Life Is A Disco

Anastasia Le (she/her) is a passionate intersectional advocate. Her experience of being forcibly displaced, of being trans and CALD fuels her drive on various Equity and Equality Platforms. One of her recent projects for work is building pathways for exonerated/former incarcerated LGBTIQA+ access to inclusion and accessibility to social services to obtain and sustain meaningful employment. Her endeavour is to help the most neglected, the most invisible voices to be heard, help making them feel as part of a community. “Your intersectional experiences are not barriers. The perceived barriers are systemic, social, political, and personal. As long as you can remember that, shall you gain more strength, more drive in life to make it work for yourself and others”. In this podcast, Anastasia shares her thoughts about labels (3:20), navigating pagan spirituality and reclaiming trans inclusion in our history (10:25), her work translating words for our community into non-English languages (20:15), about work in employment of LGBTIQ (29.10), what do we look for in leadership in employment of LGBTIQ people (34:50), public safety for LGBTIQ in the western suburbs (37:18), baking, maths and taming the wild (42:50). You can find Anastasia through various projects, from Transfemme with Zoe Belle Gender Collective, Public Safety Plan in the west with local city councils, to Employment Outcome Improvement with various Victorian LGBTIQA+ community organisations, supporting LGBTIQA+ youth with surviving skills such as cooking and food preservation.

Commissioner Dr Judy Tang is a passionate advocate for multiculturalism and the LGBTIQA+ community. Judy has dedicated over 10 years to volunteering and promoting equality for migrants. Judy now practices as a Clinical Neuropsychologist while serving on the Board of Directors at Victorian Pride Centre and holding one of Victoria’s 12 positions as a Multicultural Commissioner at the Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC). Commissioner Dr Tang talks about her role as a Victorian Multicultural Commissioner (6:28), the VMC report (see link below) celebrating its first 40 years (8:12), what stage multicultural communities are currently in accepting LGBTIQ (13:44), supporting multiculturalism even when they don’t accept us (16.17), navigating being multicultural and LGBTIQ through advocacy (22:40), leadership across our communities (28:37), what she cherishes about her Chinese background (34:55), and her sport of choice weightlifting (39:07). VMC report Australian GLBTIQ Multicultural Council

Demetra Giannakopoulos interviews the wonderful Sasja Sydek about identity, spirituality and an extraordinary life. Sasja Sÿdek, an indigenous Singaporean trans woman of colour based in Narrm/Melbourne, is a passionate activist and advocate for the transgender community. She encourages others to break free from societal and gender expectations to live authentically. With a primary focus on ending violence against trans women, Sasja has also made significant contributions to the book “Nothing To Hide – Voices of Trans & Gender Diverse of Australia” and leads the organisation Trans Sisters United. Sasja shares with us her warrior spirit of living her true self (5:30), forming Trans Sisters United after being inspired by the documentary (8:05), creative safe space to celebrate Ramadan And share Ifta (14:40), reclaiming her faith and what she values most about being muslim (17:27), navigating your faith and being trans (22:30), debating the nationality of the Pav (26:10), what leaders should teach their communities to welcome the rainbow community (29:10), 32:48 surprises encountered Sasja transitioned (32:48), her 36:28 favourity music (36:28) and fandom for Novak Djokovic (38:10).

Demetra Giannakopoulos interviews Dannii Karametos about life, gender identity and all things Greek.

Craig Brown came out 2.5 years ago in the traditional manner: watching Schitt’s Creek. He used to be a church minister, was married and is still a proud dad of three adult kids. He occasionally reads the news on Joy. Craig shares with us the moment he realised he was gay thanks to @schittscreek (3:45), being authentic and to know [thy]self (9:22), surprises when he came out to his church (15:15), a shout out to the Queer Theology podcast (21:57), a story from the Bible with a rainbow lens (38:05), keeping a keen eye on the AFL, including the scores (41:00).

John speaks with us about how Greek and Gay Support Network started (3:20); the influence of the film Head On and dating (4:50); what can Greek community groups do to improve accepting the LGBTIQ community (14:20); navigating being Greek and LGBTIQ (17:30); being “out” in Greece (19:02); church as a place to congregate community, like the gay community (22:15); success stories of other ethnic communities (23:10); coming out (27:50); maintaining his relationship with his mother through honesty (30:35); his love for spanakopita (31:40); growing up as Greeks not as Aussies (34:18); how being Greek in Australia is different from being Greek in Greece (34:50); musings on winning Eurovision (35:55), and more! John Tzimas has been a member of Greek and Gay since 1998 and is the current chairperson. John is also a member and past committee member of Australian GLBTIQ Multicultural Council (AGMC), a current member of City of Monash LGBTIQA+ Advisory Committee, past organiser of United We Dance and self-confessed Eurovision lover. John works as a chartered accountant and travels to Crete, Greece as often as he can. Family and friends are the most important people in his life. Contact Greek and Gay via facebook https://www.facebook.com/greekkaigay

Demetra interviews the multi talented Em Bleby They are a queer and non binary actor by profession also a singer, writer and visual artist primarily in collage and drawing but also loves to explore new art forms. In this interview Em shares with us their journey from religion to spirituality, energy, love (4:25); that connection flows through nature (5:20); weaving spirituality and being LGBTIQ (6:00); the challengers that come from religious teachings (9:00); first time they didn’t go to mass (13:50); the significance of communion (16:20); finding your community (18:30); you can’t expect things of people they’re not capable of and finding family (22:50); allow multiple things to be true at once and always question (25:25); you don’t owe anybody anything (28:20); sharing conversations with family (31:35); being at high school during the same-sex postal vote (37:30); ripe strawberries and that food is a love language (41:30); visceral response to music (44:00); their relationship with sport (45:10).

