Queer And?

Disclaimer: This episode discusses experiences and reasons why LGBTIQA+ young people may experience homelessness in their lives, if you are feeling a little sensitive today, come back another time - or if this episode has brought up any feelings of distress for you - contact the support resources and the end of this page.

Welcome back to Season 3 of the Queer And? Podcast! ✨ 

We’re diving straight in with a vital and timely conversation about the realities of young LGBTQIA+ people experiencing homelessness; a topic that is often misunderstood, overlooked or discussed without centring lived experience. 

Kass and this season’s new co-host and YPN staff member, MJ (they/them), sit down with Alicia (they/he) and Dani (they/them) to explore the intersectional challenges faced by queer people navigating housing instability.  

Drawing on both professional expertise from the Youth Homelessness Advisory Council and PICYS, as well as personal lived experience, Alicia and Dani unpack the language used around homelessness and why it matters. Together, we discuss how existing systems can — and must — adapt to better support young LGBTQIA+ people. 

Recorded before the holiday period, this episode also reflects the idea of “making kindness hot again,” while exploring meaningful ways we can show up for our communities experiencing homelessness — during the holidays and beyond. 

Want to dig deeper into the data? Check out Youth Pride Network’s State of Play report on young LGBTQIA+ people’s experiences of the youth accommodation system in WA: 

https://youthpridenetwork.net/wp-content/uploads/YPN-State-of-Play-Report-I.pdf 

Further Support Resources: 

PICYS (Perth Inner City Youth Service): https://picys.org.au/ 

🏳️‍🌈 QLife: LGBTIQA+ peer support 

3pm–midnight, every day 

Call: 1800 184 527 

WebChat: qlife.org.au 

🤍 Lifeline: crisis support & suicide prevention 

24/7 

Call: 13 11 14 

Text: 0477 13 11 14 

Chat: lifeline.org.au 

This podcast was recorded on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar and we wish to acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as traditional custodians of this land, its waters, and its communities. We acknowledge and pay respect to Elders past, present, and future as sovereign leaders. Sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, and always will be, Aboriginal land.    

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.  

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After reflecting on their own experiences working at the Youth Pride Network, Kass and MJ found themselves thinking back to the moment they first entered the workplace, and the unique challenges, questions, and pressures that came with being young and queer at work. 

Young queer professionals have so much to offer Western Australia’s diverse economy, yet they often find themselves navigating workplaces that weren’t built with them in mind. This episode explores those realities, from identity and visibility to safety, belonging, and career growth and asks what support can make a real difference. 

To help unpack it all, we’re joined by Chloe Rattray (she/they), Program Manager at Out For Australia. Chloe runs a mentoring program designed to empower LGBTQIA+ people to thrive during the formative stages of their careers. 

Through practical advice and real-world stories, this conversation aims to equip young queer professionals with the tools, confidence, and insight they need to build fulfilling and sustainable careers. 

Check out Out For Australia and connect with Chloe Rattray via the links below! 

✨ Out for Australia - https://www.outforaustralia.org/ 

✨ Chloe Rattray - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chloetrattray/ 

This podcast was recorded on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar and we wish to acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as traditional custodians of this land, its waters, and its communities. We acknowledge and pay respect to Elders past, present, and future as sovereign leaders. Sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, and always will be, Aboriginal land.    

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.  

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Did you know that approximately 1 in 7 people worldwide are neurodivergent - that’s more than 15% of the global population? 

Neurodivergent is an umbrella term used to describe people whose minds work differently from what society has deemed “the norm.” Neurodivergent individuals may interpret, experience, and process the world in diverse ways, often associated with diagnoses or identities such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Tourette’s syndrome, dyslexia, and more. 

In this episode, Kass and MJ sit down with two fellow neuro-spicy queer folk, AB (she/her) and Lorien (they/he), to explore neurodivergence through a much-needed queer lens. 

Together, they unpack topics including masking, sensory accessibility in queer spaces, and the double stigma that can come with living at the intersection of queerness and neurodivergence. Centring lived experience, this conversation highlights the resilience, creativity, and innovation within neurodivergent queer communities — while advocating for more inclusive practices, understanding, and support. 

