl. Wannabe drag queens, kings and performers can lip-sync the house down and compete for cash prizes! Every Wednesday from 9pm, The Court Hotel, 50 Beaufort St, Perth
QCulture A drop-in session for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth who identify as LGBTIQ. Third Thursday of the month, 5 - 8pm, Freedom Centre, 93 Brisbane St, Perth
ALBANY PRIDE CLAYTON K MEDIA
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OUTinPerth
December 2017
It’s a Diva Showdown! RuPaul’s Drag Race stars Farrah Moan (Season 9) and Derrick Barry (Season 8) are going head to head in a battle of the divas to find out who will come out on top this Christmas. Local favourites Feminem and Alexas Armstrong will be bringing the local flavour and showing the US superstars what we’ve got. VIP tickets are available for superfans who are looking for VIP access, meet & greets and more. Diva Showdown will be at The Court Hotel on Thursday December 21st.
BIG GAY BINGE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK Sometimes we see films that draw us in while viewing them, but then tarnish when thinking about them afterwards. Sometimes a film can be annoying and confusing but on contemplation reveals complex and interesting layers. Then sometimes we laugh all the way through a film, only to be grounded later on by the weight of its subject matter. Directed by Luca Guadagnino, Call Me By Your Name (4 Stars) is a seductive film set in Northern Italy in 1983. For 17 year-old Elio Perlman (Timothée Chalamet), the lazy summer days at his family’s affluent 17th century villa are filled with reading, classical music and exploring sex for the first time. Elio’s father is a professor investigating recently discovered Greco-Roman sculptures and the camera lingers over the sensual nudes. When a twenty something American doctorate student Oliver (Armie Hammer) arrives to assist the professor, the sexual tension between him and Elio is palpable.
Star Trek: Discovery – Dr. Hugh Culber and Lieutenant Paul Stamets For a series that has prided itself on the diversity of its cast of characters, Star Trek has been at the forefront of small screen representation for minorities. Aside from the character of Mr Sulu (played by George Takei) the rainbow has been noticeably neglected until now. Wilson Cruz and Anthony Rapp (who famously was the teenage prey of the now disgraced House of Cards star Kevin Spacey) portray the Discovery’s chief medical and science officers Hugh and Paul. The couple are gradually revealed to be boldly going where no two men have ventured before within the Star Trek universe. In a surprising scene takes place between the two men when they are shown in their deep space pyjamas brushing their teeth and getting ready for bed. It’s a seemingly innocuous scenario yet it is a brave step forward for the visibility of queer couples and the Netflix platform has created an environment where two men are free to love each other. While providing able back-up to the series strong female lead Sonequa Martin, Rapp in particular is also the hero of the show. The Discovery literally wouldn’t be able to function without his geeky gay superpowers. It’s worth a watch not just for the out and proud gay characters and their evolving love story but it’s also damn good bingeable TV.
Jane the Virgin – Dr. Luisa Alver, Rose (a.k.a Sin Rostro) and Det. Susanna Barnet Though she’s only a minor character Dr. Luisa Alver isn’t the protagonist of this quirky dramedy but she does serve as the instigator of proceedings. When Dr. “Doctorpussy” screws up in a drug and alcohol haze and accidentally knocks Jane up with a sperm sample intended for another patient. Thus creating a miraculous virgin birth that’s the setup for all of the drama that follows. It’s a wildly melodramatic series adapted from the Venezuelan telenovela Juana la Virgen…think Ugly Betty on steroids. Just when you think that the show has mined every possible avenue for drama, in season two things gets spiced up with the addition of a lesbian love triangle. Luisa has been having a relationship with the series’ arch villain Rose, who also goes by the moniker Sin Rostro. Luisa is a raging hot mess but her addiction issues are handled surprisingly tastefully and her sexuality is treated as a matter of fact rather than a device to spike the ratings. Luisa and Rose have a wildly convoluted backstory that gets complicated further when detective Susanna Barnet who’s tracking down Rose uses Luisa’s crush on her to bring Rose to justice. What begins as a sexual chess game develops into a full blown relationship as Luisa and Susanna start shagging on the regular, albeit on the down low. What could have been a sensationalist device to divert attention away from Jane’s flagging heterosexual love triangle grows into a compelling and multi-dimensional story about three very different queer women that’s worth tuning in for.
It is not long before casual touches, hesitant fleeting smiles and flirting looks become bike rides along deserted tracks, swims in idyllic waterholes and lying in sun-drenched fields eating fruit, with the lingering camera drawing obvious parallels with the classical sculptures. The alluring tale runs for two hours and it is difficult not to be enveloped by the heady romance in each scene. It is only afterwards when the dreamlike euphoria subsides that questions arise about the casualties in the Garden of Eden and also the casualties of not having one’s identity on display. The Florida Project (5 Stars), directed by Sean Baker is one of those films that attacks the viewer. Precocious six-year old Moonee (Brooklynn Prince) who lives with her mother Halley (Bria Vinaite who Baker discovered through Instagram) in a run-down budget, purple painted Florida motel ironically called Magic Castle. Filmed on existing locations with largely untrained actors, there is a documentary feel as the camera follows Moonee and her friends getting up to mischief, oblivious of the struggles that their parents face. The kids beg for money to buy ice-cream, explore abandoned discount stores and a housing complex that was never completed and test limits while compassionate caretaker Bobby (Willem Defoe) tries to protect the unsupervised children. As Moonee’s single tattoo-covered mother hustles tourists to pay the rent I kept thinking that something bad was going to happen. Then it dawned on me that it already had and the unfolding lives of the people in the motel next door to Disney World show the desperation of trying to survive from day to day in an abandoned part of the society. It challenges the audience to take a closer look at the dead Disney dreams. When Norwegian scientists discover how to shrink humans to the size if insects, it is hailed as the solution to overpopulation and drain on resources and futuristic Lilliputs spring up all over the world. In Downsizing (4 Stars), directed by Alexander Payne, Omaha couple Paul (Matt Damon) and Audrey Safranek (Kristen Wiig) decide to join Leisureland “a self-sustaining community of the small” to escape the pressure of continual debt. This thoroughly original concept is hilarious as people are prepared for the downsizing and the laughs continue when discoveries are made in the miniature lives. It is only when Paul spends time with his hedonistic Balkan neighbour Dusan (Christoph Waltz) that the audience begins to see the contradictions but this also introduces the chance for more humour. Paul’s idyllic life is further challenged by Dusan’s cleaner Vietnamese political activist Ngoc Lan (Hong Chau) who was downsized as punishment.