Susie shares her insights, wisdom and journey supporting her son with his transition, and about becoming a staunch ally of the LGBTIQ community. Susie talks about coming out as the mother of a trans child (4:40); letting go and overcoming Jewish mother guilt (11:11), taking a lead from her son’s guidance (16:10); facing a mother’s fears for her trans child (21:00); how Suzie helps families with trans children through ALEPH (24:00); changing her lens of life and navigating having a trans child and orthodoxy (30:10); bringing the Jewish community to support the LGBTIQ community (38:30); the role of an ally and why it’s important (41:27); and confesses to us her favourite food (42:48). This interview was pre-recorded before the events of 7 October 2023. ALEPH Melbourne Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Intersex www.aleph.org.au

In January 2023 Michael Barnett was awarded an Order of Australia “for service to the LGBTQI community.” He has been advocating for unconditional inclusion, acceptance and celebration of LGBTIQ+ people and families in (and beyond) the Jewish community. Michael continues to dedicate every day to breaking down barriers, making the world a safer space, and helping keep Melbourne’s Jewish community one of the most amazing places to be “here and queer”. Michael talks to us about Aleph Melbourne and how it started in 1995 (2:20); making being queer a conversation topic within the Jewish community (7:30); how Melbourne’s Jewish community is one of the best multicultural/multifaith communities to be LGBTIQ (13:55); what the LGBTIQ community can do to foster acceptance (17:35); the 2019 apology from the Jewish Community Council of Victoria and the power of an apology (21:55); why be part of a community group? (27:48); the inspiration of Rabbi Mike Moskowitz, LGBTIQ ally (29:54); weaving a narrative to combine being both Jewish and LGBTIQ (31:00); overcoming barriers to stopping LGBTIQ participating in community (37:02); favourite food as recalling fond memories (39:40); his favourite music and travel adventures (43:35). This interview was pre-recorded before the events of 7 October 2023. ALEPH Melbourne Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Intersex www.aleph.org.au

Rowen D’Souza is the founder of the Glam Slam at the Australian Open, and the President and CEO of the GLTA Gay and Lesbian Tennis Alliance, the global sanctioning body for LGBT tennis tournaments. Rowen shares with us about India as a multicultural and multifaith country (3:00); navigating values within an immigrant family (10:05); what LGBTIQ leaders can do to foster inclusion within multicultural multifaith communities (13:10); expectations of leaders within multicultural multifaith communities (15:10); why tennis is Rowen’s community (25:35); multicultural influence on his favourite Indian food (34:35); and taking part in the Glam Slam at the Australian Open and the GLTA World Championships 2024. www.glta.net

Pride Cup is the LGBTIQ+ inclusion organisation leading PrideRound and PrideGame sports events around Australia. Pride Cup works with over 30 different sports codes and 600 teams nationally. Hayley Conway speaks with us: (1:27) about the Pride Cup (1:59) how they engage with multicultural communities to be an inclusive club (5:11) how they assist clubs when a member doesn’t want to wear pride colours (8:39) how powerful sport is as a shared value (12:40) which multicultural communities do rainbow inclusion really well and why (15:51) what should LGBTIQ leaders do to foster acceptance within sport and why the professionalisation of women’s sport is important to foster inclusion (18:30) when FIFA banned wearing the one love armband during the FIFA Women’s World Cup (22:02) whether there is a difference of inclusion across different sports and the Pride Celebration Round of the A-League (26:01) how a club can develop the skills for making spaces inclusive (27:30) is there a difference between inclusion within male and female clubs and how to navigate other clubs that are not so inclusive, working with clubs about dealing with homophobic language on and off the field (30:26) how to engage with Pride Cup.

On LIFE IS A DISCO we chat with Alexander The. Alexander is the President of the Australian GLBTIQ Multicultural Council (AGMC). He is also involved with the LGBTIQ+ Expert Advisory Group in Youth Justice (LEAG) and LGBTIQA+ Health and Wellbeing Expert Advisory Group. He has over 20 years of experience delivering projects across programs of work for critical communities, while delivering results tailored to the needs of multicultural and multi-faith communities. Alexander has extensive experience in community organisation leadership and strategies planning, change management and communication, research, analysis, and education-related activities. Alexander is passionate about multicultural and multi-faith LGBTIQ communities’ health and safety, and advocates for the rights of the community to ensure that their value and beliefs are respected. Alexander shares with Life Is A Disco about the work of the AGMC, its origins in 2004 (3:50) and explains how the AGMC influences through education, and surveys, creating safe spaces to meet (13:35) and its publications including the 2018 book Living and Loving in Diversity. We discuss how to navigate balancing our cultural background or faith, which can sometimes be hostile to LGBTIQ community (18:30). Alexander also shares with us the AGMC’s work towards bridging the rifts following the Religious Freedoms Bill (29:10) and the working group to address the far-right groups (39:00). We learn about the many successes and important reports published by the AGMC with other organisations including the Palliative Care report, and the intersection of racism faced within multiculturalism, multifaith and the LGBTIQ community, and a recent report about GLBTIQ and spirituality (33:50). Alexander asks you to contact the AGMC to share your stories of community safety (42:19), to become involved (43:18), and to support the AGMC with their amazing work. https://www.agmc.org.au