Hyde 2020 Edition 3 - Colourful

2 0 2 0 3 I S S U E

HYDE colourful edition

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This is a publication of Victoria University Student Union inc.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF COUNTRY

Victoria University Student Union and Hyde Student Magazine acknowledges

the

Boonwurrung,

Ancestors,

Woiwurrung

(Wadawurrung)

on

our

Elders

and

(Wurundjeri) Melbourne

families and

campuses

of

the

Wathaurung and

the

Gadigal and Guring-gai people of the Eaora Nation on our Sydney campus. These groups are the custodians of the University land and have been for many centuries. As we share our own knowledge practices within the University, may we pay respect to the deep knowledge

embedded

within

the

Aboriginal

community

and

ownership of Country. We acknowledge that the land on which our campuses

stand

is

the

place

of

age

old

ceremonies

and

celebration, initiation and renewal. The Kulin and Eora people's living culture had, and has, a unique role in the life of these regions. Victoria University supports the aim of Reconciliation Australia

to

build

better

relationships

between

the

wider

Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people for the benefit of all Australians. It is important that staff, students, and visitors understand and respect the significance of recognising the traditional owners of University land.

Hello Hyde readers!

Welcome to the third edition of Hyde Student Magazine - the Pride edition, the most 'Colourful' of all!

This edition puts the focus on our vibrant LGBTQIA+ community at VU with their talents, their stories, and of course their pride.

We hope you have been enjoying your time in isolation and been keeping busy, we at Hyde have been as this is our second edition we have released online during this time. For those of you wondering, as we know you are, we will be getting our online editions printed when this is all over for those that want a copy. We will have a limited stock but hopefully everyone who wants one can get their hands on one.

In this edition we are celebrating the diverse LGBTQIA+ community here at VU with some absolutely amazing pieces from students including artwork, articles, history 101, 5 ways to be an ally, top 10 gay icons and so much more.

We at Hyde are always looking for help and if you are interested in getting involved with our magazine and wanting to contribute to the amazing work that we do, please feel free to contact us at hyde@vustudentunion.com.

Thanks for reading, We hope you enjoy Hyde 2020! xx Hannah Nadin ~ Editor in Chief

letter from the editor

39

45

37

17

what's inside what's inside what's inside what's inside what's inside what's inside what's inside what's inside what's inside what's inside what's inside what's inside what's inside what's inside what's inside what's inside what's inside what's inside

51

33

page 7

page 17

A message from our VC

Queerantine: Queer and Quarantining

Professor Peter Dawkins

page 8

Kathleen Beno

A message from the VUSU Pres

page 18

Will Penrose

Unexposed

page 11 VUSU Queer Officer Welcome Mickey Deppeler

page 12 VU Queer Collective Welcome Oliver Kaiser

page 13

Andie Leigh

page 19 5 ways to be ally to the LGBTQIA+ community Mickey Deppeler

page 23 Aslan Mughees Raza

My Reality as a Black Person in 2020

page 25

Temi Oladiji

A Starry Night

page 16 Steps to reopen Aus

Khadijha Kassab

19

32

29

page 27

page 33

page 45

Diversity and Inclusion & the Ally Network at VU

Top 10 Famous Gay Icons

The History of the LGBTQIA+: Rights Milestones Fast Facts

page 29 Positive/accurate queer representation in Media Kathleen Beno

page 30 A Kiss Andie Leigh

page 31 Colours together to create something beautiful Thelma Gouveia

page 32 We can't forget our roots Kathleen Beno

page 37 Colours James Louloudakis

page 39 Gay Hotdog Day: A memoir Oliver Kaiser

page 41 Sphynx in the sun Marion Hillebrand

page 42 VU Services for LGBTQIA+ Community

page 43 Between the Lines part 1 & 2 Andie Leigh

page 49 Trail to Freedom Andie Leigh

page 50 The Closet Andie Leigh

page 51 Drag photoshoot

page 53 Lost in Translation Hannah Nadin

page 54 Take a Look Susie Halem

A message from our VC At

Victoria

University

we

are

committed

to creating

I hope you have all adapted well to your digital remote

a great place to learn, with a diverse and inclusive culture

learning

where everyone is enabled to thrive. We foster a deep

studies during the restrictions.

and

experienced

minimal

disruption

to

your

connection with our community to ensure social cohesion, inclusivity and belonging.

Your safety, health and wellbeing and that of our staff and

community is our priority at VU, and we will ensure that we

This edition of the Hyde magazine is known as both the

help

‘Colourful’

and

government guidelines.

opportunity

to

the

‘Queer

highlight

Edition’,

that,

at

VU,

making

we

value

it

an

and

are

to

reduce

the

spread

of

COVID-19

in

line

with

proud to support LGBTQIA+ and gender diverse students,

At this time all campuses are closed, with only essential

staff and community.

on-campus activities being approved and conducted. We

VU

are currently working on a Transition to Campus Strategy understands

this

and the associated logistical efforts required to achieve a

conversation and our commitment to inclusion and diversity

safe, staged and eventual return to full campus activities.

is a part of our fabric. Creating a uniquely diverse student

We will provide updates to you as the situation changes.

community

and

the

role

that

providing

a

education

rich

plays

environment

in

to

be

successful in learning in a globalised world is our strength.

I want to remind you about the COVID-19 Student Support

Fund that is available to eligible students who need are

Our

ongoing

and

most in need as well as remind you to stay in touch with

inclusion is reflected in the university’s Strategic Plan 2016-

the university by checking your student email, to actively

20 and we ensure the university celebrates, includes and

partner with your teachers so you can work together, and

supports

use the many platforms and chat rooms that are available

the

commitment

LGBTQIA+

to

and

promoting

gender

diversity

diverse

community

through our LGBTQIA+ and Gender Diverse Action Plan,

to you.

which was developed in conjunction with the Ally network members. In addition, we provide a range of information and resources, pride rooms and community spaces which

I wish you all the best with your studies and want you to

are located across VU campuses.

know that VU stands with you.