Episodes 1-9 of Star Trek: Discovery and seasons 1-3 of Jane the Virgin are streaming right now on Netflix.
Clinton Little
OUTinPerth
December 2017
13
PRIDE PARADE CLAYTON K MEDIA TOBEY BLACK
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December 2017
OUTinPerth
December 2017
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Partners in business and in life, Luke Dornan and Juan Vazquez set out in 2014 to make the world of neckwear more fabulous. The duo behind Loopilicous have combined their creative flair and business savvy to create unique arm-knit scarves with recycled, limited edition fashion off-cuts and other materials - which means every piece is one of a kind. Beginning as a relaxation exercise for Luke, he started practicing arm-knitting to unwind - but after an unexpected offer to display his scarf in a store window - Loopilicious took off. Now taking orders from around the world, we caught up with Luke and Juan to find out how the Perth team made their mark. “It was a mixture of being very busy and physically exhausted at the end of the day being overworked in hospitality - so I needed to sit down and relax,” Luke began. “I started to learn how to do it from a YouTube clip and was just wearing them myself. I got lots of comments from people, so I made a few for friends.” One day, wearing one of his creations to work in Mount Lawley, the shop owner across the road asked to buy a scarf to put in her window. “The fact that it could be real enough for a shop was phenomenal, so I quickly made a few for her, then started to see other shops in Fremantle! It’s all about making things that are vibrant and interesting and the fact that people are loving them and they’re getting to have something unique that’s made by a guy in Perth has just been so rewarding.” The knitwear has even gained international exposure, after a shop in Madrid saw one of the scarves and asked to stock them.
Since all of the pieces are made by hand (or, arm), Luke says he can only keep up with a few orders at a time. Juan says the increasing demand just motivates the team to make sure each piece is even more special. Making a contact in Chile who dyes his own yarn through the Instagram hashtag #menwhoknit, Juan found another way to make sure Loopilicious was unique in its own style. “He gets inspired by the graffiti style that he sees in the city that he lives in and takes a picture. For example, if the graffiti is in yellow, blue and green, he comes back home and he dyes one ball of yarn in those colours,” Juan said. “I’m hoping to get on board with him next year to work together on something special.” Looking back on the last three years, Luke and Juan say they never expected Luke’s ritual relaxation would become international fashion.
“I honestly thought that it would just be a hobby for me, and some presents… Now we’re involved in a few markets! The trend in Australia now, that we’re riding the crest of, is a push back to homemade, self-made, eco-friendly movement,” Luke said. “To have people really excited about something that is sari silk off-cuts, that are sold as yarn in Freo, where we can purchase the yarn and give the shop back a finished scarf… I just love it.” Check out the fashions of Loopilicious at loopilicious.com.au and make sure to get those orders in fast for Christmas! For the full interview with Luke and Juan, head to OUTinPerth.com
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OUTinPerth
December 2017
Western Australian
AIDS COUNCIL
Richard O'Brien on gender, sexuality and 40 years of
When the Rocky Horror Show returns to the Crown Theatre in early 2018 Perth audiences are in for a very special treat. Richard O’Brien, the creator of the show, will be part of the cast. Aside from creating the much loved musical, O’Brien played the character of Riff Raff in the original 1973 stage production and also went on to play the character in the film version. In subsequent theatrical productions he’s played the lead role of Frank N Furter, but when the show gets to Perth he’ll be the Narrator. OUTinPerth spoke to O’Brien ahead of the tour. O’Brien assured us that the young cast members wouldn’t be facing any additional pressure by having the creator of the legendary show among them. “No, it’s absolutely fine. The young people today are so self assured, and so much more all round professionals than we were back in the day “They have such complete confidence in what they do - not arrogantly so, but bordering upon it,- which is delightful. They are just so confident. The creator of the show is full of praise for leading man Craig McLachlan, who has played the title character of Frank N Furter many times over the last two decades. O’Brien lists off McLachlan’s many positive attributes. “Craig brings ‘Craig’ to the stage, and Craig McLachlan leaves a wake of happy people behind him. Not only on stage, but in the street, in the restaurants. Everywhere I’ve been with Craig, out there in the real world, he has the gift of making people feel special, he has the gift of brightening people’s day. “He’s completely without any pretension. No diva kind of attitude, very accessible, hugely talented musician, knows his craft, he takes to the stage and takes no prisoners, it’s just delightful. O’Brien reveals that his Rocky Horror journey began when he was invited to perform at a Christmas party. “I wrote a song, EMI Studios were having a party, a staff Christmas party, and I was invited out to entertain them. So I wrote a bit of a comic routine, did some impersonations and wrote a song. Since it was a film studio, I said these are the kind of movies I like, I wrote Science Fiction Double Feature, and I sang it to them that night. “Later on, a week or two later, I thought wouldn’t
www.lunapalace.com.au
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OUTinPerth
Rocky Horror
