Issue 88.5 by On Dit

Queer Dit

ISSUE 88.5 JUNE 2020

Student Employment Grow, Support Impact, to find Connect work while you study.

auu.org.au/studentemployment

n Dit 2020

Want to get involved? Check out our content callout lists and submission dates at facebook.com/onditmagazine Find us on: Instagram @onditmag Twitter @onditmagazine Email onditmag@gmail.com

ON DIT CONTENTS Editorial Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s On? State of the Union SRC Queer Officer Left, Right, and Centre Vox Pop Econ Dit International Student News ARTICLES Earning your stripes Boston marriages, the erasure of women who loved women throughout history and the comfort of precedence Artist spotlight: Lucinda Penn Being asexual in a sexual world Dinner table diatribes Artist feature: Ekkia Evans Religious discrimination bill Breaking the mould

5 8 10 11 12 14 16 18

EDITORS Nick Birchall Kansas Bird Connor Watson Emily Woodcock SUBEDITORS Theodora Galanis DESIGN Larisa Forgac

20 COVER ART By Lucinda Penn Instagram: @lcnd_ 24 27 32 34 36 42 44

We wish to acknowledge the Kaurna people as the traditional custodians of the Adelaide region on which the University of Adelaide is located. We also acknowledge Elders, living and past, and understand that the cultural and heritage beliefs that the Kaurna people hold are still important to the living members of their community today.

EDITORIAL Hi from Nick, Emily, Kansas and Connor! Welcome to Issue 88.5 of On Dit – Queer Dit! Once a year our magazine puts out an edition solely focused on LGBTQI+ students and issues. This year is no different. Working very closely with our guest editors, Connor, Kansas and Emily, as well as so many incredible writers and artists, has allowed us to put together something we’re all very proud of. Our decision to publish in June will probably come as no shock. It’s Pride month! It’s so important to take some time to celebrate how far we’ve come, but also reflect on what we still as an Australian society have left to accomplish. The queer community still faces many challenges to this day, and many are discussed within this issue. With ruminations on topics such as the Religious Freedoms bill to the Boston Marriages, as well as two separate artist features, there’s something for everyone! Whether you identify as queer or not, there’s value to be had in the contents of these pages. We hope you enjoy reading this as much as we enjoyed making it.

EMILY WOODCOCK While there is a long stretch to go in the march to acknowledgement, the Queer and LGBT+ community is a place of wide and varied peoples and experiences. Growing up in a rural small town, there was no support or information readily available. The people I grew up around used words like “gay” and “queer” as a slur, and the adults were no better. It wasn’t until university that I was able to discover just how broad the community truly was. Over the last few years I have been able to settle in my own skin and have a name for how I feel about others, and I hope that I am able to extend that feeling to others in future. I hope that Queer Dit can help contribute to knowledge of our community, even if it isn’t a be-all-end-all guide. This is a place for people to be heard, no matter their orientation or gender, and it is an honour to guest edit!

CONNOR WATSON

KANSAS BIRD

Hi, my name is Connor and I am bisexual. It is a privilege to write for Queer Dit as an open and shall we say flamboyant member of the community because I believe the most powerful way to create change in society is to tell stories. Queer Dit is a collage of the story, experiences and observations of queer people that I hope will inspire you, embolden you, make you think and reflect on where we in are in the campaign for queer rights and how far we have yet to go. Just because we queers as some would derogatorily label can now get married and have representatives in parliament and have our own edition of On Dit doesn’t mean we don’t still need to talk about queer issues. As long as members of our community hide their sexuality for fear of the repercussions, as long as people are discriminated against or persecuted for their sexuality, as long terms like queer are used mockingly there will always be a need for Queer Dit. I hope you enjoy this edition of Queer Dit and feel a little more informed and emboldened to be queer and proud.

Hello! I’m Kansas Bird and my pronouns are he/they. I am a proud neurodivergent bisexual trans person and the Vice President [sometimes called the “Vibe” President] of the Pride Club here at Adelaide. I’m in my second year studying a Bachelor of Arts focusing on History and Classics. I’m your typical Arts’ student; I write poetry, I embroider, I get into any and all debates that I can, and I will ask you if you listen to the same podcasts as me. Being able to be a guest editor for this year’s Queer Dit was really exciting and important to me. It’s not often that we get a voice in this world so it’s important to take any opportunity to express ourselves and educate other people about our lives. Especially as a trans person and a neurodivergent person, the world so often tries to talk over us so it’s a nice change of pace to be given a platform. Isolation has been a difficult time for all but has hit our community – which is so thoroughly rooted in communal interaction – particularly hard. I hope that this issue can come to you as a source of comfort and connection.

N O S â&#x20AC;&#x2122; T A H W ? N O S â&#x20AC;&#x2122; T A H W Mondays uoa pride club jackbox

The club has access to packs 2 and 3 if you want to ever request a game. It will be streamed on Discord and participants will need access to either a phone or computer. These are hosted each week on Monday at 7pm. See the Pride Club Insta or Facebook page for more information and links to join.