Through

the

COVID-19

pandemic,

our

focus

at

VU

continues to be to provide high-quality teaching, learning

Professor Peter Dawkins

and research.

Vice-Chancellor and President

page 8 | Colourful 2020

A message from our VUSU Pres Hey HYDE readers, I hope your studies are going

VUSU

well and you all are staying safe. Welcome to the

continue

Colourful

culture

some

edition.

awesome

In

this

edition

student

input

you

can

ranging

find from

is

determined to at

foster all

celebrates

of

and

to

ensure

an

that

we

environment

our

VU

supports

and

campus the

that

LGBTQIA+

illustrations

community, not only at VU but in the wider

from our talented students at VU. Since the last

community too. I must commend our Queer

edition

officer,

personal

stories

the

to

Student

some

beautiful

Union

has

been

tirelessly

pushing to cater for students and ensure that all

the

students are accounted for.

Mickey

on

his

work

over

the

last

year and a half in his position. In particular 2019

Queernival

which

celebrated

the

LGBTIA+ community in a brilliant way. It was

As this is the LGBTQIA+ and Colourful edition it seems only fit to talk about how we support our students that identify as members of the LGBTQIA+

community.

We

at

the

sure

all

students

feel

included

regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race or religion. This edition showcases the diverse community that VU has.

truly

amazing

experience.

Some

of

his

other work in supporting his community has been fantastic too.

Victoria

University Student Union are passionate about making

a

In

a

quick

pleased

to

update

from

announce

VUSU,

that

we

we

are

very

alongside

the

National Union of Students (NUS) have launched the Save our Students campaign that looks to keep student voices heard and ensure that no student

is

left

behind

during

the

COVID-19

pandemic. To get more information, head over to the VUSU website and track down the video for all the info you could need. We have also been working to ensure we maintain our massive online presence,

by

continuing

to

provide

awesome

competitions and crazy cool initiatives like our online

Zoom

Yoga

that

happens

every

Wednesday at 4pm. We also have some great cultural events to keep an eye out for.

During this pandemic please make sure to stay safe,

study

hard

and

make

sure

we

are

all

checking in on each other. It has been a tough time for all so keeping in contact with your mates is really important. If you ever need to get in contact with us you can visit us at our Footscray Park campus office, building M, room 129. This is for

once

we

transition

back

onto

campus

of

course. You can also contact us digitally via our email queries@vustudentunion.com.

Be Safe,

Will Penrose President president@vustudentunion.com 0439 082 572

page 11 | Colourful 2020

VUSU Queer Officer Welcome HI there! Happy Pride month all, I say this with absolute understanding that while we are seeing

systematic

racism

and

a

global

pandemic

pride

month

reminds

us

of

where

ourselves have come from to where we are today with rights and a stronger break away from hetero normative beliefs.

For many who don’t know, the gay rights movement first started at stonewall in NYC on June

28th,

1969,

while

mourning

the

death

of

Judy

Garland

it

was

an

era

where

two

genders were seen, and you had to conform to them. Marsha P. Johnson a proud trans black women threw the first brick at police who were paid to make sure they caused as much harm to the LGBT (at that time) community. This was a spark of many milestones in which

ours

was

1978

where

the

affectionally

known

’78

marched

down

Oxford

Street

Sydney to protest our own laws that made the community illegal and deemed as a mental impairment.

Today this edition is a testament to those that have advocated for what we have now, in 2020 we are allowed to be married, we are allowed to adopt, we are seen equal in the law and finally we can have less or no fear that we are going to be harmed for being who we are. This edition lets all who read it know that in this age we support our brothers and sisters who are CIS, non-binary, gender fluid, transgender, bisexual, a sexual and pansexual know that you are not alone and that we hear you and we accept you for you.

From a time were we were seen as LGBT to now where we are LGBTIQA inclusive, we have our own pride center in St Kilda, gay history is being taught in schools, pride rooms and queer departments are showing up over a variety of education facilities and business, and we have a new flag that is POC inclusive.

While we do still have a lot of work to do, it's good to know that our support networks are increasing with allies and we are receiving understanding and tolerance from increasing organisations. More needs to be done on pronoun awareness and declassifying government papers that categorise in a gender normative.

Please enjoy this edition of HYDE brought to you by your student union, and remember your rights do matter and we are here to make sure of it.

Peace,

Mickey Deppeler LGBTIQA+ officer VUSU

VU Queer Collective Executive Welcome Hello and Welcome to the Colourful Pride edition of Hyde!

First

and

foremost,

I

would

like

to

extend

a

huge

thank

you

to

the

editor Hannah for her passion and hard work getting every edition of Hyde out successfully.

This is a strange time in the world, we have a worldwide pandemic and a civil-rights movement happening simultaneously. The world is holding its breath, as am I, to see how we as humans are going to get through this.

But we will. We have come so far in society and to look back to 100 even 50

years

ago,

we

as

human

kind

have

achieved

so

much;

from

the

Stonewall to Marriage Equality. As a collective we can do so much and if we stand together we can do it.

I

have

been

at

VU

for

a

few

years

now

and

have

seen

how

much

the

university stands together. I love this university and am a proud ally of the LGBTQIA inclusive community. I am an executive member of the VU Queer Collective and support and stand with the community.

If

there

are

students

who

may

need

help

or

would

like

to

get

in

contact with me, I can be reached at oliver.kaiser@live.vu.edu.au, or through carrier pigeon.

Happy Pride Month, be safe and most importantly stay true to yourself, stay friendly and stay fabulous!