that make a great prologue to a Science Fiction B-movie kind of musical. That’s a musical that I’d like to go and see or be part of, as opposed to the musical I’d been to see. I really hate broadway musicals... I really like rock n roll.” The show opened at the Royal Court in 1973 and sold out the 62 seat theatre for every night of its opening season. Except the last night which had to be cancelled when the actor playing Rocky suffered a glitter related injury. So powerful had the ‘word of mouth’ buzz about the quirky show been that among the disappointed audience who missed out on the show’s final was Mick Jagger and Elliot Gould. While the story has been recognised as bringing issues like being transgender and gender fluidity and sexulaity into mainstream culture, O’Brien said is was not a central goal of the original production. “I love the fact that that’s happened, but it’s all unintentional. The fact that it has touched people and allowed them to feel less isolated and less marginalised is wonderful. In fact it’s even gone further and given them some confidence to be themselves is delightful. O’Brien says there still a lot of battles to be fought with people who have closed minds. People he describes as ‘dinosaurs”. Reflecting on recent political discussion in Australia he expresses dismay at some of the comments parliamentarians make. “These are delusional people making laws for the rational, it’s just insane.” O’Brien declares. Now in his early ‘70s O’Brien says he’s reached a point where he’s happy with his own gender identification describing himself as 30% female. “I used to go to bed and think ’If I wake up a girl in the morning everything will be alright, that’ll be fine.’ but I know that can’t happen” O’Brien said, noting that he was also aware of the advantages being male had given him throughout his life. “It’s a misogynistic world.” In 2016 O’Brien was reported to have made comments that many people in the transgender community found offensive. He believes his comments were not accurately reported. “They said that I had a rant, I didn’t have a rant. The way the question was asked was that Germaine Greer and Barry Humphries had made this statement and people were angry about it for some reason.
“I know Germaine Greer is basically an angry person, there’s an anger about her, that strange feminist anger that is ‘I want you to know all the time that I’m an intelligent human being’. There’s a little bit of a chip on her shoulder. I understand that, I’m not putting her down for it. “Barry I thought, it was out of character, for him to be angry, but I think they were having a go at that [Caitlyn] Jenner person, whose part of that dreadful trailertrashinan family. I think that is what got them going. “What I said was that ‘Yes, you can be happy, you can have a sex change, you can come as close as you can to being what you want to be. But, you haven;t gone through puberty as a girl, you haven’t grown up as a girl, you haven’t had ‘the mensies’, you’re not going to go into menopause, you can’t actually be a real woman, but you can be as close to being a woman as you really want to be, and have hopefully a much happier life, and a contentment can come to your life. “As far as I’m concerned, you’ll never be a real women, you’ll always be a transgender-woman, but there’s nothing wrong with that.” “If you could wave a magic wand and change things, I wish there was one.” O’Brien declared. The Rocky Horror Show opens at The Crown Theatre on 17 February 2018. Tickets available from Ticketmaster.
Graeme Watson
Screening from BOXING DAY DEC 26 at LUNA LEEDERVILLE • LUNA ON SX • LUNA OUTDOOR (from DEC 28) ADVANCE SCREENINGS - Wed Dec 20 at CAMELOT; Sat Dec 23 & Sun Dec 24 at LUNA and SX December 2017
What's Happening in the Arts in 2018? The year might be coming to a close, but we’re just getting warmed up for next year. Perth Festival runs from 9 Feb – 4 March, with hundreds of artists getting involved in ending the summer summer season with a vibrant bang. On top of that, we’ve got a continuous stream of quality performances from Black Swan State Theatre Company, Yirra Kaakin Theatre Company, The West Australian Ballet, and the West Australian Opera. 1-7 Jan The Party – A cast to die for shines in this fast-paced, biting satirical film of bourgeois Brits 29 Jan- 4 Feb God’s Own Country – Winner of 2017 Sundance Directing Award, love thaws a frozen soul in this extraordinarily moving film 3 Feb La Boheme – Idealism overshadowed by poverty and loss, a free WAO performance nestled in the Supreme Court Gardens 5-11 Feb Thelma – Intoxicating first love meets cool thriller in this spine-tingling film 9 Feb- 3 March Milky Way: Ballet in the Quarry – Contemporary dance tells indigenous stories under a canopy of stars 14 Feb Abbe May & Clam Jam – Femme fatales of the Aussie music scene unite
10-27 May Hir – Black Swan takes an audacious dive into the dysfunctional-family playpen
15 Feb Soft Soft Loud: Katrina Ballads – A song ballad made vivid through the words of survivors and witnesses of Hurricane Katrina
21-28 July Carmen – Passion burns brightly in this fiery WAO production of the classic opera
22-24 Feb The Far Side of the Moon – Robert Lepage performs theatrical magic as two estranged brothers are bought together in the backdrop of the space race 23 Feb ACO Underground – The Australian Chamber Orchestra’s electro-infused spin off band takes you on a unique sonic journey
16 Aug- 2 Sep Skylab – Reality shifts and conspiracy theories abound in Black Swan and Yirra Yaakin’s collaborative WA scifi/ comedy 6-22 Oct Dracula – Bram Stoker’s classic monster tale bought to life by the West Australian Ballet
24 Feb A Ghost in my Suitcase – A Chinese/French girl is thrust into the terrifying world of ghost hunting in this Barking Gecko production
20-27 Oct Don Giovanni – Experience WAO’s production chronicling the promiscuous nobleman in his endless pursuit of pleasure
28 Feb Perfume Genius & Mama Kin Spender – A musical journey from brooding ballads to block party
20 Oct – 4 Nov In The Next Room, or the Vibrator Play – Sarah Ruhl reimagines the curious medical history woman’s best friend
1-4 March We Belong Together – Julia Hales offers a deeply personal account of her experience of love as a person with Down syndrome
25 Oct- 11 Nov Xenides – Take a spin and revisit Adriana Xenides, Wheel of Fortune star who died far to young in this Black Swan musical
21-24 March Huff – Yirra Yaakin & Native Earth Performing arts present a darkly comic tale
20-24 Nov SolOthello – Shakespeare’s Othello, with a bold and humorous Maori twist. Presented by Yirra Yaakin and Te Rehia Theatre company
21-28 April The Cunning Little Vixen – Be transported to the forest and follow WAO’s touching tale of Sharp Ears
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Craig Boyanich
0433 926 283 ‘Local Knowledge’
rayner.com.au
December 2017
19
Slam poetry is the competitive art of performance poetry. You could also say it’s the competitive art of being brave and authentic with yourself, of having the audacity to get up on a stage and allow an audience to judge your words, your poem. It takes a certain amount courage.