Tuesdaysuoa pride club chat session

Every week at 5-6pm Tuesday, the UoA Pride Club will be hosting a zoom chat with a different theme each week. See the

Thursdays uoa pride club movie nights

Thursday at 8:30pm is a weekly movie night with the club. See the Pride Club Insta for Facebook page for more information and

W ? N O S â&#x20AC;&#x2122; T A H W ? N Fridaysquarantingo

Every Friday at 12:30pm with regular host and Adelaide Comedian, Lori Bell! There are prizes to be won each week in this online boredom buster.

uoa artist spotlight

The UoA Home Edition Facebook group hosts a new feature artist from the University every Friday at 4pm, sharing their music, sitting for a Q&A, and hosting a live performance!

kaffeeklatsch online The University of Adelaideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s German Club are helping you practise your German speaking ability through their regular online meet-ups.

STATE OF THE UNION Words by AUU President Stella Seung-Joo Woo

Diversity, being one of our main values, we recognise that within the student community there are many communities defined by gender, ethnicity, faith, and economic status, etc. Each community possesses a unique student experience and we value, embrace, and promote that diversity. It is IDAHOBIT (International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia) on May 17. The IDAHOBIT was created to raise awareness and highlight the continued discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex people. This day is especially important to celebrate this year, as the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated financial crisis has had a significant impact on the LGBTQ+ community. This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s IDAHOBIT also marks 30 years since the World Health Organisation removed homosexuality from the classification of diseases and related health problems. Although same sex marriage was finally legalised in Australia that unfortunately, that does not put a stop to the discrimination. It is a day for everyone to celebrate their identities. Last year in the NEXUS 10 and Hub centre students and staff were asked to show their support by adding paper link chains. Unfortunately, this year we need to stay inside due to COVID-19, but you can still all provide support in your own ways! Love is not a crime. Discrimination is not an option. Love is love. On #IDAHOBIT and every day, let us use educationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s power to challenge intolerance & hate.

The university prohibits all acts of discrimination so if you do ever feel unsafe you can report it to safer campus community. https://www.adelaide.edu.au/safer-campuscommunity/ or call security. Apart from that, you can also reach out to student care and the counselling services which is a free service for all students. If you want to meet some people and have a chat, you can also join the pride club or email the Queer Officer (next to my column) who is Hamish Probert this year! I would like to also take this opportunity to mention our recent funding announcement. We have received thousands of enquires from students in recent weeks about the very real struggles that many are facing. We have also been inspired by the incredible things you have been doing to support each other and keep yourselves motivated over the past few months. Therefore, we are contributing $1,000,000 of our own funds to the Covid-19 Student Support Package Fund. We have seen firsthand how vital this fund is in supporting thousands of our students and we are committed to working with the University to ensure the absolute best outcome for every one of you. So, on behalf of the AUU we want to say thank you to all our students, we are here with you for the long haul and we will see you on the other side. If you have any questions, feel free to email me or message me! Stella Seung-Joo Woo AUU President auupresident@auu.org.au

SRC QUEER OFFICER Words by SRC Queer Officer Hamish Probert

I would like to begin by thanking Madison Kennewell for all her hard work as the previous Queer officer and wish her all the best for the future. I would like to give you all a brief rundown of who I am. I spent my whole life in rural SA until 2017 when I moved into Aquinas College to undergo university. Due to my father’s career I have lived in a few different towns from Mount Gambier, Port Lincoln and Naracoorte which has allowed me to appreciate and love our state of SA. This rural upbringing has led me to commence a Master of Global Food and Agri business. Before starting my Masters I did a bachelor of Arts where I stayed for my full three years at Aquinas. It’s whilst I was here that I became interested in student politics, as I had thought, like most students at Uni, that Stupol was pointless and provided no real impact. However, due to allegations laid against some of the colleges I got involved to allow them to have a voice on the SRC in order to have fair and equal discussions.

upon your own moral compass regardless of how ‘morally’ justified you feel. This is why diversity is crucial for anybody including the SRC, as diversity is the cornerstone of a healthy democracy.

This is one of my core principles, the fair and equal treatment of all regardless of faith, ethnicity, sexual orientation and political affiliation. This is why I ran for the position of Queer Officer as last year’s Elections, and my subsequent application for the vacancy. No one ever deserves to be othered and made less than based

Hamish Probert a1716441@student.adelaide.edu.au

Without diversity it is easy to fall victim to tyranny of the masses. Whilst this notion is so often paraded by the left it is the very left who need to listen and engage with those of conservative values instead of grandstanding as is so often seen. By having both conservative and progressive voices on the SRC, the betterment of all students can be achieved by focusing on campus issues instead of passing notions that SRC have no effect on just to get a sense of self gratification. As the Queer officer my aim for the rest of the year is to continue making the UofA a safe space for all and ensure that everyone’s voice will be listened to. If you have any questions or inquiries, please feel free to contact me at

LEFT RIGHT & CENTRE LEFT Edgar Daniel-Richards

Socialist Alternative

1. When John Howard passed the homophobic amendment to the Marriage Act in 2004, he had the support of the vast majority of parliament, including both the Liberal and Labor parties. At that time, only a minority of the public was opposed to the changes. Since then, a small but uncompromising protest campaign blossomed into a mass movement. This culminated in the largest LGBT+ demonstrations in Australian history. Public opinion was shifted decisively in favour of marriage equality. The Labor Party and even sections of the Liberals were forced to try and catch up to the shifting tide. The Yes Vote victory further normalised LGBT+ people in Australia and concretised the hardfought-for gains of the Gay Liberation era. 2. The religious freedom bill has nothing to do with freedom. It is all about trying to strengthen discrimination and the power of reactionary institutions. After the overwhelming victory of the Marriage Equality campaign, the bigots were on the backfoot. The Religious Freedom bill is their attempt to claw back the

successes of LGBT+ and womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rights campaigns of the past. If passed, it would be a major setback. Giving even more power to employers and other institutions to discriminate against women and LGBT+ people. 3. Queer faces in high places was never what won us our rights. The key to political and social change is mass struggle. How a politician relates to mass struggle, whether they try to stifle it, coopt it or encourage it, is how they should be judged. Considered on that basis, the current crop of Australian politicians is pretty lacking, no matter how they identify.

