13 trans people from the community discuss their experience of being transgender in WA.

“Each day I have a renewed understanding of my gender and it kind of builds upon itself over time.” On today’s episode Hannah (they/them) and Allie (she/they) from the YPN sat down with twelve different people that identify as trans including Samson Spee (he/him), Andy Lowes (he/him), Lena Van Hale (she/her) and 7 young people that attend the Transfolk of WA’s weekly youth space for a yarn to hear their stories, their advice, and their hopes for the future for generations of trans people. For more info on our guests: youthpridenetwork.net/queerandpodcast Got a story or an idea for an episode? Hit us up at ypn@yacwa.org.au This podcast was recorded on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar and we wish to acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as traditional custodians of this land, its waters, and its communities. We acknowledge and pay respect to Elders past, present, and future as sovereign leaders, sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, and always will be, Aboriginal land.

Lena

Lena Van Hale (She/They) is a non-binary, transgender woman. Currently a board member of Living Proud in WA, and with a background in peer education and support, Lena is a staunch activist and advocate for transgender healthcare, body autonomy, human rights and workers rights. In all of her work she is committed to the axiom of “nothing about us without us”, striving to redefine the inclusion of trans peers beyond the “lived experience” frame, and toward the lens of “living expertise”.

Samson

Samson is a proud Yamatji Wajarri trans man living in Boorloo working FIFO in the Pilbara as a heavy machinery operator. He’s been in the field for 8 years since completing an indigenous traineeship and prides himself of representing people like him in the mining workforce. A fierce advocate for the queer community since his youth, Samson is passionate about diversity, inclusion, and providing First Nations Australians with more opportunities to thrive in all aspects of life. He fights for equal freedom and justice for all. In Samson’s spare time he likes collecting and working on cars and spending time at queer events that feature live performances, art, and building community. Samson radiates positivity and strength and is a staunch role model for the trans community. He also froths a good ghost story.

Allie

Allie Messenger (She/They) is a fervent advocate for the LGBTQIA+ Community, disability rights and creating open forums for honest and judgement-free discussion. She has done volunteer work for Australian Youth Affairs Commission, Fremantle Youth Network, Youth Pride Network and many more. Winning Australian Youth of the Year 2022 for Fremantle, Allie is hard-working and passionate about what she does. Identifying as transgender and genderfluid, Allie hopes to use her own experiences to help advance the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Transfolk YouthSpace is run by Transfolk of WA and is a weekly drop in space for trans, non-binary, gender diverse, brotherboys, sistergirls, and questioning people aged 14-20. It is a chance to meet other people on a similar journey, ask questions, find support, or just chat and play games. Transfolk of WA is a peer support service for transgender people and their loved ones in Western Australia that aims to inform, empower, and advocate for trans and gender diverse people to survive and thrive. They run workshops, online services, support groups, develop resources, and curate events for the community and their allies in WA.

Checkout transfolkofwa.org for more info and resources.

8 fierce advocates from the community discuss their experience of being queer and First Nations.

“You are blak enough. You are queer enough.” 

On today’s episode we sat down with eight Queer First Nations people including Eva Grace and Niq Mullaley, Tobiasz Millar, Shania Eddy, Zoe Sullivan, Dani Sib, and Ingrid and Dillian Cumming to have a yarn, hear their stories, their advice, and their hopes for the future. 

This podcast was recorded on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar and we wish to acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as traditional custodians of this land, its waters, and its communities. We acknowledge and pay respect to Elders past, present, and future as sovereign leaders, sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, and always will be, Aboriginal land.  

Eva Grace Mullaley is a Widi woman from the Yamatji Nation, in the Midwest of WA, has been working in the Arts for nearly 20 years and is currently, the Artistic Director of Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company, the only Aboriginal Theatre Company in WA. Eva was on the Yirra Yaakin board for 5 years, was the executive/development producer for the Blackfulla Performing Arts Alliance (a peak body on the verge of incorporation) and is also an active member of Ilbijerri Theatre Company, Moogahlin Performing Arts and peak Indigenous dance organisation, Blakdance; who are also part of a national cohort representing First Nation s Performing Arts across the nation. 

Janeiq “Niq” Mullaley is a young, trans identifying, Yamatji brotherboy. He has been dragged to theatre and arts performances and toured the country pretty extensively his whole life because of his mum’s work. Niq loves to draw, sing, perform and just generally be creative. 

Tobiasz is a proud gay Larrakia/Wadjigan man from the Northern Territory. He’s been living in Boorloo for the past 12 years. He is a qualified teacher having worked in both public and private school systems, in a range of roles (Department of Communities tutor, Aboriginal Liaison Officer, Teacher Assistant and Classroom Teacher). During his time working in a school, he always took it upon himself to step into the role of Cultural coordinator. Culture being an area he wished to promote and share. Earlier this year, Tobiasz stepped away from teaching to explore the world or consultancy and coordination as the Cultural and Diversity Coordinator at Not-for-profit family service provider, Wanslea. Tobiasz is an active advocate for change and volunteers as one of the founding members of Boorloo Justice a grassroots Social Justice/Advocacy group here in Perth. 