It’s something Perth poet Jesse Oliver understands all too well. Oliver just won the Adult Division of the Australian Poetry Slam, the nation’s peak competition. Oliver spoke to OUTinPerth about slam poetry, and how his identity as a trans man informs his writing.
Somebody described your poetry as being heroic. Is this a sentiment that you agree with? I certainly feel heroic when I perform. I write things that I like to hear myself. The way I started writing poetry was as mantras to myself. Once something is in your head it can be like a cloud that floats past. Those thoughts aren’t really concrete: you can catch them and let them go. But as soon as you turn it into a poem and you start saying it and projecting it, it becomes reality. That’s why I started writing what I write, because it’s manifesting energy that makes me feel bigger than what I am and more powerful than what I am and I hope that’s the feeling that is conveyed.
Is it true that you started writing and performing poetry because you had crippling social anxiety? Yes, that’s true. The first slam that I tried to win in 2015 I remember… well, I don’t actually remember much but I remember having clouds completely through my head. When you have social anxiety it’s like a physical thing, not just a mental thing. So I get all of the blood rushing out of my hands and legs and all to my head, so I felt like I was about to faint and I had to remember all of the therapy that I’d had, like putting my hands on my head, standing tall, remembering to breathe. It was incredible.
So what led you to slam? I was studying psychology and anxiety and one of the things I read was that if you are strong enough to face your fears, it negates all the beliefs that you hold about yourself and what you believe is going to happen. For example, performing on stage, the things going through your head are ‘nobody is going to like your poem’ and ‘nobody is interested in what you have to say’. So my philosophy was that if I did it I could either prove myself right or wrong and then that would be concrete evidence of my beliefs.
How much does your identity of being a trans man appears in and shapes your poetry? The first time I entered a slam I didn’t want anybody to know I was trans because the one thing I was really scared of was people recognising me for being trans before they recognise me as being a good poet. And that feeling haunted me. Slam poetry is voted by the audience and if they knew I was trans I was so scared I would get a sympathy vote and I’d hate that. But then at the National Young Writers Festival I was invited to speak on a panel about being a trans writer. At first I was upset about it. But I really learnt a lot from that panel and I met a lot of other trans writers and I realised it was important for people to know I am trans because I wish I had seen trans writers come through because… we all need that visibility, that representation.
Scott-Patrick Mitchell
20
OUTinPerth
December 2017
/ CD REVIEWS ///
Fresh Tracks -Cool New Tunes
Strange Names - Into Me delightful jangle pop from NYC trio
Sam Smith The Thrill of It
Sam Binga and Rider Shafique - Pot Ah Bubble an intriguing mix of reggae, hip hop and bubbling electonica
Sam Smiths latest album rings true to his previous works in the fashion of relationships, breakups, grief and love. Another breakup album that gives you the mood of a challenging relationship moment. Unlike last time though I find the songs here far more upbeat and hopeful. Whilst riddled with self-doubt and melancholic chords the general nature of the album is prosperity and moving up after crisis. The mourning of feeling like you’re alone in the world, cut off from friends and having to look deep within oneself to grow a stronger sense of identity that forms the more whole person you become as a result of the tragedy that seemingly befalls each of us post-relationship. Sam Smith shows us in our loneliness we find the very inner self-love that ignited the passion in our next lover. - Kyle Kash
Sia Everyday is Christmas
Starcrawler Starcrawler LA rockers Starcrawler tapped Ryan Adams to record their thumping and racious debut album, but this is no alt-country outing. Opening up with a four-to-the-floor beat Train gets things rolling and the guitars just get louder with each progressing track. The songs are short and sweet, ten tracks are over in just 26 minutes, and while it’s 100 per cent in the rock genre, it maintains a catchy pop sensibility. Standout tracks are I Love L.A, Pussy Tower, and Full of Pride (which sounds like a ‘90s indie anthem). - Graeme Watson
Wolf and Moon Frames This new duo produce some delightful folky dream pop on their debut EP. The opening track Like a Shotgun is not the greatest but the rest of the EP is quality. Wake Up features the sweet sounds of vocalist Stefany June backed by scratchy guitars and slumberish organic sounds, Home to Me picks up the pace and features a nice interplay with bandmate Dennis.The closing tune Stones slips back into the dream inducing sound, it almost sounds if they’re being backed by a whale. - Graeme Watson
Timberland ft. One Republic - Apologize
Ruby Boots - It’s So Cool a surprisingly upbeat rock track from the local artist, sounds like it should have been on Classic Countdown Prins Thomas - Aske Hermansen uplifting bleeps and blips that closes his new album
There comes a point in almost every artists career where they do the obligatory covers album and the predictable Christmas album. Lets face it, some fresh Christmas tunes are always welcome, and if you create a new festive favourite it’ll bring you an annual return. Sia presents 10 new songs that are as good as anything she has released on her previous albums. Sunshine is an Australian take on Christmas, while the closing track Under the Christmas Lights is something quite beautiful. Stuff it in a stocking. - Graeme Watson
What was topping the charts in years gone by?