CENTRE

Anika PiÄ&#x2122;tek Adelaide University Labor Club

1. Generally, attitudes towards queer people were positive prior to marriage equality. The result of the plebiscite proves that. Unfortunately, there has always been a small but loud group advocating against us. For those individuals I think legalising gay marriage has helped legitimise the existence of queer people. By putting it in law that

1. Do you feel like attitudes towards LGBTQI+ people have improved since gay marriage was legalised? 2. Are you comfortable with the extent of the religious freedoms bill? 3. Would you like to see more representation in politics with more queer- identifying politicians?

LGBTQI+ relationships are legally the same as straight ones, a strong signal has been sent. Marriage equality certainly has not eradicated negative attitudes, and I never expected it to, but it has given tangible legal evidence that our relationships are just as valid as anyone else’s. 2. This bill grants freedom of religion at the expense of freedom from religion. Former High Court Justice Michael Kirby himself has labelled it an ‘attack on the many to defend the few’. Even conservative politicians had said that no bill is better than this one. It gives a free pass to those who use their faith as an excuse to discriminate. As a Catholic myself I can tell you that is not faith at all. If religious people feel somehow threatened by the Queer community then the best way to address that is to reach out and start some conversations. Let’s talk to each other, identify why some of those fears exist, and break down the barriers between religion and sexuality. We should not be passing flawed laws that prioritise the right to discriminate over the right to be free from discrimination.

3. Over the past 20 years, the quality of LGBT+ representation in the Australian Parliament has improved. Openly queer people are increasingly taking up important positions within political parties. Individuals like Penny Wong, the first openly gay member of Cabinet, and Ian Hunter, the first openly gay member of SA Parliament, have played a crucial role in encouraging young queer people like me to get involved in politics. Today, almost every political party has prominent queer members. That is fantastic, and now it is time to focus on the quantity and types of queer representation. Federally, there are only 9 openly LGBT politicians, in SA there is only one. Parliament works best when it is representative of the people it works for. So absolutely, lets get more queer politicians into politics!

RIGHT The Adelaide University Liberal Club chose not to submit an answer for this issue.

vox pop Billy Arts and International Relations 1. I’m lucky enough to be supported by a whole bunch of excellent queer people. We’ll probably do a watch party or something 2. Isolation has certainly helped me on focusing on my uni work, but the lack of physical contact has certainly been a challenge.

Dante Science (Wildlife conservation biology) 1. Funky makeup looks, hanging pride flags up if you can, baking, art (rainbow chain streamers?) 2. Negative – I am eating worse and very, very lonely with near constant breakdowns. 3. Spend as much time with my friends as I possibly can.

3. Have a restaurant meal with my boyfriend

4. No, I usually tan first unless I spend hours in very strong sun.

4. I’ve been lucky enough (or unlucky) to still be doing regular shopping and walking my dogs so I’ve been outside plenty 5. Fairy godmother from Shrek 2

5. Janelle Monae and Jonathan Van Ness

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Any suggestions for celebrating pride at home/in isolation? Has isolation made a positive or negative impact on your health both mental or physical? What’s the first thing you’re going to do when restrictions ease? Do you automatically burn when you walk into the sun due to weeks of minimal exposure? Who is your Queer icon?

Nick Law and Economics 1. Take some time out and just acknowledge what you love about yourself.