Since recording this episode, Kass is officially part of the ADHD neuro-spicy club! ✨🧠 

If you’d like to check out AB’s D&B mixes, hit them up on Instagram at @dj_b_roll 🎧💥 

Further Support Resources: 

🏳️‍🌈 QLife: LGBTIQA+ peer support 

3pm–midnight, every day 

Call: 1800 184 527 

WebChat: qlife.org.au 

🤍 Lifeline: crisis support & suicide prevention 

24/7 

Call: 13 11 14 

Text: 0477 13 11 14 

Chat: lifeline.org.au 

This podcast was recorded on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar and we wish to acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as traditional custodians of this land, its waters, and its communities. We acknowledge and pay respect to Elders past, present, and future as sovereign leaders. Sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, and always will be, Aboriginal land.    

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.  

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Disclaimer: This episode discusses experiences of transitioning and some of the challenges (but also nots of euphoria), if you are feeling a little sensitive today, come back another time - or if this episode has brought up any feelings of distress for you - contact the support resources and the end of this page.

“Trans people have been here since the beginning of time and it will continue to be. The journey doesn’t have to be you on an island, and we will keep being there for each other.” 

In this episode of Queer And?, Kass sits down with MJ, Alex Wallace (they/them), and Gee Anderson (they/them) for a powerful conversation about their lived experiences and the many ways transitioning can look within queer and trans communities. 

Together, they explore the challenges, joys, and complexities of social, medical, and emotional transition, sharing deeply personal reflections along the way. The conversation also takes an honest look at the current state of healthcare systems and the impact of shifting societal norms on trans lives. 

Centred on trans voices, this episode highlights transition as an ongoing process of self-discovery and what it truly means to define that journey on your own terms. 

This podcast was recorded on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar and we wish to acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as traditional custodians of this land, its waters, and its communities. We acknowledge and pay respect to Elders past, present, and future as sovereign leaders. Sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, and always will be, Aboriginal land.    

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Support Resources: 

🏳️‍🌈 QLife: LGBTIQA+ peer support 

3pm–midnight, every day 

Call: 1800 184 527 

WebChat: qlife.org.au 

🤍 Lifeline: crisis support & suicide prevention 

24/7 

Call: 13 11 14 

Text: 0477 13 11 14 

Chat: lifeline.org.au 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Disclaimer: This episode discusses mental health issues, if you are feeling a little sensitive today, come back another time - or if this episode has brought up any feelings of distress for you - contact the support resources and the end of this page.

Special guests Wemba-Wemba Drag King and brotherboy aka Wren (they/them) and Youth Pride Network’s Manager, Chloe Clements (she/her), diving into the glowing and expansive theme of time. 

This episode explores how LGBTQIA+ people can choose their own relationship to time, navigating milestones, societal expectations, and personal histories in ways that are deeply individual and affirming. 

Together, we unpack concepts such as “coming out timelines,” generational shifts in queer culture, and the reclamation of queer histories and futures. By reflecting on the fluidity of time in queer lives, this conversation reveals how it shapes identity, resilience, and our personal and collective pride. 

Got an episode theme you want us to explore? Catch us at @youthpridenetwork on IG. 

This podcast was recorded on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar and we wish to acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as traditional custodians of this land, its waters, and its communities. We acknowledge and pay respect to Elders past, present, and future as sovereign leaders. Sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, and always will be, Aboriginal land.    

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.  

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Disclaimer: This episode discusses language that may have been used as a slur towards LGBTIQA+ people in the past, yet this episode focusses on reclaiming these words and making them our own, if you are feeling a little sensitive today, come back another time - or if this episode has brought up any feelings of distress for you - contact the support resources and the end of this page.

Language shapes the world around us, through the words we use, the stories we hear, and the ways we describe ourselves and one another. In this episode, we wanted to take a closer look at how queerness and language intersect, and how the words used by and about us can shape our identities and worldviews. 