Abbe May - Love Decline we just love a song that mentions a powder blue Mercedes
Daryl Braithwaite - If You Leave Me Now The former lead singer of Sherbet covers one of Chicago’s biggest hits, we’re just suckers for this tune Tears for Fears - Head of Heels (Talamanca System Tribal Persuation Remix) ’cause Tears for Fears were crying out for a tropical house treatment Murcof and Vanessa Wagner - Avril 14th (Loscil Remix) it’s the second time this year this Aphex Twin tune has been covered, haunting and beautiful Culture Club - The War Song (live) Culture Clubs brilliant rework of one of their naffest songs is a total party Starcrawler - I Love L.A. rocking tack produced by Ryan Adams Philippe Cohen Solal featuring Horace Andy - Aquarius (Boddhi Satva Ancestral Dub) Horace Andy nuff said
Chumbuwamba - Tubthumping
Wings - Mull of Kintyre
Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give Up
The Royal Guardsmen - Snoopy’s Christmas
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OUTinPerth
December 2017
21
community group listings ALCOHOL and DRUG SUPPORT LINE — 24 hour confidential non-judgemental telephone counselling, information and referral service. If you’re concerned about your own or someone else’s drug or alcohol use please call the Alcohol and Drug Support Line on 08 9442 5000 or Country Callers 1800 198 024 (toll free) – alcoholdrugsupport.mhc.wa.gov.au; email alcoholdrugsupport@mhc.wa.gov.au ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS RAINBOW GROUP meets every Tuesday 7-8pm, in the hall next to St Lukes church, cnr George and Rowland Sts, Maylands. If alcohol is costing you more than the price of the drink, please join us for sharing and recovery in a 12 Step Program with proven results. The only requirement for AA membership is a desire to stop drinking. For more information www.aaperthwa.org BEARS PERTH — BEARS PERTH - A Friendly men only social club for men with body and / or facial hair and their admirers. The dress code is masculine, and men of all shapes, sizes and amount of hairiness are welcome. Licensed Den Nights are on the 2nd Saturday and 4th Friday of each month 9pm till Late @ Loton Park Bulwer St (near Lord St) East Perth. There are also different events on the 2nd Sunday of each month, often at a members residence or alternative events as advised. Visitors welcome. Contact us via phone 0487 595 672, email: info@bearsperth.org, http:// bearsperth.org or http://bit.ly/bpi-www BISEXUAL+ COMMUNITY PERTH — is a safe place for people who are not gay or straight (we use “bisexual” as an umbrella term for that) to engage in respectful discussion, connect with people, and form community online. There are also regular opportunities to connect in person, including events for Bi Visibility Day (23/9) and the Pride Parade (25/11). You can join the Bisexual+ Community Perth group by going directly to www.facebook.com/groups/bicommperth CATHOLIC GLBT AND PARENT SUPPORT — This service provides pastoral support to all members of the Catholic GLBT community, including parents of GLBT children; giving an understanding & an opportunity for processing & healing feelings of confusion, hurt, anger exclusion or being marginalised. Individual consultation is provided as well as communal gatherings of the Catholic GLBT community for mutual & spiritual support. For more information, please call 6336-8602 (leave a message if unattended) or email cathgaysupport@gmail.com *NEW* CYRENIAN HOUSE ALCOHOL & OTHER DRUG TREATMENT SERVICE – Cyrenian House proudly supports the West Australian LGBTIQA+ community, providing a safe environment to seek support for alcohol and other drug (AOD) use issues. Services include free counselling for your own AOD use or if you are affected by the use of another person, family & couples counselling and group work, lowmedical detox, residential rehabilitation treatment and more. Ph: 9328 9200 or www.cyrenianhouse.com DYKES ON BIKES — A diverse, loosely-knit social group, occasional organised rides & gatherings plus annual appearance as the traditional lead float in the Pride Parade. If you are a female who rides a motorbike and loves women, then come along and check out dykes on bikes. General enquiries see our public group on facebook... Dykes on bikes WA or email dykesonbikeswa@hotmail.com FREEDOM CENTRE — Freedom Centre provides a safe space, peer support, information, and referrals for LGBTTIQ and Questioning young people (under 26).FC provides a range of services including an online Forum, trainings, workshops and our drop-in centre sessions which are open for: Freespace – every Wednesday 5-8pm & Friday 4-8pm, Outspace – 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month 12pm-5pm, GenderQ – 1st Thurs of the month 5-8pm, 1st People’s Qspace – 3rd Thursday of the month 5-8pm, Junior aGender - last Monday of even months 5-8pm, QMovie – last Tuesday of odd months 5-8pm. 93 Brisbane St, Perth WA 6000 Ph: 9228 0354 Email: info@freedom.org.au Web: www.freedom.org.au www.fcyeah.tumblr.com GAY AND LESBIAN SINGERS OF WA (GALS WA) — GALSWA welcomes members from all shades of the sexuality and gender diversity rainbow and our allies. There are no auditions, singers of all abilities welcome. Rehearsals Thursdays 7 to 9 pm at the Royal Park Hall, 180 Charles St, West Perth (cnr of Vincent St). For more