Ekkia Arts and Media 1. Rainbows, bit of glitter, good tunes and a movie night

2. Negative. I miss seeing all my friends, and believe it or not, lectures.

2. Kinda negative? Self-study equals procrastination, which equals stress, and it’s a neverending cycle

3. Chicken Parmi with pepper gravy at the pub with the boys

3. Probably celebrate my sister’s 18th birthday to be honest

4. Nah, olive skin for the win!

4. Yes, but I’m very pale and that always happens

5. Achilles. Can’t go past the classics

5. My brain has decided on Brendon Urie and won’t let me think of anyone else.

ECON DIT Out of the closet and into economic crises Words by Jack Newbury and Madeleine Pemberton The pandemic and accompanied economic crises is a double-edged knife that is disproportionately plunged into the LGBTQI+ community. Social distancing requirements have resulted in the pandemic being not only a public health crisis, but an economic crisis as well. Declines in new cases have occurred at the expense of soaring unemployment, with legal restrictions as well as decreases in discretionary spending gutting the international economy. The public health crisis and the accompanying recession has disproportionate effects on the LGBTQI+ community. According to data sourced from the ABS and the ATO, jobs in accommodation and food services have fallen by 33.5% percent, and jobs in arts, sports and recreation by 27%. Queer folk are highly represented in these industries, suggesting a surge in LGBTQI+ unemployment relative to overall population. Furthermore, youth unemployment has increased disproportionately, another group in which the LGBTIQ+ are represented highly in. The queer community faces a different reality when pushed into unemployment and tough economic times. The recession can provide a faĂ§ade for dismissal of employees due to sexual orientation that skirts anti-discrimination laws. This low-rate of job security, coupled with lack of financial knowledge and disproportionately low household savings results in poor financial security for the queer population. Housing insecurity is also high due to low rates of home ownership relative to the overall population. Prior to the pandemic and the onset of economic crises 40% of LGBTIQ+ community in rentals stated they feel insecure in their homes or at risk of facing eviction. LGBTIQ+ folk are 50% more likely to have experienced homelessness in Australia at all ages, and emergency housing often poses more danger than the streets. Religious owned services and associated support workers discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, and the queer community are subject to violence, harassment and sexual assault in homeless shelters and emergency accommodation. Those of our community left on the street arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t able to social-distance properly, and are at higher risk of contracting COVID-19.

Many queer people face the reality that a support network to provide emergency housing is nonexistent, with the shunning of queer children that mean falling back on the bank of mum and dad has never been option. This also feeds into poor financial security, as homeless is experienced disproportionately at a young age resulting in poor footing to forge a stable path in the world. If returning to living with parents is an option, this is often at the expense of mental health and ability to live as oneself. Movement of services like therapy and psychologists online encroach on privacy and inhibit the content of conversations as they are being conducted within oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home. Online classes, especially in queer and trans studies, can present ideas unthinkable to the family home and endanger students participating as a result. As well as this, search results for domestic violence have increased significantly in isolation, and LGBTQI+ folk are more reported as victims of domestic abuse. Financial instability leaves most of our community unable to fend for themselves. Self-isolation can be tricky too. Many have lost their jobs and thus under financial pressure, others have had to adapt to new work or study routines, and everyone is doing their part by not seeing their loved ones. Health effects arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t restricted to mental health; globally, LGBTIQ+ folk are at disproportionate health risks. Systemic stigma and discrimination has shown that 21% of the LGBTQI+ community are smokers, and MLM are more likely to be HIV-positive. These pre-existing health conditions mean that contracting COVID-19 is more likely to be fatal. Ensuring financial and housing security is attainable for everyone, as well as access to mental and public health services is necessary for future resilience to crises. Currently, protection from pandemics and economic crises is clearly a privilege and not a right - future policy must ensure marginalised groups have a right to their safety and security. Additional measures to ensure this is achieved for LGBTQI+ folk is vital, through increasing financial education, creating queer-safe emergency housing and ensuring legislation protects against discrimination. Though escalated due to the current climate, this is a reality LGBTIQ+ folk face despite apparent progressions in equality. The pandemic threatens the validity of existing economic systems, and illuminates weak points of public health. This poses an opportunity to change directions throughout recovery, in the management of the economy and public health. The disproportionate effect on the LGBTQI+ community highlights how vital it is for these efforts to be looked at through different perspectives and lenses. Use this as a reminder to check up on those around you, especially your LGBTQI+ friends. Iso isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t banana bread and Netflix for everyone.

international international student student news news Words by Skylar

I am a 19-year-old female and self-identify as pansexual. My boyfriend knows I have a Pride flag on my wall but I’ve always kept the stories for myself. Knowing that there is something different in you feels undeniably confusing so I decided to just go with the flow most of the time. I am extremely confident when I am around guys, I can be sexy and flirty if I want. It is the complete opposite when it comes to women. I am an awkward potato. The feminine beauty has always amazed me. Whenever I see a beautiful woman, despite my awkwardness, I cannot help but give her my fullest eye contact and present her a genuine compliment: “You look absolutely stunning”. I do think they deserve the world. And I think every human being deserves the world as well, no matter who you are, how you identify, or what your background is. The idea of adoring a woman, taking care and being there for her has always amused me. But like I said before, I am nothing but awkward around women. I really wish I could be more confident. However, I will tell you about the time I was brave enough to do what I wanted. During my high school, I had a crush on this girl, who was one grade below me. She was very funny and sweet. We talked for hours about our future goals, our current friendships and the Netflix show that we both watched: “How to get away with Murder”. Chatting with her gave me a sense of empathy and understanding. One day, I took all my courage to ask her on a date. I didn’t have any means of transportation at the time but I felt like I needed to be responsible. I couldn’t just drag her on a public bus. Thankfully, I was able to borrow an electric bike from my good friend, and had a few “last-minute” hours of practice. I was slightly shivering

when I rode the bike but having her behind my back, I knew I could be strong enough riding through the crazy traffic jam. I took her to lunch and dessert. The Asian street food has always been spectacular but having her with me, food seemed to taste even better. Fried stuffed pies. Rice cakes. Her. Beef noodles. Caramel Flans. I was so happy and nervous at the same time that it was so hard to say full sentences. We were not as talkative as when we were online but I knew we both had amazing tingling sensations on this date. I had no regrets. Being in a developing country, the idea of being queer still needs more time to be accepted. My parents are fine with LGBTQ+ but they are definitely not supportive of their children being “non-straight”. My high school teacher once set up a oneon-one meeting to ask me “Are you dating a girl?”, out of curiosity. It is true that the public understanding is much better than the past but it is still not yet comfortable or safe to be your whole self. In Australia, I have been on a few dates as well, all of my dates are so attractive and full of life. I love how cheerful and understanding they were when I confessed with them that I am very shy around women.

d ent ne w u t s dent ne s l w a tu ls

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I would like to share an advice to anyone who is still confused, just go for it and experience it. What is the worst-case scenario? Befriend another beautiful human being?

earning your

stripes; am i

queer enough?