~Oliver Kaiser

page 13 | Colourful 2020

My reality as a black person in 2020 IN LIGHT OF THE CURRENT SITUATION I CAN'T HELP BUT FEEL HOPELESS AT THE FACT THAT ITS 2020 AND YET MY PEOPLE ARE STILL SHOT DEAD MOTHERS, BROTHERS, FATHERS AND FRIENDS SHOT BY MORE THAN FIENDS PEOPLE WHO ARE MEANT TO PROTECT US INSTEAD TURN THEIR FIRE ON US AND MY HEART IS IN PAIN AND ACHES BECAUSE THAT COULD BE MY BROTHER OR FATHER ONE DAY SO I KNOW THAT I HAVE TO SPEAK OR ELSE THESE PEOPLE GO FREE CAUSE THATS THE SYSTEM THAT IS IN PLACE TO BENEFIT EVERYONE OTHER THAN THE BLACK RACE SOMEDAY I WANT TO HAVE A SON AND A DAUGHTER A LITTLE BLACK BOY AND HIS SISTER AND IT PAINS ME TO THINK THAT I MIGHT HAVE TO TELL THEM HOW TO ACT WHEN THE MEN IN UNIFORMS ARE CRUISING OR THAT THEY MIGHT FEEL THAT THEIR BEAUTIFUL DARK SKIN IS MORE OF A CURSE THAN A BLESSING AND SO WHEN YOU ASK 'WHAT'S THE POINT?' WHAT'S THE POINT OF SPEAKING WHAT'S THE POINT OF SHOUTING WHAT'S THE POINT OF PROTESTING THAT'S THE POINT! BECAUSE WE OWE IT TO OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS TO HAVE BETTER THAN WHAT WE HAVE NOW JUST LIKE HOW OUR ANCESTORS FOUGHT FOR US TO HAVE BETTER THAN WHAT THEY HAD SO CHANGE MIGHT NOT BE IMMEDIATE IT MIGHT OCCUR SLOWLY BUT WE OWE IT TO ALL THOSE LIVES WHO HAVE BEEN LOST WE OWE IT TO GEORGE, AHMAUD, BREONNA AND MANY MORE TO HONOUR THEIR LIVES BY TRYING ANYWAY AND STOP LOOSING OUR FAMILIES TO RACISM BECAUSE THATS MY REALITY AS A BLACK PERSON IN 2020 ~TEMILOLUWA OLADIJI

'I UNDERSTAND THAT I WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND COMPLETELY. BUT I WILL STAND WITH YOU AND I WILL NOT LET YOU DO THIS ALONE. YOU WERE NEVER MEANT TO'

~ANON

page 16 | Colourful 2020

Steps to reopen Aus what's changing?

5 visitors at home, 10 in business and public areas

Step

Work from home if it works for you and your employer

1

Restaurants, cafes and shopping open Libraries, community centres playgrounds and boot camps open Local and regional travel

Gatherings of 20 in your home, business and public places Step

Work from home if it works for you and your employer 2

Gyms, beauty, cinemas, galleries, and amusement parks open

Caravan or camping grounds Some interstate travel

Gatherings sizes increased to 100 Step

Return to workplace 3

Nightclubs, food courts, saunas open All interstate travel Consider Cross-Tasman, pacific island, and international students travel

page 17 | Colourful 2020

Queerantine: Queer and Quarantining ~ Kathleen Beuno LGBTQIA+ or queer people have faced unique situations during the COVID-19 crisis, and continue to do so. A large number have been forced to return to unsafe homes or domestic spaces, where they are unable to express their identity, for a myriad of reasons.

According to ‘The World’ (https://www.pri.org/stories/2020-0507/lgbtq-helplines-seesurge-queercommunities-face-lockdown-hostile-homes) there’s been a surge in calls to LGBTQ hotlines, specifically calls asking for help with domestic abuse and suicide during COVID-19.

People are not isolated physically, they are isolated socially. Social contact through safe spaces such as clubs, bars, community centres and universities provides connection and crucial lifelines for queer people, especially young people. They provide a place where young and old can reaffirm their identity through physical presentation, such as clothing, makeup or even hair. LGBTQIA+ people often use these place to make their own ‘chosen families’ who are different to their biological or birth families. These ‘families’ take the place of the individuals’ originally one and often support them emotionally and mentally.

‘But so what if your parents’ don’t like you’re queer? Mine don’t like my pink hair’

At the end of the day, everyone faces difficulties during lockdown but for the queer community, isolation and quarantine can tear apart their own identity.

Having biological or other relatives, including family friends, fundamentally disagree with, or dislike who you are as a person has long-lasting effects. LGBTQIA+ people already have a higher rate of suicide, than heterosexual, cisgender people; and with COVID-19 spreading continuously across the globe during Pride Month, the rate is expected to rise.

So what can we do for a community that is so at-risk currently?

- Learn. Take this time during isolation to educate yourself and others on all aspects of the community, and discover what it truly means to be a good ally. (Hint: it’s respecting individual’s pronouns, not erasing identity, and using your platform and privilege to lift others up!)

-Share resources. Use social media or other methods to share resources about being Queer, and also crisis support resources. You never know when you might save a life. Qlife (1800 184 527) - https://qlife.org.au/ is a LGBTQIA+ specific counselling service, and Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800) https://kidshelpline.com.au/, is a crisis and counselling service for people aged 12 -25, with the phone line available 24/7 -Celebrate. June is International Pride Month, and despite many people being in quarantine there are still online celebrations occurring world-wide, across Tiktok, facebook, Instagram and more.

-Listen. Listen to the members of the LGBTQIA+ community on what they need currently, and don’t assume their struggles. Everyone is facing different circumstances, despite still fitting into the Queer Community, and it is crucial to acknowledge and act on such.

'Unexposed' Andie Leigh

page 19 | Colourful 2020

ways to... be an ally to the LGBTQIA+ community

While you probably believe that all people, regardless of gender identity and sexual orientation, should be treated with dignity and respect, you may not be aware of the most practical ways you can defend your LGBTQIA+ friends against discrimination.