information see our website: www.galswa.org.au, Email info@galswa.org.au or contact Jackie on 0405 081 638. GAY & LESBIAN ARCHIVES OF WA — Located in the Murdoch University Library on the South Street Campus. For opening hours and access details, please contact the Library on 9360 2563. GRAI (GLBTI RIGHTS IN AGEING INC.) — works to improve the quality of life for older LGBTI people, both in care and in the community. Providing visibility and a voice for LGBTI elders is key to this. Through research and advocacy we have achieved law reform to end discrimination for older LGBTI people. We work with the aged care sector, delivering training to achieve safe and inclusive aged care services. We hold community events to build better community supports and friendships. New members welcome. Interested? Contact June on 08 9383 7753. PO Box 514 North Perth WA 6906 or 54 Bickley Cres, Manning 6152. E: info@grai.org.au or visit www. grai.org.au GOLF BAGS — Golf club play every Sat morning at a variety of courses north and south of the river. We are a group of friendly gals who love our golf and good company. New players are always welcome. For details contact us at golfbagswa@gmail.com HEADSPACE MIDLAND — headspace can help – headspace provides FREE information, confidential support and services for all young people 12-25 years and their families. Our experienced team includes LGBTIQ friendly Social Workers, GPs, Psychologists, Drug and alcohol workers and more. No referral is required and you can bring a friend for support. Drop in at 64 Morrison Rd, Midland (upstairs from the market) or call 08 9274 8860. www.headspace.org.au/midland HEPATITIS WA — providing information and support to people affected by hepatitis. If you would like to know more on hepatitis A, B or C, contact us on 9328 8538 (Metro) or 1800 800 070 (Country). 134 Aberdeen St Northbridge WA 6003 — www. hepatitiswa.com.au LESBIAN ELDERS’ TALKING GROUP — GRAI’s Meet n’ Muse (MnM) is a supportive social space where women (55+) who identify as lesbian or bisexual discuss a variety of topics (chosen by the group) and share past and present life experiences. Coffee afterwards. MnM Perth meets 2nd and 4th Weds at 1.30pm; MnM Mandurah meets on 1st and 3rd Weds at 7pm. For more details email Pam: graipamm@gmail.com LESBIANS WHO LUNCH (LWL) — LWL is a monthly lunch club for older lesbians – meeting on 3rd Thursdays at different venues around Perth. It’s an opportunity to widen our friendship networks and stay involved in the community. Organised by GRAI, for info about up-coming lunches, contact June: chair@grai.org.au LIVING PROUD LGBTI COMMUNITY SERVICES OF WA — (formerly Gay & Lesbian Community Services of WA). Information, support, referrals and professional training. City West Lotteries House, 2 Delhi St, West Perth WA 6005. Qlife counselling and referral Line: 1800 184 527 Admin/Fax: (08) 9486 9855 Email: admin@glcs.org.au Web: www.glcs.org.au LOTON PARK TENNIS CLUB — Diversity is our advantage. Come on down and try something new at Perth’s Other Gay & Lesbian venue. It’s not just about tennis. Open to all levels of players – social and competitive – with an emphasis on enjoyment for everyone. With the city skyline as our backdrop, sit back on the embankment or balcony and enjoy a drink in a relaxed and fun atmosphere. A full social calendar ahead ensures a summer of fun for everyone. Enquiries@lotonpark.com.au Ph: (08) 9328 5065 — www.lotonpark.com.au M CLINIC – FREE STI/HIV SCREENING CLINIC — For Men who have sex with men. Free, confidential, non-judgemental STI testing & Treatment. Please call (08) 9227 0734 for appointments. Central location. After hours options available. For more information email info@mclinic.org.au or visit mclinic.org.au OPEN ARMS FELLOWSHIP — Perth’s Only Welcoming & Affirming Pentecostal Church. “This
is Church for those who’ve been told they don’t belong in church!” It doesn’t matter whether your Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Trans or Intersex, Young, Old, Or somewhere in-between Including their Family friends and supporters. Everyone is welcome meeting at UCIC hall, first floor, 97 William St, Perth. Sundays 6pm. For further information email: info@ openarmsaustralia.org; or go to the website: www. openarmsaustralia.org; or call Pastor Graham on ph: 0405 285 233 OUTDANCE — Same Sex Partner Ballroom & Latin American Dance Classes - Group Classes & Social Nights for Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced Dancers. Private Lessons by appointment. Group Class - 6.30pm Tuesday Mt Hawthorn Community Centre. Class Enquiries: Judy 0417 911 214 or Warwick 0450 041 023. OUTdance Studio Principals: Darryl Davenport & Tania McGuinness. P: 0414 666 034 F: 08 9403 2220 E: info@ outdance.com.au PERTH INNER CITY YOUTH SERVICE— or PICYS as we are commonly known, we are a LGBTI inclusive organisation and welcome and celebrate each and every person. PICYS is available to assist young people between 16 – 25 who are experiencing homelessness; and 15 to 20 who are wanting to get support with their mental health and other life matters. Check our website for more service info www.picys.org.au or call on 08 9388 2791 Mondays to Fridays 9am - 5pm. PFLAG PERTH (PARENTS, FAMILIES & FRIENDS OF LESBIANS & GAYS — is a community group offering support and understanding for families and friends with loved ones who are GLBTI. Meetings are held every second month in Perth city (please call to register) Visit website for more information, news, events and meeting dates: www.pflagwa.org.au Email: info@pflagwa.org.au. Information Line: 0404 594 699. Facebook:www.facebook.com/pflagperth *UPDATED* PRIDE WA INC. — To lead by example in creating a world where inclusion and diversity are embraced and celebrated. Pride WA encourages the cultural expression, celebration and human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer and all people of diverse sexuality and gender living in Western Australia. We recognise that our collective strength lies in our diversity and willingness to embrace and respect the differences that exist both within our Pride community and the broader communities in which we live, work, love and celebrate. PRIDE WA stages events through the year, including their annual Arts and Culture festival PrideFEST, Pride PARADE and FAIRDY. Information can be found on www.pridewa.com.au or contact us; E: pride@pridewa.com.au, P: 08 6269 2220 PRIMETIMERS WA — If you are a mature gay or bisexual man, we are keen to welcome you to Prime Timers. The