Mental health – The Informer

The Informer Podcast 19 November 2020

Steve — Tue, 24 Nov 2020 00:51:26 +0000

Emily Johnson investigates why gay asylum seeker has spent the last eight years in an Australian detention centre. #freeali

The LGBT community faces one of the highest suicide rates in Australia, Switchboard Australia is urging the Australian Government for a response to these devastating statistics.

29 openly LGBT council members have been elected into 20 councils across Victoria. Yuan Zhong reports why this is a monumental step forward for our community.

Beau Driscoll speaks to Martha Ackroyd Curtis about her new book release #HelloTitty, celebrating the female gaze.

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The Informer Podcast 29 October 2020

Steve — Tue, 24 Nov 2020 00:45:45 +0000

On the 21st of October, the NSW Parliament unanimously passed a motion in support of trans people, put together by Independent member of Sydney Alex Greenwich. This motion is to provide more support services for the trans community as well as support on trans’ issues.

Keep up to date with us as the US election is only six days away, Emily Johnson provides us with a breakdown of everything you need to know with one of the most intense second debates in American history.

Beau Driscoll brings us a report on trans and diverse mental health issues and speaks to members of the trans community about their experience being a trans person during the pandemic. For trans support services go to Trans Pride Australia.

Elderly LGBT people are one of the most vulnerable communities especially during the pandemic who experience isolation and loneliness. Switchboard Australia has been working for half a decade to address this issue with its program Out and About.

Switchboard Australia CEO Joe Ball tells us more about this program and why it matters.

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The Informer Podcast 17 Sep 2020

Steve — Thu, 24 Sep 2020 07:48:19 +0000

On this week’s podcast, we speak to the Executive Director of Sudanese LGBT organisation Bedayaa, Noor Sultan, on the recent legal changes abolishing the death penalty for sodomy.

We also feature suburban art space in inner-city Brisbane called Side Gallery, where the owner and curator, Leesa Hickey, is passionate in supporting emerging LGBT artists. Lisa tells us how she’s found innovative ways to keep the business operating during Queensland’s lockdown in order to continue supporting the artists featured in her gallery.

And lastly, Amie Bishop from OutRight Action International, informs us on how the LGBTQIA+ community is finding ways to cope during COVID-19.

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Employable Q – reducing employment barriers for our community

Arion — Thu, 30 Jan 2020 12:54:19 +0000

A new initiative from is working to reduce the – sometimes significant – barriers to employment. We spoke to Hannah Morgan at the National LGBTI Health Alliance about the work they’re doing to reduce barriers for members of our community.

For more information on the program, visit https://lgbtihealth.org.au/news/call-for-roundtable/

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‘I spent years thinking I could never be loved’

Arion — Thu, 16 Jan 2020 12:14:04 +0000

After the sad death of Wilson Gavin this week, Toby Halligan reflects on some of the challenges gay men face when growing up – including spending a long time thinking you were not special, not loved, or worthwhile. In this extraordinary essay, Toby talks about his own experience navigating these issues and learning to love himself.

Q Life 1800 184 527 3pm-12am AEDT

Lifeline 13 11 14

Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467

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Resources for helping the LGBTQ community with reproductive loss

Arion — Mon, 23 Dec 2019 06:09:30 +0000

Reproductive loss occurs more frequently than many people think. Some say that 1 in 4 pregnancies will end in miscarriage, and others will experience other forms, like adoption loss or infertility.

Dr. Christa Craven has written a new book, Reproductive Losses: Challenges to LGBTQ Family-Making. It’s the result of years of work following her own experience. One of the things she found was that many LGBTQ people felt like they were the only ones who faced reproductive loss. The book and companion website offer a number of resources.
Arion Potts spoke with Dr. Craven at the College of Wooster in Ohio in the USA.

Correction: Elizabeth Peel is a psychologist, not a quantitative socialist. Our apologies for the confusion.

Other related studies that Dr. Craven mentioned in our conversation include:

- British psychologist Elizabeth Peel’s (2010) Pregnancy Loss In Lesbian And Bisexual Women: An Online Survey Of Experiences. Human Reproduction 25(3): 721-727.
- Australian psychologist Damien Riggs’ ongoing study “Pregnancy loss: trans and non-binary experiences”
- American Anthropologist Linda Layne’s (2003) Motherhood Lost: A Feminist Account of Pregnancy Loss in America

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Transgender Day of Remembrance vigil: stories, songs and voices

Arion — Fri, 22 Nov 2019 00:44:58 +0000

Wednesday’s Transgender Day of Remembrance vigil at Fitzroy Town Hall presented a number of people sharing their stories, through storytelling, spoken word, songs, or words of encouragement.

Here are some of the people who shared at the event. It includes Achala Green, Between Mirrors (Nicholas Grey & Nichole Zhong), Cyntia Sobraty, Lay the Mystic, Teddy Darling and many others.

This story discusses sensitive topics including substance abuse and suicide. If you want to access help, please contact QLife on 1800 184 527. Lifeline 13 11 14 and the Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467.

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Let’s Talk About Suicide – a new podcast

Arion — Thu, 31 Oct 2019 22:38:05 +0000

Let’s Talk About Suicide is a new JOY 94.9 podcast. Hosted by Hamish Blunch, it explores suicide in the LGBTIQA+ community. It focuses especially on suicide bereavement.

This is a topic that can bring up issues for people. If you need to talk to someone, we encourage you to contact QLife on 1800 184 527, the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.

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A queer voice on the other end of the phone

Arion — Thu, 03 Oct 2019 09:01:06 +0000

Sometimes people just want to sit in silence. Sometimes they sing a song. There are many reasons for calling Switchboard Victoria’s QLife service. The Switchboard CEO Joe Ball talks to us about who calls the service and why. We also talk about how to support ourselves and each other in the religious speech debate.

QLife is available 3pm to midnight Melbourne time. It’s on 1800 184 527 and at qlife.org.au

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Angus Taylor on energy security and religious freedom (extended interview)

Arion — Fri, 27 Sep 2019 02:30:25 +0000

We were fortunate to get Federal Energy Minister Angus Taylor to speak to the Informer this week. Angus talks to Arion Potts, Informer Assistant Producer about our current oil stocks and how we can take control as individuals of oil prices. We also asked him about what people are saying in the religious freedom debate and how he’d answer people in his area when they have questions.

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