The best approaches to becoming an ally to the queer community:

1. Inform yourself about diversity

Understand the diversity of pronouns and sexual orientations, and the importance of these preferences for each individual.

Think about what it means to be ‘he’, ‘she’ or ‘they’. Do some research and learn what a CIS male and female is, as well as the meaning of non-binary, asexual, pansexual, polyamorous, bisexual and so on.

If you’re a VU student, the Queer Collective is always available to offer insight into the full spectrum of queer identities.

2. Listen with empathy

Keep your heart, ears and eyes open to the experiences of the LGBTQIA+ community – those in your life as well as those working to create awareness through media, the arts, research and activism.

Queer youth often struggle to find someone to just listen to them, and making them feel heard could save their life. You don't need to be trained or specialise in psychology or youth work – listening with a compassionate, open and supportive attitude is often all that’s required.

3. Stand up for what’s right

The risk of being a victim of violence is three times higher for queer youth.

Physical attacks, verbal abuse, e-bullying, and even anti-LGBTQIA+ jokes and jests can all have a negative effect.

As an ally, you can focus on making spaces as physically and psychologically safe as possible for the queer community by speaking out to those using offensive slurs, or exhibiting bullying and other antisocial behaviours.

4. Know what support is available

Familiarise yourself with what resources are out there for the LGBTQIA+ community. For example, Victoria police have a queer collective within their ranks who are trained specifically to help those suffering discrimination and there are officers at most police stations who deal solely with this. And at each VU campus, there is a Pride Room where members of the queer community can relax and feel safe.

5. Wear it Purple and attend VU Queernival

Show your support by wearing purple on Wear it Purple Day, Friday 30 August 2019. Wear it Purple Day was founded in response to the number of young people who take their own lives following bullying and harassment due to their sexuality or gender identity. By wearing purple, you can show you are an ally and join a movement that has the potential to save thousands of lives.

To coincide with Wear it Purple Day, VU Queer Collective is welcoming all to the first Victorian Queernival on Thursday 29 August 2019. This is a day of celebrating what makes the queer community special and educating LGBTQIA+ youth and allies about the full range of support available. ~Michael Deppeler

page 23 | Colourful 2020

ASLAN ~ Mughees Raza

I still remember Aslan back from high school.

He transferred to our school from another city. A shy, rangy new kid who was super quiet.

He was different from others but I would say he was not ordinary. He would always sit by himself in the classes, on playgrounds and in the cafe. Aslan always had a big grin on his face and a very welcoming smile but was not very social. He did not even try to make new friends, he looked like he was happy by himself. I would say hello every now and then until one day I got to know him a bit better.

It was the time when our city was flooded with the heaviest rain in years and the roads became canals. I left home for the morning laboratory which was mandatory to attend only to end up being late because of the disastrous state of the roads. I ran to the lab drenched, burst in the room and made my way to my seat without disrupting the class decorum. Half way through the lab I found out the groups have already been assigned and I was not allocated in any. The professor told me Aslan is working alone so I could join him if I want, so I concurred. I went up and sat next to him and all he did was smile at me while I was walking towards him and not a single word after that. I felt a little awkward. I was just making up sentences in my mind to start a conversation. When finally I said “So, how is it going?”, to which he chuckled and said “You don’t really have to be friends with me. We can work on this lab together and that’s all”. I was perplexed but I asked him why he would not want to be friends with me to which he said “I would love to but I’m not really good at being friends with people”. Right at the moment he said that, the bell rang and he quickly packed his stuff and went outside the room.

Later during recess I saw him sitting in the cafe having lunch. I went up to him and yelled “I hate apples”. He looked at me appalled and a few seconds later uttered “But it’s a good apple” and we both burst into laughter. We spent the rest of the recess talking about how he was finding the new city and new school, and how his family still lived in another city and it sometimes made him homesick. I told him he was always welcome to come at my place to hangout whenever he feels like or ever wanted to eat home made food.

Well, I thought I finally broke the wall he built around himself and we could actually be friends but I never saw him after that.

A couple of days later our principal broke the news to us in the morning assembly that Aslan took his own life and he was no more. Everyone present on the ground was shook to the core.

We could not believe what we just heard. It was one of the darkest, gloomiest days for all of us. The principal gave us the details about his burial and a few of us went to it. I tried finding one of his parents to pay my condolences but I could not find them. Upon asking several people I came to know that only one of his relatives showed up at the burial. I was finding it hard to believe that his parents were not there. I asked the one relative what could be the reason Aslan’s parents were not there, to which he sighed and said something which just made me speechless, “Because he was gay”.

My mind was buzzing with questions like how could someone not say their last goodbye to their own child just because he was gay? How could someone hate their own child so much?

Why can we not accept people as they are? So what if they are different? So what if they do not fit in the social criteria? I wish I knew before Aslan was gone. I wish I could support him. I wish I could have helped him. There are too many Aslans who gave up and there are many who are fighting. We as a society need to be more accepting and more supportive. We need to stop judging people if they do not fit in the general criteria of sexuality. We need to be open minded and kind to people because everyone is fighting their own battles everyday. Some of them don’t make it. I can never forget Aslan and his beautiful bright smile and all the potential and all the love that went with him. All I would say is that love is love regardless of gender or sexuality. I see Aslan in people around me and it makes me realise that all they want is to love, is it too much to ask for?

page 25 | Colourful 2020

Khadijha Kassab 'A Starry Night'

Protect your WAM

www.vustudentunion.com

www.saveourstudentsnus.com

Diversity

& Inclusion

page 27 | Colourful 2020

and the Ally Network at VU

VU strives to create an inclusive and safe community, regardless of whether you’re staff or a student. VU values inclusion and acknowledges the importance of fostering an environment where staff and students alike are empowered to bring their best self to work, class and to the university. By promoting an inclusive environment, we better enable students to grow their skills and capabilities for the changing world of work; and to be confident, creative, ethical and respectful, local and global citizens.