Words by Kansas Bird

It is a common complaint by those both within and outside of the Queer Community that the acronym is getting too long. There is a weird obsession with trying to streamline the members of our community for the consumption of others. If there are too many letters in the acronym then it’s too confusing or it means that we’re letting too many people in. Besides, the only important identities to remember anyway are the standard ones: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans. Everything else is secondary. Unfortunately, this reductionist rhetoric is nothing new to our community. There was fierce debate in the 70s and 80s as to whether trans people and lesbians should be allowed to identify with what was simply called the “Gay Community”. Yes, lesbians were once not considered ‘gay’ enough to be a part of the community. The fight that the trans community has had to endure with people who should’ve been the first to welcome them with open arms is just as stupefying. Even today, many trans people are harassed by members of not only the

Queer Community as a whole but even by other trans people. Those who identify as trans but do not experience traditional symptoms of dysphoria are often called ‘fake’ or ‘attention-seeking’, rather than being encouraged to explore how they experience their bodies and to be alright with learning that they might be trans or that they might simply be cis. To be able to experiment with your gender and sexuality should be something we encourage, so that people might be more confident with who they are. However, this is something that many people, even queer people, think could be detrimental to the community in the long run. There are such strict ideas behind what constitutes a ‘real’ trans person. Many people think that you have to hate yourself and everything about your physical body to ‘qualify’ as part of the community. Personally, I find this to be an extremely harmful narrative to push because of two specific groups of trans people. 21

Firstly, those who are questioning their gender and aren’t sure where to start with exploring themselves. They hear this laundry list of horrors that trans people have to feel in order to be trans and think that their experience isn’t valid simply because they don’t hate themselves. They convince themselves that they must be cis and miss out on the beauty of the trans experience and the wider community. Secondly, those who already identify as trans think that there is something wrong with themselves or that they must be lying about being trans because they actually don’t mind having breasts or have decided that they don’t want to take estrogen for whatever reason. The trans community are not the only ones who suffer from exclusionist rhetoric. People on the asexual and aromantic spectrums are constantly foisted into the limelight of discourse within our community. The concept of being ‘straight-passing’ is usually brought up in arguments (as well as when arguing that bisexual, pansexual and similar identities have the same the ‘privilege’). The idea is that if you are cis and your relationship could be interpreted as heterosexual or heteroromantic then you do not belong in the Queer Community. It tends to be a matter of, once again, pain. If you are not actively persecuted for your identity, then you are not queer enough. This ignores, however, the fact that though 22

there may not appear to be prejudice coming from non-queer people, there is indeed persecution coming from the community that should otherwise be accepting them. Where does that factor into the ‘queer identity’? Furthermore, these groups of people do still face prejudice from the world. The stereotype of bisexual people being more likely to cheat is still heavily pervasive. Aromantic people are attacked with ableism constantly (being referred to as narcissists and psychopaths in a way that is just as harmful to people who actually live with those diagnoses). To this day asexuality is still often considered a psychological disorder in need of a cure (yes, conversion therapy does exist for it). On a historical note as well, asexual people were explicitly included in the Stonewall Riots of the 60s, they’ve always been with us and always will be. A common thread between all of these issues of queer identity are routed heavily in the belief that to be queer is to be hated, despised, and attacked everyday of your life. Firstly, I want to say that, yes, this has and will always be a part of who we are. Even as time moves on and we obtain more rights, it is a fight that has historically been – and continues to be – an uphill battle. New restrictions that we have to object to come up all the time; we require constant vigilance. There are still 73 countries where private acts of homosexuality are illegal (12 of which have the death penalty)

RNING

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UR STRI

People have tried to pin-hole our community into a box when what defines us is not our uniformity but our diversity. The Queer Community is so unique in its ability to transcend

R S TR YO UR P S TRI SES P E E A R NIN

However, many of us are born into ideal situations where we can flourish as queer people, being born into groups that are already uplifted in society or by the lottery of being born into families with already openly queer members. Though no life is without difficulty, to define one’s existence and ability to belong by the pain that they have to suffer is extremely harmful, especially to young queer people who are afraid. We need to show them that their life does not necessitate pain and that they can and should have a future.

OU GY

The current narrative of governments not taking a pandemic seriously is all too familiar to those who engage with their queer history. Even when we haven’t been directly assaulted, our past is painted red by those who stood in wilful ignorance of our suffering. Fighting against such oppression is central to queer identity; communal support for those who have suffered is, and has always been, key to our survival.

almost anything: race, culture, time, religion, geography. We are queer because we are outside the norm, because we experience life through a lens that is not easily described by words that are not synonymous with our labels. While there is an entirely different topic about people trying to add paedophilia and bestiality into the community and the appropriation of queer culture (which, let’s be real, a lot of it is already appropriated from black culture), there is nothing that our community gains by trying to shut people out that are already often rejected by their surroundings. Our community is at its best when we are loud and happy, drunk on the belonging that we feel and the deep understanding of each other that no one outside of our family could ever conceive of.