Kass and MJ are joined by queer activist, poet, and radio host Joni Boyd (she/her) for a rich conversation on the evolution of queer language. Together, they explore the power of pronouns, the reclamation of language, and how words can foster both inclusion and resilience within our communities. 

By reflecting on how language shifts across cultures and generations, this episode examines the responsibility we hold, individually and collectively, in shaping inclusive language that helps people feel seen, respected, and valued. 

If you’d like to hear more from Joni, check out her Instagram (@checkout_chick463) or catch her at one of the Perth Slam events she hosts - https://perthslam.com/ 🎤✨ 

Further Support Resources: 

🏳️‍🌈 QLife: LGBTIQA+ peer support 

3pm–midnight, every day 

Call: 1800 184 527 

WebChat: qlife.org.au 

🤍 Lifeline: crisis support & suicide prevention 

24/7 

Call: 13 11 14 

Text: 0477 13 11 14 

Chat: lifeline.org.au 

This podcast was recorded on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar and we wish to acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as traditional custodians of this land, its waters, and its communities. We acknowledge and pay respect to Elders past, present, and future as sovereign leaders. Sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, and always will be, Aboriginal land.    

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.  

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Queer And?, YPN team member, Kass, sits down with two members of YPN’s Inclusive Eid Advisory Group to discuss the intersection of queerness and faith.

Why are safe spaces so important for queer people of faith?

How can we create more inclusive environments within religious spaces?

What role do religious leaders play in this work?

You'll find out in this heartfelt and thought-provoking conversation.

Keep up with our guests:

Syarisa – @pantoumsnotpantaloons

Raine – @solitaire.u265

This podcast was recorded on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar and we wish to acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as traditional custodians of this land, its waters, and its communities. We acknowledge and pay respect to Elders past, present, and future as sovereign leaders. Sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, and always will be, Aboriginal land.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"The human experience is nothing more than intimacy and nothing more than connections with people."

In this episode of Queer And?, YPN's team member Kass has a yarn with Zoe Sullivan (she/her) from the YEP Project. They talk about all things intimacy from a much needed queer perspective—how we define it, how we experience it, and how media shapes our understanding of queer intimacy.

What does intimacy mean to you? Emotional? Physical? Community? Let’s unpack it together. Listen now and join the conversation!

If you want to keep up with Zoe and the YEP Project, you can find their resources and content on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok & YouTube at theyepproject and on their website at theyepproject.org.au.

This podcast was recorded on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar and we wish to acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as traditional custodians of this land, its waters, and its communities. We acknowledge and pay respect to Elders past, present, and future as sovereign leaders. Sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, and always will be, Aboriginal land.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

" You can't avoid politics, in the sense that it shapes so much of our lives. Politics aren't just for people in fancy suits. They can look like you and me, and anybody has the ability to make change.”

In this episode of Queer And?, Youth Pride Network Committee Chair, Troy, sits down with three influential changemakers at the intersection of youth, queer advocacy, and politics.

Join Youth Minister of WA, Hannah Beazley (she/her), Councillor for Maylands and business owner Nat Latter (they/them), and Youth Advocate for YWA, Maeson Harvey (they/them), as they discuss diversity in politics, holding those in power accountable, and offer invaluable advice for anyone feeling disengaged or underrepresented.

This podcast was recorded on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar and we wish to acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as traditional custodians of this land, its waters, and its communities. We acknowledge and pay respect to Elders past, present, and future as sovereign leaders. Sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, and always will be, Aboriginal land.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Being part a marginalised community, most of the queer folks are keenly aware of the injustices that we face on the daily basis. But what are the pathways to achieve justice? How does intersectionality play a role in this pursuit? We're thrilled to have Lily Hayward - the Aboriginal Research Assistant from Telethon Kids to discuss this very thorny topic. 

 We also especially explore and unpack the impact of justice BEYOND the domains of the laws and legal institutions, and looking at how arts, community, and other means towards healing can also play a vital role in achieving justice🌟

Brace yourself for a inspiring yet spicy conversation and hit the link in our bio NOW for Episode 3 of YPN's podcast 'Queer And?' on the theme of 'Justice'⚖️

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.