As part of the work of creating an inclusive environment, the University has an Ally Network for staff to ensure support, encouragement, advocacy and solidarity for LGBTIQA+ and gender diverse students and staff. The VU Ally Network is co-chaired by Executive Director Dr Ross Coller and Diversity and Inclusion Manager; Dr Jennifer Sinclair.

VUSU Queer Officer, Mickey Deppeler, sits on the Ally Network as a communication channel between staff and students. The network is working on a number of strategies and projects to enable better visibility and support for the LGBTIQA+ community at VU.

Ally Network members can typically be identified by the ALLY rainbow badge or by a rainbow lanyard. Many Ally network members also display, the rainbow ALLY card on their office door or window.

Learning Hub Manager and Ally Network member, Tessa Benson, recently spoke of fostering inclusive practices and values within her student-facing team: “For us, we are all student-facing so it really means that students can feel comfortable coming in. My team are conscious of using language differently, being conscious of what different symbols mean and what acronyms mean, participating in events and encouraging each other… we’re trying to build this inclusive space, where all students feel comfortable. We’re by no means finished doing that, but we’ve started!” College Librarian, Lou Connell said; “As an ally, we can be approached by students and staff, refer them on, or just listen, that’s always a good thing.”

Diversity and inclusion is central to our identity as a University and actively supporting the LGBTIQA+ community at VU is one of the ways we put this into practice.

For further information about student support; contact VUSU Queer Officer, Mickey Deppeler, at queer@vustudentunion.com For information about support for staff email allynetwork@vu.edu.au ~ VU Wellbeing

page 29 | Colourful 2020

POSITIVE/ACCURATE QUEER REPRESENTATION IN MEDIA ~ Kathleen Beuno

TV SHOWS

FILMS

American Horror Story (2011 – present)

52 Tuesdays (2015)

Dear White People (2017 – present)

Boy Erased (2018)

Brooklyn 99 (2013 – present) Elite (2018 – present) Hollywood (2020)

I Am Not Okay With This (2020) Queer Eye (2018 – present)

One Day at a Time (2017 – 2019)

Orange is the New Black (2013 – 2019) Please Like Me The L Word (

The OA (2016 – 2019)

Sex Education (2019 – present)

She-Ra and the Princesses of Power (2016 – present)

Blue is The Warmest Colour (2013) Call Me By Your Name (2018) Love Simon (2014) Moonlight (2016) Pride (2014)

Tangerine (2015) The Colour

Purple (1985) The Half Of It (2020)

The Miseducation of Cameron Post (2016) The Perks of Being A Wallflower (2012)

DOCUMENTARIES

BOOKS

A Secret Love (2020)

A Boy Called Cin (Cecil Wilde)

Community

Boy Erased: A Memoir (Garrard Conley)

Before Stonewall: The Making of a Gay and Lesbian (1984)

Gayby Baby (2015)

How to Survive a Plague (2012)

L Word Mississippi: Hate the Sin (2014) State of Pride (2019)

The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson (2017)

Anger Is a Gift: A Novel (Mark Oshiro) I’ll Give You The Sun (Jandy Nelson) Necessary Errors (Caleb Crain)

Two Boys Kissing (David Levithan) We are Okay (Nina LaCour)

'A Kiss' Andie Leigh

'Colours together to create something beautiful' Thelma Gouveia

page 32 | Colourful 2020

We can’t forget our roots ~ Kathleen Beuno

The queer community is based in the Black

In

Lives Matter movement. Without the tireless

Queer history, however that doesn’t mean it

of

LGBTQIA+

doesn’t exist. Rather there’s simply a lack of

riots,

existence,

efforts

activists

of

African-American

during

the

Stonewall

the

Australia,

there’s

sexuality,

for queer rights would not be possible.

colonisation

but

the

people

involved

and

of

Indigenous

stories

nothing

has

Indigenous of

lack

dreamtime

current achievements and continuous fight

Majority

a

is

silenced

culture

hint

definitive, much

and

of

at as the

expression.

Brotherboys and Sistergirls are probably the

arrested in the Stonewall Riots (June 28,

most

1969), were gay people of colour or drag

however most people do not know they are

queens.

a subsect of the Trans* community.

The

demonstration

followed

a

visible

of

the

LGBTQIA+

community,

police raid on gay bars, where Marsha P Johnson,

a

black

transgender

activist,

is

When these warriors and their culture are

credited as throwing the first brick which

‘forgotten’,

or

started the riot. She later started STAR,

community

becomes

which provided homeless and transgender

washed

people

diverse. We are only a community if every

with

social

contact

and

shelter.

falsity,

For much of Stonewall’s history however,

person

white butch lesbians were credited solely,

spectrum

showing

the

appreciated

Black

background.

cultural activists.

the

continuous

achievements Other

erasure led

by

of

African-American

deliberately

who

American

is

and

identity

avoided,

based can’t

be

under

involved,

Indigenous must

considered

the

of and

be

our

white-

LGBTQIA+

respected

regardless

voices

on

and racial

African-

amplified

not

trailblazers such as Audre Lorde, a black,

only during this time of Black Lives Matters

lesbian poet, and James Baldwin a black

and Pride Month, but always.

writer and social justice advocate, have also been erased from Queer history.

We can’t forget our roots, not now, not ever.

page 33 | Colourful 2020

TOP

Over the years, many Hollywood celebs have made an impact in the LGBTQ+ community. From their songs to their

Famous Gay Icons

advocacy, these stars have become cultural icons for queer people everywhere.

Freddie Mercury

Liza Minnelli

Janet Jackson

Elton John

David Bowie

Lady GaGa

Boy George

Prince

Barbara Steisand

George Michael

page 37 | Colourful 2020

Colours ~ James Louloudakis Colours… Colours are an element of our daily lives often not considered beyond the superficial.