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and 15 where open trans expression is illegal. But more than where we are now, our history is bloody and much of that blood is on the hands of those that non-queer people trust: various religious organisations, police officers, and doctors.

EA RNING

Boston marriages, the erasure of women who loved women throughout history, and the comfort of precedence Words by Gabrielle Bakker

Ask a lesbian about the history of women like her, and you’ll get a few standard answers. She’ll bring up Sappho, probably, the Ancient Greek poet who wrote of becoming so overcome with longing for a girl that weaving became impossible. She might mention Stonewall and the activism of Stormé DeLarverie if she’s particularly well-read. But overall, there are few mentions of lesbians throughout history for her to draw from. Lesbian history is notoriously tricky to research. It can be difficult sometimes to not feel alone when reading stories of well-known men who loved men in the past, including Alexander the Great and his bodyguard Hephaestion, or Oscar Wilde. There’s comfort in precedence, knowing that there are people like you throughout history. Which is why when coming across Boston marriages while researching for a history class, I immediately became obsessed. There were women in intimate, long-term relationships in the 19th and 20th centuries, and no one told me? I fell into a hole of research about the leaders of suffrage movements, of labour movements, and everyday women less remembered by history, who had life-long, fulfilling relationships with other women. A Boston marriage was a long-term cohabitation of two women, usually wealthy, without financial support from a man. The term originated in the 19th century from Henry James’s

The Bostonians. The novel, inspired by his sister’s relationship, describes a lifelong partnership or romantic friendship between two women. Jane Addams, a well-known settlement activist, suffragette, and social worker, had one such relationship with Mary Rozet Smith that lasted forty years until Mary’s death. Anna Howard Shaw, a leader of the women’s suffrage movement, shared thirty years of her life with the niece of Susan B Anthony, who herself shared long, intimate relationships with other women. Sarah Orne Jewett, a novelist and poet, lived and toured Europe with Annie Fields. Jane Addams would write to Smith twice a day when they were apart, ending letters with, “I miss you dreadfully and am yours ‘til death”. Anna Howard Shaw’s partner Lucy Anthony believed she served the women’s suffrage movement best by supporting Shaw financially and emotionally, who fought for equality around the country. Sarah Orne Jewett found literary encouragement and inspiration with Fields, who helped her host literature events. These women never sought out romantic relationships with men. However, most historians are hesitant to call them lesbians. This is for a number of reasons, some of which I agree with: there’s the moral murkiness of labelling a historical figure with something they didn’t have a concept of and therefore 25

didn’t identify with; and the general reluctance to categorise someone’s sexuality into a modern box. But I disagree with those who assume said relationships were purely platonic, or claim that a lack of evidence always equates to heterosexuality. There’s a fine line between acknowledging complexities, and erasing the probability of intense, romantic love. On a different note, Boston marriages weren’t accessible to everyone in this time period. The majority of women in such relationships were white and wealthy. Their financial independence from men, and ability to devote their lives to one another, depended on their middle- and upper-class existence. The difference between existence and acceptance is another issue too complex to fully discuss here, but put briefly, although women in these partnerships weren’t thought of as outcasts from popular society, they certainly weren’t held to the same respect as heterosexual couples. Their relationships were viewed as escapes from the restrictions of housewifery and motherhood, rather than a conscious decision to share their lives with each other. Regardless of discourse, it’s comforting and exciting to learn about Boston marriages. I told my girlfriend stories of Jane Addams and Anna Howard Shaw while cocooned in her arms during a mid-afternoon nap, and we reflected on women who 26

held each other the same way as we do. We revelled in our togetherness; in the lesbian identity held in the modern day. And we marvelled at the idea of centuries of women like us, loving one another as we do. Whether we label these historical women as lesbians or not, there’s something very comforting in the knowledge of their existence. There have always been women who love like me. If you’re interested in this topic, I’d recommend the Queer America podcast episodes on Boston marriages, which can be found online at Teaching Tolerance. Alternatively, if I yell loud enough from my parent’s house in Woolsheds where I’m currently isolated, I’m sure you’ll get just as good a follow-up.

Artist Spotlight: Lucinda Penn

Interview by Nick Birchall

recurring symbolism of the eye to illustrates this perspective.

How long have you been making art?

What do you find inspiration in?

I’ve been drawing since I could hold and texter and painting since I could control a brush. I started my @lcnd_ insta under a different name in late 2013, posting pics of my mandala patterns and making phone cases when I was 13 years old. 7 years later, my style has evolved a lot but it’s cool to track my journey along the way. The concept at the core of my art is about having some perspective about your place in this big world of ours. This notion grounds me when I lose track of what is important and I use

I am inspired by the expression of the world and the people around me. It’s hard to pinpoint because really, I am inspired by life itself and enjoy the craft of bringing an idea to life through symbolism and colour. You’ve got a bit of a unique style. What are your influences? I have developed my style which is constantly bending and adapting in my 20 years of living. I am always absorbing the works of different, historical and contemporary artists and designers of influence. Some of them are Frida Kahlo, Picasso, Gustav Kilmt, David Hockney, Grayson Perry, Poppy Lissman and Brolga. It is also pretty cool that interweb of living artists working through Instagram helps us inspire one another. A huge juxtaposition of vintage clothing, bright colours, the vibrant Indian culture, fractal patterns in

nature, overseas travel, different eras of music, my own reflections and the stories of my clients, play a large and ever-changing role in my work. You’ve painted a few murals, when did that start, and what do you like most about the medium? My first outdoor mural was my LCND x Hokey Pokey piece in my home town of Stirling on the side of the ice cream and confectionary shop in 2019. Later this year I am going to be painting the other side of the laneway too!