group meets at 2pm on the second Sunday of each month, at Lotteries House: 2 Delhi St, West Perth. PO Box 829, Mt. Lawley 6929. For more info go to www.primetimerswa.com or email: primetimers@primtimerswa.com. QLIFE – COUNSELLING & REFERRAL — QLife is Australia’s first nationally-oriented counselling and referral service for people of diverse sex, genders and sexualities. QLife provides nationwide, early intervention, peer supported telephone and web based services to support Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) people of all ages. Freecall: 1800 184 527 Time: 3pm to 12pm Web: www.qlife.org.au RAINBOW LABOR — This is a group of LBGTI and like-minded community members volunteering at a grass-roots level of the WA Labor Party. The branch meets monthly, has a direct link to State Executive and delegates at State Conference. Being involved in Rainbow Labor gives members the opportunity to have a direct influence on policies of the Australian Labor Party at both State and Federal levels. For further information or to join please contact Branch President, Andy Skinner on 0452 446 995, email rainbowlabor.branch@walabor.org.au or visit facebook.com/RainbowLaborWA RAINBOW RIGHTS WA a community based organisation working to change public perception, end discrimination, and achieve social justice
for LGBTI+ people and their families in Western Australia. Membership open to all. Find us on Facebook. E: rainbowrightswa@gmail.com SAINT ANDREW’S ANGLICAN CHURCH — Open door worship 6pm Sundays. Welcome and affirmation for all GLBTI people. 259 Barker Road, Subiaco. 9381 1130. standrewsubi@bigpond.com www.siriol.net/StAndrew SECCA (SEXUALITY EDUCATION COUNSELLING CONSULTANCY AGENCY) — Counselling for people with a disability, their partners, carers & family about relationships & sexuality. Professional education & consultancy services available covering sexuality & disability. Fees may apply. Mon-Fri 9-5. City West Lotteries House, 2 Delhi St West Perth WA 6005. Ph 9420 7226 / Fx 9420 7229. e: admin@secca. org.au — www.secca.org.au SEX WORKERS — Magenta offers support, education, info & referral services for F, M & T/G sex workers (private, escort, parlours, street). Peer-based, worker-friendly staff for confidential & anonymous phone, inhouse & outreach help/advice. Free clinic for STI screenings. Stock at reduced price to workers. Mon–Thu 9am–4pm. 9328 1387. e: sexworker@fpwa.org.au TEAMPERTH— TeamPerth is a hub for bringing together all the queer sporting and recreation groups here in Perth and WA. Our goal is to promote diversity and inclusion in all sports, as well as to provide support and to help connect groups together. If you’re looking to join a club, or if you’d like to start your own, go to our website at teamperth.info, check out our Facebook - www.facebook.com/teamperth or email us at teamperthaus@gmail.com TRANSFOLK OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA — A peer support network for gender diverse people and their loved ones in Western Australia. Contact info: email: admin@transfolkofwa.org facebook:www. facebook.com/TransFolkofWA website: www. transfolkofwa.org WA AIDS COUNCIL — Strengthening our community’s health and quality of life. Provides a range of services for people living with HIV/AIDS, Counselling ( issues include HIV/AIDS, relationships, sexuality & gender) Needle and Syringe Exchange, Peer Education, workshops & STI screening for men who have sex with men. Other community education, prevention and training services offered. 664 Murray Street, West Perth, Admin: 08 9482 0000 AIDSline 9482 0044, Mensline 9322 8401 (Toll Free 1800 671 130) www.waaids.com email: waac@waaids.com WASUA (WA SUBSTANCE USER’S ASSOCIATION) — WASUA is WA’s state-wide, peer based Drug User Organisation that provides harm reduction, advocacy and peer education services to substance users. Services provided include a 7 day per week fixed site Needle Syringe Exchange Program, Health Clinic for STI/BBV testing, pre and post test counselling, Hep A/B vaccinations, Hep C/ HIV education, alcohol & other drug support and treatment referral, Drug user & Pharmacotherapy advocacy. Contact us 22/7 Aberdeen Street Perth, Phone 9325 83 87 Fax 9325 6152, email: info@ wasua.com.au WA GAY LEAGUE — Tenpin Bowling. Everyone is welcome. Sun from 11:00am at Warwick Superbowl. 12 Dugdale St, Warwick Grove. e: rayjc@iinet.net. au — www.wagl.org.au WA WANDERERS MENS BUSHWALKING — are a social walking group for gay guys and gay friendly guys who are keen to get outside and enjoy Western Australia’s countryside with an easy going and friendly group. 0415 249 265 www.wawanderers.com.au
FEES include GST Annual (Unfunded) $110 Annual (Funded) $200 To list a community group or service in the paper and online ph: 08 9371 9877 email: community@outinperth.com web: www.outinperth.com
PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given that following the decision of the 15th day of the month of November the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, questioning, allies, gender agenda will be rolled out in full affect. The required 30-day notice period has been implemented allowing any citizens who strongly disagree with the following ample time to relocate to Siberia. As of the 15th day of December the following will apply; Christmas will cancelled to be replaced by a new celebration - Bananarama Day, The new national anthem, Kylie Minogue’s ‘I Should Be So Lucky’ will be adopted immediately and played before all major sporting events. Margaret Court Stadium is now the Tina Arena. Television coverage of rugby has been replaced by in depth coverage of Women’s Hockey. The decision to introduce two mothers days has been rescinded, we will be sticking with the same date, but it is however completely unacceptable to buy one present for both of your mothers. The same applies for Father’s Day. Daddy Day will be on November 15th - it’s something