“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 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

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).

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

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).

ALEPH Melbourne Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Intersex
www.aleph.org.au

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 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