When one sees a flag or a particular palette, they naturally think of what the colours may represent in that context, but often not the purpose of the hues specifically chosen. To those of you who know me, an artistically challenged Law/Business student, you may be surprised that I am writing about colours, but they are all the more significant as communication and symbolism continue to evolve, and the world continues to find them as relevant as ever.

One of the most prominent ways colour is used in society is in branding. Not merely typically thought of manners, such as McDonalds signage or even the blue and white of VU logo, but in banners, posters, digital media, and other forms of visuals. A prime example is this magazine, the “colourful edition”, which uses the various bold colours so commonly associated with the queer community to convey the content within, utilising a common association people exhibit. In essence, it speaks with no words.

Another important use to consider is branding, be it commercial or personal. This is an area often overlooked, and one in which I would encourage people to explore, as it is often easy to implement, adapt or swap out, or to simply allow to accumulate. In the context of visual communication, it is found that earthy, warm, and vibrant tones are used to express comfort, safety, warmth, and nature.

Inversely, an effective and common way to covey advancement (technological or societal) is to utilise black, white, some greys and a single bold colour for contrast. This can even be seen in how we dress, with blues often calming others, while red is commonly seen to convey confidence or authority.

In short, I would strongly encourage everyone to consider how they use colours to communicate, to connect, and to instil thoughts and feelings. They are accessible, and often changeable. Their use is a tool, a skill, and unsurprisingly, an art. It is for these reasons that it would be advisable for everyone to learn this language, to paint themselves into their ideal future.

page 39 | Colourful 2020

Gay Hotdog Day: A Memoir.

So let me start with a disclaimer: I have been known for my lively and energetic (albeit slightly exaggerated) in-person storytelling, so when Hannah (the editor) came to me and asked me if I could write a piece for Hyde I was over the moon at the idea of flaunting my ‘gift’. Let me tell you now, that feeling has certainly changed. Last night I woke up in a sweat not knowing what to write about. Yet here I am, on Hannah’s couch, writing something what I perceive as important, but others may not. So, without further ado, I present to you the story of gay hotdog day.

I feel that a little bit of context is needed to warrant the telling of this story, as the title may seem perhaps a little absurd albeit intriguing. So, I beg of you, dear reader, to take a moment to pause and think about what gay hotdog day may entail. Go on, guess. Thank you for indulging me. Back to the context: The city was Perth, Western Australia, the year was 2018, the day, November 9th. I had moved out of home a couple of years prior and so seeing my family became an often, yet special occasion. I remember the 9th of November 2018 as if it were eighteen months ago.

Please don’t laugh at that. Anyway, it was a bright and sunny Friday morning when my sister messaged me asking if I would come over for an UberEats lunch. As always, I obliged because I thoroughly enjoyed being financially taken advantage of by my sister four years my junior. We ordered hotdogs from Frankly My Dog located in the picturesque Hillarys Boat Harbour in Perth’s northern suburbs. While we were waiting for them to arrive via the upstanding member of the UberEats delivery team Mohammed, we talked, played on our phones, and were generally catching up on life apart. It has always been really nice spending time with my little sister, she is my favourite person in my family (sorry mum and papa), someone I feel comfortable telling my secrets to.

We acquired, nay, adopted her from the cooler half of Korea when she was only a few months old (I’ll let you decide which Korea) in April of 2001. I remember when I first held her in my arms in an adoption agency in downtown Seoul, I looked down into her little eyes and fell in love instantly.

From that day forward, she was my little sister and that means something to me. Growing up, we had our differences as any siblings do, but as we got older, we bonded over our mutual distain for our parents at different times in our short adolescent lives. I love her dearly. I also love my parents dearly.

Let’s bring it back to what you’ve all been waiting to read about: so, we’re waiting for old mate Mohammed to deliver our hotdogs. We’re talking, laughing and carrying on like pork chops as we often do when we hear the doorbell. Now in my parent’s household, the doorbell is a literal bell which confuses some, but is certainly effective. My sister sits up, smiling from ear to ear at the thought of her vegetarian hotdog, but of course, I’m the one who has to answer the door, so I do. We’re sitting, eating our hotdogs and Joan (that’s her name), with what seems to be half the hotdog in her mouth, looks dead into my eyes and says perhaps the most personal thing she will ever tell me (except for her fear of giving birth as she feels it will split her in two), “Olli, I’m gay.” She proceeds to laugh, and not in the nervous way but in the ‘I’m trying to trick you’ way. This confused me greatly and I begin to laugh as well, we are now both laughing, and what follows is a segment whose comedy gold can only be rivalled by Monty Python’s “Ministry of Silly Walks”.

I respond with a poorly crafted, shock-ridden message of support about how proud I am. She continues laughing, this time harder, as if she has succeeded in tricking me. This goes on, a back and forth for a few minutes before Joan adds more fuel to the fire by stopping her laughter and with a deadpan expression says, “I’m just kidding.” “My god Joan, which is it, are you gay or not?” I hear you ask, which is funny because I asked the same thing.

We carry on for another solid five minutes and finally, as the dust settles around what has been my biggest laughter-induced ab workout to date. I ask for confirmation, she nods, I lean over and embrace her while telling her how proud I am of her and of course, we begin to cry over our now cold hotdogs.

