Dylan reflects on the steps he took to make it as a professional artist. Dylan Mooney is a proud Yuwi, Torres Strait and South Sea Islander man from Mackay in North Queensland working across painting, printmaking, digital illustration and drawing. Legally blind, the digital medium’s backlit display allows the artist to produce a high-impact illustrative style with bright, saturated colour that reflects his experiences with keen political energy and insight. This blending of digital technology and social commentary is a uniting of the artist’s sense of optimism – pride within the works exude w ..read more

Kevin shares his most exceptional experience of his life. Kevin Yow Yeh is a Wakka Wakka and South Sea Islander man and current Higher Degree Research student and Sessional Academic at the Queensland University of Technology. Kevin is a Director at the Institute for Collaborative Race Research and is an active member of the Meanjin community where he enjoys collaborating with other First Nations peoples across academia, activism and the arts. Kevin has also appeared on the latest season of Gogglebox Australia with his partner Bob and their friends Jared ..read more

Lara is tasked with producing a party at a funeral home for work, but life ends up complicating the process. Lara Thoms is interested in socially engaged, site-specific and participatory possibilities in contemporary art and performance. She works as an artist in Field Theory and is a co-director of Aphids. For ten years she has also been a curator and producer for organistations including Dark Mofo, Supplefox, Next Wave and Performance Space. Her work has been presented with Perth International Arts Festival, Artshouse, Gertrude Contemporary, The Malthouse, Next Wave festival, the MCA, Perfo ..read more

Ivy explains how Townsville turned her into the joke making abomination she is today. Inspired by both her father and Shaun Micallef, Ivy Hawke completed a law degree then went straight to Brisbane to become a comedian. Her comedic style is a mix of chaotic ramblings, punch lines about lessons she learnt growing up queer in Townsville and disaster tales formed from not paying attention to her surroundings. Ivy runs a dungeons and dragons radio show on zed digital where she encourages writers and comedians to let out their inner goblin. She also made it to the semis of Raw Comedy and was a fin ..read more

Benjamin wrestles with a recent gay trauma, and finds a way to process it and plan for the future. Benjamin Law is an Australian writer, broadcaster and absolute icon. He’s written books, TV shows, plays, he hosts Stop Everything on ABC Radio National, he writes for Good Weekend, he’s hosted documentaries, he’s on Australian Survivor, I don’t know when he sleeps, it’s outrageous. Queerstories an award-winning LGBTQI+ storytelling project directed by Maeve Marsden, with regular events around Australia. For more information, visit www.queerstories.com.au and follow Queerstories on Fa ..read more

Shanaya reflects on her year 7 speech assignment. Shanaya Donovan is 18 and a proud Darug, Dhungutti and Gumbayngirr woman from Western Sydney. A lover of music and art, and believer in knowledge and truth. She’s staunch and aiming to change it up through breaking down social and cultural barriers and rewriting the rules of the world. She performed this story at Blacktown Arts Centre as part of Kolour Me Kweer an all First Nations line up curated by Steven Lindsay Ross and hosted by Neville Williams Boney. Queerstories an award-winning LGBTQI+ storytelling project directed by Maeve Mars ..read more

Keith writes a letter to someone who needs to hear it. Keith Quayle is a Malyangapa and Barkindji gay man, who was raised on Dharug country. His lived experience of the NSW correctional system informs the advocacy work he carries out on behalf of trans and gender diverse people in detention. He performed this story at Blacktown Arts Centre as part of Kolour Me Kweer an all First Nations line up curated by Steven Lindsay Ross and hosted by Neville Williams Boney. Queerstories an award-winning LGBTQI+ storytelling project directed by Maeve Marsden, with regular events around Australia. For mor ..read more

Gary remembers the events that led him from the small country town where he grew up to the big city. GaryLonesborough is an award-winning Yuin writer, who grew up on the Far South Coastof NSW as part of a large and proud Aboriginal family. His debut YA novel,THEBOY FROM THE MISH, was published in February 2021, and was published byScholastic in the U.S asREADY WHEN YOU AREin March 2022.THE BOY FROMTHE MISHhas been shortlisted for numerous awards, winning the 2022 BooktopiaFAB Award for Favourite Debut Book. Queerstories an award-winning LGBTQI+ storytelling project directed by Maeve Marsden ..read more

Karen Zac learns an important life lesson: never travel with your ex. Zac Roberts is a Yuin man currently living on Wallamattagal land, Dharug country. He’s a historian, currently struggling through a PhD about the relationships between Indigenous and Jewish people in Australia since 1788. Zac has previously worked in museums, education, and as a pizza delivery driver. He performed this story at Blacktown Arts Centre as part of Kolour Me Kweer an all First Nations line up curated by Steven Lindsay Ross and hosted by Neville Williams Boney. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more ..read more

Jinny-Jane realises there's something that makes her different from her loved ones, and she finds a way to tell them. Jinny-Jane Smith is a proud Wiradjuri/ Walbunja woman of the Yuin nation. Jinny identifies as a lesbian woman, mother and aunty to many. She is a dedicated advocate, giving her time to enhance communities, address social justice and self-determination for the betterment of community. Jinny is the Community Engagement Officer of BlaQ. She sits on the board of Gadigal information Service and City of Sydney advisory panel. She performed this story at Blacktown Arts ..read more