Queer View Mirror

Rowan Heath joins Hamish and Sam to discuss their short story, 'The Mannequin', which was the winner of the 2023 Australian Book Review Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize. There were a total of 1,200 entrants in this year's prize, with entries from 38 different countries. They discuss the writing process, the importance of queer representation in major writing competitions, what it’s like to read your own work aloud (and to your parents), and of course, LARPing, another one of Rowan's passions. 

You can read and listen to Rowan’s short story on the Australian Book Review's website: https://www.australianbookreview.com.au/abr-online/current-issue/992-august-2023-no-456/10564-the-mannequin-by-rowan-heath

The team speak to Shaneel Lal about their memoir "One Of Them", being the Young New Zealander of the year and successfully lobbying the New Zealand govt. to outlaw conversion therapy.

Tara Suamba and Joe Ishow from Q+ Law also join the hosts to talk about the peer-run and non-for-profit services Q+ Law offer for members of the LGBTQIA+ community needing legal services and advice.

Hosted by Gemma Cafarella and Hamish McLachlan.

The team speak to Tess Devèze about their agender and LGBTQIA+ inclusive Melbourne based somatic sexology and sexuality occupational therapy. Gemma and Sam also speak with Vuk Lungulov-Klotz and Alexander Stegmaier, writer-director and producer of the film 'Mutt' screening at the Melbourne International Film Festival. They also talk with Gabriel Carrubba, director of Melbourne set queer coming of age film 'Sunflower' screening at MIFF.

Author Steph Lentz joins hosts Gemma and Hamish to talk about her memoir In/Out, her experience of 'falling into love and out of the church' after being publicly sacked as a teacher at a Sydney Christian school for coming out as gay. Later, Mitch Nevalis, photographer and filmmaker, and now 'amateur footy player' talks about their new film Equal the Contest (2023). The film follows the Mount Alexander Falcons - a new community AFL club created by and for women and gender diverse people in regional Victoria - of which Nevalis, a non-binary person, is also a player for. 

Social worker Erin Riley joins Gemma and Hamish to talk about their new book A Real Piece of Work, a collection of essays about "family, heartbreak, humanity, justice and swimming, and the messy, hard graft of becoming one’s authentic self." Also, Danish Sheikh discusses their lecture-performance 'Much To Do With Law / But More To Do With Love' about the decriminalisation of homosexuality in India in 2018. 

Author Kerry Taylor joins hosts Sam, Claire and Hamish to discuss her debut novel, ‘Mr Smith to You’, based on the true story of transgender Australian jockey Bill Smith. Together they discuss how Kerry discovered Bill’s story and how she navigated retelling it in a conscious, mindful way. Later, president of Pacifique X, Marqy Kitione and contestant Telesia Burnley talk about Victoria’s first Miss Fa'afafine Pageant happening in Hoppers Crossing, as well as Queer Pasifika pride and culture.

Naarm-based author and journalist Paul Dalgarno drops by the studio to talk about his new book ‘Prudish Nation’ and Australia’s complex relationship with sexuality and gender. Alongside hosts Gemma and Hamish, they discuss what it means to be ‘prudish’ and the consequences of a conservative attitude towards sex and nudity. Later, Australian sociologist and professor from The University of Sydney, Raewyn Connell, joins the show to explore the interplay between social sciences and social justice as well as the concept of sex roles in society.

LGBTIQA+ equality advocate and academic Rodney Croome joins hosts Sam, Gemma, and Hamish to talk about his campaign in establishing an LGBTQIA+ representative to sit as part of the Australian Human Rights Commission. They discuss why discrimination against queer communities is not taken seriously enough and what we can do to address the recent attacks against drag queen storytime events. After, an associate professor from Edith Cowan University, Jonathan Marshall calls into the program to talk about the relationship between theatre and drag and the history of drag performance.

Hosts Hamish, Gemma, and Chloe discuss the recent media coverage of controversial naarm-based academic Holly Lawford Smith’s anti-trans campaign. Later, they are joined by Gomeroi-descendent and drag performer Dorreen Manganini. Together they talk about Melbourne’s iconic 1980s/1990s drag scene and Manganini's experience being an indigenous drag performer.

Sam, Gemma and Hamish are firstly joined by Billy-Ray Belcourt, a writer from the Driftpile Cree Nation. They discuss his new novel, A Minor Chorus, which draws from his own identity as both a queer and Indigenous person. Then, educator and writer Dan Hogan discusses their debut collection of poetry, Secret Third Thing.

With presenters Sam Elkin, Gemma Cafarella and Hamish McLachlan

Program Page: https://www.rrr.org.au/explore/programs/queer-view-mirror

Twitter: @QueerViewMirror