Now, every year on the 9th of November we celebrate what is affectionately known as Gay Hotdog Day. Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. ~ Oliver Kaiser

page 41 | Colourful 2020

'Sphynx in the Sun' Marion Hillebrand

VU Services for LGBTQIA+ Community VU Counsellors

Queer Collective

Contact: 9919 5400 to book an Contact: vu.queercollective@gmail.com appointment for any campus or 0421 680 670 Student counselling is available at the following campuses: Ally Network - City Flinders: Ground floor, Contact: allynetwork@vu.edu.au Flinders Lane G18 - Footscray Park: Building M, Level 2 - Footscray Nicholson: Telford Building, Level 1, Room 146 - St Albans: Building 4, Room 101 - Sunshine: Building B, Room 137 - Werribee: Building 1B, Room 109

Ally Training and Resources Pride Rooms

- Footscray Park: Building E, Room 106 - Footscray Nicholson: Building T, Room 103 (available 8.30am- 9pm) VU Student Union Queer Officer - St. Albans: Building 4N, Room 115 - City Flinders: Flinders Lane, Level Contact: queer@vustudentunion.com or 1, Room 123

9919 5053

'Between the lines part 1' Andie Leigh

'Between the lines part 2' Andie Leigh

The history of LGBTQIA+ rights milestones fast facts

Throughout history, the LGBTQIA+ community have had to fight for their rights, here is an incredibly brief history lesson (with so much missing from it) about the milestones in the U.S. and Australia.

1924 - The Society for Human Rights is founded by Henry Gerber in Chicago. It is the first documented gay rights organization.

1950 - The Mattachine Society is formed by activist Harry Hay and is one of the first sustained gay rights groups in the United States. The Society focuses on social acceptance and other support for homosexuals.

September 1955 - The first known lesbian rights organisation in the United States forms in San Francisco. Daughters of Bilitis (DOB). They host private social functions, fearing police raids, threats of violence and discrimination in bars and clubs.

July 1961 - Illinois becomes the first state to decriminalise homosexuality by repealing their sodomy laws.

September 11, 1961 - The first US-televised documentary about homosexuality airs on a local station in California.

June 28, 1969 - Police raid the Stonewall Inn in New York City. Protests and demonstrations begin, and it later becomes known as the impetus for the gay civil rights movement in the United States.

1969 - The "Los Angeles Advocate," founded in 1967, is renamed "The Advocate." It is considered the oldest continuing LGBTQ publication that began as a newsletter published by the activist group Personal Rights in Defense and Education (PRIDE).

1970 – Campaign Against Moral Persecution (CAMP) forms in Sydney, later forms branches in other states.

page 45 | Colourful 2020

June 28, 1970 - Community members in New York City march through the local streets to recognize the oneyear anniversary of the Stonewall riots. This event is named Christopher Street Liberation Day and is now considered the first gay pride parade.

1971 – Society Five, gay rights group, forms in Melbourne.

1974 - Elaine Noble is the first openly gay candidate elected to a state office when she is elected to the Massachusetts State legislature.

January 14, 1975 - The first federal gay rights bill is introduced to address discrimination based on sexual orientation. The bill later goes to the Judiciary Committee but is never brought for consideration.

1978 - Inspired by Milk to develop a symbol of pride and hope for the LGBTQ community, Gilbert Baker designs and stitches together the first rainbow flag.

1982 – NSW becomes the first state in Australia to pass laws prohibiting discrimination against homosexuals. However, male acts of homosexuality remain illegal for another two years.

March 2, 1982 - Wisconsin becomes the first state to outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation.

1994 – The Keating Labor government passes the Human Rights (Sexual Conduct) Act to over-ride all state and territory legislation pertaining to sexual conduct for consenting adults above the age of 18.

December 3, 1996 - Hawaii's Judge Chang rules that the state does not have a legal right to deprive samesex couples of the right to marry, making Hawaii the first state to recognise that gay and lesbian couples are entitled to the same privileges as heterosexual married couples.

2004 – ACT legislates to allow same-sex couples to adopt.

May 17, 2004 - The first legal same-sex marriage in the United States takes place in Massachusetts.

2011 – The Gillard Labor government passes passport legislation allowing for an 'x' gender option, and the ability for transgender people to select their gender without medical intervention.

September 20, 2011 - "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is repealed, ending a ban on gay men and lesbians from serving openly in the military.

2013 – ACT passes same-sex marriage legislation.

2016 – Premier Daniel Andrews of Victoria issues a formal apology for the state's history of anti-gay laws.

2017 - Coalition government goes ahead with noncompulsory postal survey through the Australian Bureau of Statistics. On November 15th 2017, results were announced: 61.6 per cent of respondents said 'Yes' to legalising same-sex marriage, while 38.4 per cent said 'No'. Only 79.5 per cent of Australia voters participated in the survey.

February 26, 2018 - The Pentagon confirms that the first transgender person has signed a contract to join the US military.

When I was doing the research into the LGBTQIA+ history there was so many interesting milestones; there isn't enough pages in this magazine to fill the history of this community and everything they have fought for and been through to get to where they are now. If you are interested in knowing more and want to learn as much about the LGBTQIA+ history as possible, do some research, go on the web and learn, it's definitely worth knowing and a really interesting read.

Here is just some of the links to follow to know more: https://www.sbs.com.au/topics/pride/agenda/artic le/2016/08/12/definitive-timeline-lgbt-rightsaustralia https://edition.cnn.com/2015/06/19/us/lgbt-rightsmilestones-fast-facts/index.html

'Trial to Freedom' Andie Leigh

page 50 | Colourful 2020

The Closet ~ Andie Leigh Coming out. In my experience it was a hard thing to do. I was 15 the first time I told someone I was questioning my orientation. I am still searching 7 years later.

The hardest part was coming to terms with what I could be, I had told two people that I thought I was asexual, because at the time it most accurately depicted what I was feeling. I didn’t have a drive for sex, I didn’t have sexual attraction towards anyone. I told my two best friends. The first reaction was cold and it wasn’t spoken about again. The second asked questions, she didn’t understand and wanted to try and know more, get a better grasp of what I felt and how I felt and to know who I was. I will forever be grateful for her.

The next year, I got into a fight with the first girl, and she told me I was using my sexuality for attention, that I needed something to make myself stand out more because we were in a sea of people in high school, everyone was different and yet the same. She had her own interests and her own worlds to escape to. In books where she could express herself, through her art and through her pages of writing and through her friends that held those same interests. I wasn’t so lucky. My interests were musical theatre, they were tv shows like doctor who, I hadn’t found a place where I could express who I truly thought I was because the theatre shows and the tv shows that grabbed my interest weren’t about sexuality.