Exciting! I have worked on indoor murals for A Mother’s Milk Unley and City locations and have a few more in the works coming very soon. I love the large scale and permanency of the medium, and how my design vision and colour can change an area completely. Although, I did work on a smaller collaborative mural in my final year of school and also had another situation where I began mural, but decisions changed, and it was painted over, so it has been a long road and that Stirling mural was extra special to me. I can’t wait to keep designing murals and artwork on every kind of format inbetween. Find me at @lcnd_ for more of my work!

Being asexual in a sexual world Words by Emily Woodcock When I was in High School, I legitimately thought sex and sexual desire was a joke, one of those things teenagers did for attention, and it never crossed my mind that I was the odd one out. I had no idea what asexuality was, and it wasn’t until a friend of mine started exploring their own sexuality through internet investigations that we discovered the term and what it entailed. I had never felt happier than that moment of “I’m not broken”. I still get frustrated though, as how much of the world around us is based on the idea of coupling and attracting the perfect partner? Fashion, entertainment, even some recreational activities have become so sexualised that I struggle to handle it. I no longer date as the pressure of conforming to ‘expectation’ is too high and it always impacts the relationship; Whether its them being sexually frustrated or me feeling guilt and pressure, it never ends well.

Technically, I have come out to everyone via a Facebook rant. Very few people believed me. My mother pulled the “maybe you should get your hormone levels checked” card, and my dad called my mother asking if I was having a breakdown over a boy. I had people asking me if I was attracted to the letter “A” or if I was a plant (Haha asexual biology puns, so funny), and telling me that they felt sorry for me. The only people that truly supported me were some other members of the LGBT+ community, and my Nanna weirdly enough, even if they didn’t fully understand. My ex tried to be supportive by searching for articles on asexuality, but being a psych student, they would search for the scholarly articles. These articles were almost always exclusively about hormone therapy. Needless to say, I was not particularly impressed. A few years after my Facebook rant, but before I attempted dating, my mum asked if I was a lesbian, and that it was okay to bring a girl home. While my family isn’t necessarily homophobic, they aren’t the most accepting or politically correct bunch. For my mum to say that to me, after I told her that I was ace, told me that my being gay and in a relationship was preferable to my being

perpetually single. She is the reason I tried to date, I wanted to make her happy. This was how I discovered that not only am I ace, I am also aromantic. The combination of not feeling sexual attraction and not caring much for romance is a doozy. Throw in the fact I still have a libido, however miniscule it may be, I sometimes want to lock myself away and become a hermit. Being a hermit is easier than trying to explain to people that yes, I am asexual, and yes, I still have a slight sex drive, and yes, I really mean it when I say I don’t like people. I am tired of having to debate whether or not I exist to people, constantly fighting to be heard and acknowledged. It’s exhausting. When the topic of my asexuality comes up, it is always “am I going to get asked weird questions? Am I going to have to get into an argument to defend my own existence?”. I experience this with not only the mainstream heteronormative world, but also the LGBT+ community. I don’t go to pride marches, I don’t attend the Queer Ball at Uni, and I don’t wear my colours on my sleeve proudly. I don’t have the energy to be mocked or spoken down to like I am a childish prude. AVEN was a godsend for me, a beautiful resource that acknowledged that asexuality was a spectrum and that everyone is different. Without AVEN and my best friend in High School, I would’ve lost the plot years ago.

I am still not entirely comfortable in my own skin. I may never be. That doesn’t mean that I am going to ignore my sexuality and harm myself mentally to appease others. I refuse. We may only be roughly 1-2% of the population, but we are here.

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dinner table diatribes Words and art by Maya Tlauka

It is 2017 and I am sat at the dinner table with relatives who have travelled to visit from interstate. The referendum on samesex marriage is in full-swing, making it the single meal-time conversation worthy of discussion. My father looks across the table and asks my devout Christian relatives and asks, ‘So…how did you vote in the referendum?’ There is a moment of deafening silence and I am convinced heads are about to roll. The number of imaginable responses elicited by this question are endless. Maybe the response would include fervent quotes from the bible, perhaps veiled references to the ‘natural’ order of things or even dramatized illustrations of eternities spent in hell. The response, however, is significantly more muted. My relatives turn to one another and share uncomfortable looks before turning back to us with pursed lips and strained smiles. There was no prize for guessing that they had voted against the legalisation of same-sex marriage. My father smiles and says, ‘Okay, no dinner for you then’. He was, of course, joking. The awkward moment is brushed off with forced laughter, but I am left with a rising feeling of insecurity and anger. On reflection, I wonder whether I would have been happier if this question had precipitated a forceful argument; an eruption of conflicting rhetoric in which I could have expressed my views eloquently and crushed their closedminded, intolerant beliefs. Certainly, for the purpose of story-telling this would have been a far more favourable outcome.