Shania (they/she) is a proud queer Gomeroi person currently residing on Whadjuk Noongar Boodja. A fierce advocate for quality sexual health education for all people, Shania currently works as an Aboriginal Educator in relationships and sexuality. Shania’s passion for intersectionality in the Blak and LGBTIQA+ communities is echoed throughout all of their personal and professional achievements. 

Zoe (she/her) is a Murri woman and a queer person. She grew up most of her life on Gubbi Gubbi country (Sunshine Coast), although her mob are originally from Bindal and Nguburinji countries of Far North Queensland. She was raised in a strong blak matriarch and is proud to be an Indigenous woman. She identifies as a lesbian but is queer in both sexuality and gender identity. She is currently completing her Masters in Sexology and works as an LGBTQIA+ peer educator and a sexual health peer educator. Through both her career and outside of work, she endeavours to and has a passion for proudly representing her people and creating safe spaces where LGBTQIA+ and First Nations peoples can exist as their whole selves. 

Ingrid Cumming is a Whadjuk Balardong Noongar woman from Fremantle, Western Australia and recognised young leader within the First Nations community. Ingrid is the founder and principal consultant of Kart Koort Wiern consultancy, representing First Nations Business globally for over ten years, alumni of Murdoch University and Melbourne Business School. Ingrid was part of the establishment of the Indigenous Women in Business network and has served as a Commissioner for Conservation for the WA state government. Ingrid has worked with a variety of sectors and organisations, creating, facilitating and evaluating programs and strategies to address issues and strengths. Ingrid has won and been a finalist in a range of awards like NAIDOC Perth, Telstra Women in Business, Curtin Vice-Chancellor Awards, ‘Champion for Change’ by EPHEA (Equity Practitioners in Higher Education Australasia), WA Heritage Awards and Belmont Small Business Awards. Ingrid has presented at various forums and conferences around the world in relation to engagement, equity and diversity matters including as a delegate at the UN Women Leaders Conference in Israel in 2013, TedXPerth in 2014 been on various TV programs, including the Drum in 2021. Ingrid is a strong ally of LGBTIQ, First Nations, Youth and diverse groups, stakeholders and organisations. 

Dillian is an exciting new addition to YPN team. A proud Whadjuk Ballardong Noongar person, Dillian is currently completing their studies in animation at TAFE and is passionate about advocating for intersectionality in the LGBTIQA+ community. Dillian is neurodivergent (ASD and ADD) and is always eager to share their lived experience, contributing to our monthly committee meetings with their bright, bubbly, enthusiastic disposition.  Despite being one of our youngest members, Dillian has a range of achievements under their belt already including participating in a Noongar Cultural Ceremony on Wardandi land for the World Surfing League event in 2022, performing on stage with their school’s drama club, delivering a Welcome to Country for the WA Days award in 2022 (in the presence of the Premier), and delivering a Welcome to Country at TEDxYouth at Kings Park 2022. Dillian has caught the acting bug and is excited to hit the stage again. When they’re not trotting the boards, Dillian likes fantasy books, Sonic and Pokemon, and spending time with their family cat. 

Dani Sib is a proud Baad/Bard and Yawuru ambooriny (person) from the Kimberley, WA currently residing on Whadjuck Noongar Boodjar. Their passion for music sees them creating songs about their experiences as a First Nations queer person with hopes to inspire young mob. They’ve performed many events but their most memorable moment so far was playing ‘Marijuanna Annie’ in the 2020 Bran Nue Dae musical with the WA Opera.

Hannah and Charlotte sit down to discuss how the Youth Pride Network came to be.

“Intersectional conversations are so important because they acknowledge the totality of who someone is and allow people to bring the entirety of themselves to a discussion. And not have to leave part of themselves at home.”  

On today’s episode we sat down for a conversation with Charlotte Glance, one of the Youth Pride Network’s founders to discuss the origins of the organization, their perspective on the state of things for queer people in WA, what intersectionality means, and what their hopes are for the organization and the podcast.  

Charlotte is a co-founder of the Youth Pride Network and was the organisations first Project and Policy Coordinator of the YPN. Through their hard work they were able to secure the YPN funding through the department of communities and have headed many important projects produced by the Youth Pride Network. Since leaving YPN they’ve moved on to work in the legal field, continuing to advocate against discrimination and for inclusivity in all spaces. 

They are a huge policy nerd and are always happy to talk all-things advocacy, policy and politics. An eager law student, they love chatting about all things law. In their spare time, Charlotte practices martial arts.

Got a story or an idea for an episode? Hit us up at ypn@yacwa.org.au 

This podcast was recorded on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar and we wish to acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as traditional custodians of this land, its waters, and its communities. We acknowledge and pay respect to Elders past, present, and future as sovereign leaders, sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, and always will be, Aboriginal land.READ less