I had only found the term asexual because I wanted to understand more after I had gotten out of my first relationship and had lost my virginity and was confused because his drive for sex wasn’t the same as mine. I felt lost and searched for answers, once I found it I knew it resonated with me, and I told the two people I trusted the most, and after it, it was thrown into my face.

After that fight it made me question if I really was doing it for attention, if I was saying it simply because I didn’t understand where I fit in. I’ve held that with me until I met a group that had people of all orientations, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and the like. I started feeling more comfortable around them, and for the first time in years I told another person what I felt, how I identified and I finally felt accepted.

I am still yet to find a true sanctuary for who I am.

I am still searching, I realised I did feel somewhat of a sexual attraction towards other girls, but I was still romantically attracted to men. I was and am still confused. it’s taken me seven years of searching and trying to understand, asking others, talking to people to try and realise what I could be.

I’ve had days where if I put out an arm or a leg to feel the surroundings and see if I will be accepted I have daggers thrown towards me, there are other days I’m handed cushions and blankets to make myself more comfortable.

I may never know what I am, but I know I will never be 100% comfortable with who I am. I don’t know if it’s because I haven’t been able to identify with another person, or if because the first person I ever spoke to and opened up to threw it back in my face.

There are days that it doesn’t cross my mind, there are days that it’s all I can think about. Today is one of those days. Today it is flooding my mind and flooding my emotions because she popped up in what I thought was my sanctuary for the second time in six months.

I refuse to let other people define who I am, and I will always try to understand who I am and what I feel.

It’s a personal journey but I’m fortunate enough to have people that are willing to help me come to terms with who I am. Willing to let me grow and flourish into a new person.

I’ve found comfort in the dark, hiding my scars from those who have hurt me, but surrounded by the comfort that others have helped provide me.

I still don’t know if ever I will leave the closet, but I am letting out more limbs, and days come where I’m getting less hurt. At least thats’s a nice thought.

page 51 | Colourful 2020

Drag Photoshoot The VU Queer Collective decided in isolation to run an online drag king or queen photo competition. Some of our VU students and staff participated in the photoshoot and looked fabulous doing it.

Tash Milner

Oliver Kaiser

"The term "drag" refers to the performance of masculinity, femininity, or other forms of gender expression. A drag queen is someone who performs femininity, and a drag king is someone who performs masculinity. The term may be used as a noun as in the expression in drag, or as an adjective as in drag show." - anon

Elisse Baitz

Ashfuq Lukman

'Lost in Translation' Hannah Nadin

page 54 | Colourful 2020

Take a look Have you ever looked down at your shadow?

Do it next time you are standing in a crowd of people.

Stand next to someone with different coloured skin, Stand next to someone who has a different sexual orientation than yourself, Stand next to someone who is a different gender.

Notice anything?

Not many differences are there?

Exactly. ~ Susie Halem

page 55 | Colourful 2020 v u s t u d e n t u n i o n . c o m / b a b h

The Be a Better Human Campaign was launched in 2019 by VUSU after the Australian Human Rights Commission conducted a survey on university students in 2017 and released the National Report on Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment at Australian Universities.

This initiative was created with a group of Flinders students from the ground up, to reflect campus culture. We don’t just want it to be about what we shouldn’t do; we want it to be about selfimprovement for everyone. And when we say ‘everyone’, we really do mean everyone. We’re encouraging everyone who is part of our campus community to take a moment and consider how we can ‘better’ our behaviour.

“Victoria University has a zero tolerance approach to violence in any form, including sexual and genderbased violence. Gender-based violence is a serious social issue driven by gender inequality and enabled by sexist attitudes and behaviours. We work to build a culture of safety and respect, where students and staff are empowered to become change agents to help stop gender-based violence at the University and in the wider community” (VU Respect & Responsibility).

Launching this campaign last year, and working with Respect & Responsibility was a highlight of my time in VUSU. Together, we can break down stigmas and ensure a safe and equitable education and life for all.

- Cat Abourizk (VUSU President 2019) We believe that this campaign is not centered at spreading a name or a department. It’s about everyone doing better, and their bit to change the culture around sexual assault and harassment. We have widely seen our Consent, Empathy, Respect tote bags and jumpers on campus, at the shops, at concerts and many other places, supporting this movement. Look out for this campaign and more in Semester 2 2020. BaBH is always developing, understanding, and learning.

TOGETHER we can BE a BETTER HUMAN! ~ Cat Abourizk

In-line with the VU Respect and Responsibility Department & VUSU Bystander Awareness Training, and Consent and Respectful Relationships Module, VUSU believes that bringing the BaBH campaign to VU further develops education for students of the west to be a better human. “It is important that we all show that sexism and harassment have no place at our university. Everyone should be treated fairly and have a safe and respectful place to learn.” (VU Respect & Responsibility email).

page 58 | Colourful 2020

De-stress Word Find Activity

When you dress for yourself a lockdown is irrelevant #stayhome #staysafe

CONTRIBUTORS the Hyde team could not have done this edition without the help of those who contributed Professor Peter Dawkins, VU Vice-Chancellor and President Will Penrose, VU Student Union President Ronish Chattaraj, VU Student Union VP Welfare Officer Temiloluwa 'Temi' Oladiji, VU Student Union VP Activities Officer Mickey Deppeler, VU Student Union Queer Officer Mughees Hassan Raza, VU Student Union Media Officer VU in the Community VU Wellbeing VU Queer Collective Catherine Abourizk, VU Student Oliver Kaiser, VU Student Marion Hillebrand, VU Student Thelma Gouveia, VU Student James Louloudakis, VU Student Khadijha Kassab, VU Student Andie Leigh, VU Student Kathleen Beuno, VU Student Susie Helem,VU Student

Victoria University

STUDENT UNION