Queering The Air

We hear from Rida Khan for critical discussion on the so-called religious freedom bill, and a range of music.

Updates: Djab wurrung Heritage Protection Embassy on red alert, Justice for Tanya Day inquest until September 13. We then hear from two queer comedians, putting on fringe shows. First, Sunanda with her How Gay am I? show. Second, from Anna Piper Scott with Queer & Present Danger. Also mentioned: Cocoa Butter Club show,  and Haunting the Flesh.

In this episode Frank interviews Mel Breeder of Zine Gang Distro about underground comics and zines, and speaks to Safe Schools co-founder Roz Ward about the Protest Religious Exemptions Bill: No Right to Discriminate! on August 31st 2019.

Content and trigger warning:Please be aware that today’s show contains descriptions and discussions about mental health, suicidal ideation, self-harm, trans-exclusionary radical feminists, family violence, misogyny, transphobia, child abuse, religious fundamentalism, gay conversion therapy, queerphobia, sex, violence against trans women, and sexual assault, that may be distressing to some listeners. If this type of content is a trigger for you, please contact Lifeline (13 11 14), 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732), iHeal – Family Violence Recovery Support (03 9663 6733), Beyond Blue (1300 224 636), Switchboard Victoria (1800 184 527), or contact your state-based service.  Michele speaks with Jonas Ropponen, an ex-Jehovah’s Witness, artist, and teacher. Jonas is originally from Sweden and grew up in Frankston (Victoria) in a Jehovah’s Witness family. He left the religion after coming out as gay 22 years ago when he was twenty. We discuss his experiences of growing up queer, the aftermath of being excommunicated, and living as an ex-Jehovah’s Witness in the context of religious fundamentalism. Michele speaks with Abby, a trans woman living in Fitzroy, Melbourne. She has worked as a computer programmer all her adult life and currently lives with her teenage son. We discuss her experiences, and the difficulty, of dating as a trans woman using dating apps, and the effects on her mental health. We play her audio narration that discusses her experiences of 'dating as a trans woman'. Michele speaks with Darrell Sugar, a gay ex-Jehovah’s Witness living in Melbourne. He was baptized in 1990 and excommunicated and shunned by his family and the religious organisation at age 27, over 20 years ago. We discuss his experiences of growing up queer, the aftermath of being excommunicated, and living with mental illness and trauma in the context of religious fundamentalism.For unbiased information on Jehovah’s Witnesses:Visit JWfacts to determine if Jehovah's Witnesses have 'the truth' via an examination of its history, doctrinal accuracy, and its belief systems. Created by ex-Jehovah's Witness Paul Grundy.Read Crisis of Conscience (1983), a biographical book by Raymond Franz, a former member of the Governing Body of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. The book was written three years after his expulsion from the Jehovah’s Witnesses religion.

We hear mentioned briefly two campaigns: Djab Wurrung Heritage Protection Embassy now on red alert, and the Free Her campaign to free Aboriginal Women in WA from prison for unpaid fines.We then hear from Erin Kyan and Lee Davis-Thalbourne, founders of the warm-hearted, queer audio drama Love and Luck Podcast (Website, Twitter). Erin and Lee talk about how far the podcast has come, to accessibility, future projects, and more.Finally, we end on upcoming events: Undercurrent's healing through art massage event, Vixen collective fundraiser, Sack Paris protest, and a protest against transphobia and TERFs, and petition. Track played: Shade Away, by Electric Fields.

Frank interviews musician John Stevens who is involved in black metal/ambient bands Expurgatory, Shallow, Religious Observance, Colostomy Baguette among others about queerness in heavy metal, moving black metal away from facism and making it a more inclusive space for all.

We hear from activist Evan Van Zijl on concerns with Equality Australia's statement on the so-called religious freedom debate, and later, Amber Karanikolas on the problems with the corporate sponsorship of the Pride Centre (by IBM), disabled people and ableism in universities, and more! Further, see Community Action Against Homophobia and No to the Pride Centre page, and Amber's Overland article, 'Where are all the disabled academics?'

We briefly are reminded of the Justice for Tanya Day campaign (petition). We then hear from four gender non-conforming and women panellists: Jane Green (sex worker rights activist with Vixen collective), Miriam Khalil (contemporary artist), Tarneen Onus-Williams (writer and organiser for Warriors of the Aboriginal Resistance) and Laura McClean (union organiser and queer anti-fascist), at a discussion on reclaiming LGBTIQ+ pride, from corporations, cops, whiteness, returning pride to its radical roots. The panel was held on May 17, International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism & Transphobia by Feminist Insurgency. Speakers underline how LGBTIQ+ liberation is connected with other struggles including against racism and colonialism.

In this episode of Queering the Air, Frank interviews Swedish Australian artist Aila Stefansdotter-Franck about her comics and art and exploring punk influences in talking about queer issues. Frank also reviews some zines.If you'd like Frank to review your zine, email them at [email protected] or message the Queering the Air page on Facebook.

Content and trigger warning: Please be aware this episode contains descriptions and discussions about mental health, queerphobia, violence, racism, and discrimination against refugees and asylum seekers, that may be distressing to some listeners. If this type of content is a trigger for you, please contact Lifeline (13 11 14), Switchboard Victoria (1800 184 527), or contact your state-based service.  Michele speaks with Azlan, a queer Asian-Muslim man, refugee, and an advocate for anti-racism and human rights, and Tracy Lamaro, a queer woman and colour, radio presenter, and asylum seeker; about their experiences as refugees and/or asylum seekers and the hurdles facing people seeking asylum from their country of origin, notions of othering in queer communities, and about Invisible Voices - a grassroots event that brings together queer refugees and asylum seekers to tell their stories in a safe space. The event is happening Sunday, 29 June at 673 Bourke St and is co-hosted by Democracy in Colour and the Refugee Council of Australia. Michele speaks with Tina Dixson, a queer feminist academic, policy professional, and refugee, who has worked in the areas of LGBTIQ, refugee and women’s rights both in Australia and overseas. Tina is a PhD candidate writing a thesis on the lived experiences of queer refugee women, she is a co-founder of the peer support and advocacy group Queer Sisterhood Project, and this year she is convening the inaugural Queer Displacements conference that will exclusively focus on the issues of sexuality, gender identity, and forced displacement. We discuss her PhD research into the lived experience of queer refugee women, the importance of her research and its findings, and what changes can be made so that queer communities are more inclusive of queer refugees and asylum seekers.Queer Displacements: Sexuality, Migration and Exile conference is happening 14-15 November 2019, Canberra, at the Australian National University.To donate to the Crowdfunding campaign to fund the participation of LGBTIQ refugees at the conference, visit chuffed.org.