completely different. The makeup of the new government is still being finalised, but a few key positions have been announced. Magda Szubanski is the President, Joel Creasey is the new Minister for Foreign Affairs, Karen from Finance is in charge of the Treasury and Ruby Rose is the new Attorney General. At the beginning of parliament the instread of The Lord’s Prayer, there will instead be the option of reciting Like a Prayer. All gender pronouns are banned with immediate effect, please remember this is not just honourifics but all occurrences of words including he, him, his, she, her and male and female. For examples Sheena Easton will now Zeena Easton, Werner Herzog will be known as Werner Zeezog, and Disney’s Maleficent will now be Personificent. The Safe Schools program has been axed and replaced with the even better Fabulous Schools program. Instead of maths there will be drag classes, the only language offered will be polari, and history classes will begin with Stonewall. The ABC will dedicate a channel to playing all the queer favourites, re-runs of Prisoner, back to back episodes of Ab Fab, plus The L Word, Queer as Folk, Project Runway and Real Housewives. There will be less of the cricket on TV and all competitive diving will get wall to wall coverage. Roller Derby will now be ‘the national sport’. All public holidays have been cancelled and replaced with new celebrations. January 26th will now celebrate Ellen DeGeneres’ birthday, March 22nd is Tyler Oakley Day, September 30th is now Truman Capote Day, the Queen’s birthday will be on March 25th - all hail Elton. There will be a nationwide weeklong holiday from March 5th - to allow for sufficient recovery from the 40th Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. Not everyone is required to be gay immediately, funding will be available for a TAFE course to teach you the basics. It expected that all citizens will have progressed along the Kinsey scale by the end of 2020. You need to be a four people, at least a four. Churches will be permitted to operate until the end of the financial year, then they will slowly be converted into venues for dance parties and drag balls.
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Stuff Said: The Marriage Debate Well the marriage debate is finally over, and by the time this issue hits the streets Senator Dean Smith’s bill should have even passed through the parliament. Though we heard a lot of passionate and emotive speeches, and some hateful and harmful arguments too - there were moments of sheer absurdity peppered throughout the national conversation that deserve their place in the nonsense Hall of Fame. Here our especially curated selection of the most bonkers moments in Australia’s marriage debate. I have an affectionate relationship with my cycling mates who we go cycling on the weekend but that’s not marriage. Why doesn’t the law have a place in those sort of relationships - Liberal MP Kevin Andrews And, um, it may even be an OH&S issue. I mean, the gap could catch, that ring could catch on things. - Sophie York, Marriage Alliance (Discussing Airbnb’s Acceptance Rings) Let a thousand blossoms bloom, as far as I’m concerned… But I ain’t spending any more time on it, because in the meantime, every three months, a person is torn to pieces by a crocodile in North Queensland! - Federal MP Bob Katter Are people going to stripped of saying ‘you can not call this person mum, you cannot call that person dad’ because you are gonna offend those family who don’t have two… you know, who have parents of the same sex. - One Nation Senator Pauline Hanson I’m not voting because we elected our politicians to make hard decisions - Footballer Tony Shaw Why are we pushing in parts of this country in the school educational program teaching kids about body parts and their body parts and everything which is they are kids let them be children - One Nation Senator Pauline Hanson
APOLLO ZEN BENJAMIN WITT BONNY UPWELLING CARLA GENEVE CHICK SPIT DEBBIE DOWNERS DEMON DAYS DIY RAINCLOUDS HUMAN BUOY HUSSY MOJO RISING WINNER THE MONEY WAR SHIT NARNIA SHY TIME TOYOTOMI YOUR GIRL PHO PLUS THE WHIPCRACKER AND WILLY SLADE #DISTANTMURMURS
We have now made laws that give Aboriginals more rights than other Australians. They are treated totally different under the law. People did not vote for that, hence my concerns about this plebiscite. - ...Pauline, again Water is H2O and not CH3CH2OH, which is ethanol. They are both liquids. We cannot redefine CH3CH2OH as water, since it has a different structure. A union of female and male has a different structure from a homosexual union. - One Nation Senator Brian Burston The saint I come closest to is Augustine, who had a great prayer: ‘O Lord, grant me chastity—but not yet.’ - Liberal National MP George Christensen I do not believe there has been enough tolerance in this chamber to accept the near five million people that did not vote for this - Oh, come on Pauline Minogue won’t tie knot until gay marriage legalised. Just a BS excuse to not marry Kylie – she sure can pick’em! - One Nation Co-Founder David Oldfield The weirdest waste of Australian money since every Baz Luhrmann movie - Last Week Tonight host John Oliver Lemon meringue appeared to be the softest (and) least likely to do any injury - Tony Overheu (after having thrown a pie into Alan Joyce’s face) If indeed same-sex marriage does turn out to mean that there are more stable and lasting relationships in this country, gay as well as straight, then it will have strengthened our social fabric. - Former Prime Minister, and prominent No campaigner, Tony Abbott If we believe two gay people are better off together than living alone, comforted only by their respective cats, then why should we deprive that relationship of equal recognition? - Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull
OUTinPerth
December 2017
23
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