Sunday or not is irrelevant to me. Yet, I find myself biting my tongue to avoid being disrespectful every time someone tells me that being gay is ‘wrong in the eyes of god’. For me, expressing dissent for people’s archaic views on sexuality is akin to walking through a minefield. How do I condemn the bigotry of others without being offensive myself? I do not say anything when my birthday card is lined with bible passages or when I am forced to listen to religious idolatry. I often edit my responses to accommodate others, however very little thought seems to be put into accommodating my thoughts. Logically, I am inclined to think perhaps it is not worth my time engaging with those who are intolerant. The fact that we did not have an argument that night might have saved us all wasted energy. The likelihood that my relatives would have changed their minds on the issue of samesex marriage is next to none. Despite this, I was left feeling unwilling silenced and shameful. Simply avoiding uneasy conversations cannot be the solution, I am tired of dancing around uncomfortable topics for the sake of politeness. That is why, if that situation were to ever arise again, I would express my thoughts six ways to Sunday. Without conflicting discourse, change is unfathomable. Using a since-developed sense of confidence, in that moment I would now say exactly what I was thinking. No longer will I tip-toe around intolerance out of a false conception of respect at the expense of my own identity.

Truth be told, I am both confused and conflicted. In principle, I have no qualms about religion. I am an atheist and whether a person attends church on a

Artist Feature: Ekkia Evans Instagram: @ev_photography_official

Aether

Helios

Clementia

RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION BILL Words by Connor Watson

After Australia legalised same sex marriage, the debate about religious discrimination exploded. The losing side in the same sex marriage postal vote now believe that their religious freedoms are in danger. It seems that many now want the right to discriminate against queer members of the community, while at the same time they want protection from discrimination. Surely, they must realise the rhetorical inconsistency of wanting protection from discrimination but wanting license to discriminate. Nothing highlights the rank hypocrisy of this stance more than the Israel Folau saga. Israel Folau thinks that I am a sinner and that I should burn in hell for committing the sin of sodomy and sleeping with a man. This is boiler-plate persecution of queer members of society but his other remarks highlight the simple fact that he is a buffoon not to be taken seriously, such as when he claimed that men sleeping with men and women with women caused bush fires and other natural disasters which needless to say is hilariously ridiculous. After 42

having made a post online about how queer people among others should burn in hell, Israel Folau was fired from the Australian Rugby team after having been warned against posting any such inflammatory posts. Whether or not you agree with the decision to fire Israel Folau is irrelevant. The conservative forces and many religious groups around the country went absolutely feral, frothing with rage that Folau had been fired. You would think these same voices would go absolutely crazy when the current Bill that is being put forward on religious discrimination would allow religious hospitals, schools, aged-care facilities and accommodation providers such as retirement homes the ability to discriminate against staff on the basis of religion. You would think they would be enraged that a gay teacher in Western Australia could be fired for his sexuality. Yet, they have been strangely silent on the obvious hypocrisy of religious organizations being allowed to discriminate against members of the

queer community. It is nothing short of rank hypocrisy and would be an affront to the queer community if the bill is passed through parliament. The bill must not allow bigots to discriminate against the queer community and not hire them based on their sexuality.

If the government was serious about protection against discrimination in Australia, they would be protecting the queer community and not giving license to bigotry. I am all for religious freedom, hell who doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t love freedom, but it canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t come at the cost of allowing discriminatory practices.

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BREAKING THE

MOULD WORDS BY ANONYMOUS

WHY I DON’T ALWAYS FEEL ACCEPTED BY THE QUEER COMMUNITY

I’ve never been one to define myself by my sexuality. It’s just another part of who I am, like having brown eyes. There’s always been a lot of stereotypes surrounding gay and bisexual men. For better or worse they exist, and there can be some merit to them, at least in my experience. I think it’s this reason in particular that I have struggled so much with being accepted in the queer community. I played sport my whole life, hit the gym a lot, didn’t really care much about fashion, or how I looked. I had had a few girlfriends before I realised that I was a bit of a switch-hitter. There were a few low-key boyfriends here and there before I came out to my close friends and family. At the time, I’d just broken up with a girlfriend and a few people (some of my family

included), though that I might’ve just been going through a phase. That’s not to say they weren’t supportive in the slightest. They welcomed me exploring my feelings at my own pace, but they were initially sceptical. This was the same with my close friends. I’m a masculine guy. I like doing “guy things” like drinking beer, talking about girls, and arm-wrestling. They were all a bit sceptical, and still are to an extent. It’s become easier just not to bring it up around most of them. To be fair, I don’t think I make them any less confused with the fact I’m currently seeing a girl either.

At the end of the day, I get it. I don’t quite fit what you expect when someone says “gay” or “bisexual”. All I’m saying is, I’m no less valid, and I just wish we could get to a point where people stopped caring about who you sleep with. It doesn’t change who I am.

This scepticism hasn’t stopped with my close circle either. Within the wider societal context, I’ve always found myself needing to explain or justify myself to other people within the LGBT+ community. “You don’t seem gay?” “Bisexual? That’s just gay without commitment honey.” “Oh my gosh! I’m so sick of you straights, you don’t get a vote!” I continue to get odd looks when I come to LGBT+ events, and there’s still a sect of that community that don’t approve of bisexuality.

Pop quiz! How long have Gender Studies classes been included in the University of Adelaideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s curriculum? A. 10 years B. 15 years C. Over 20 years D. Over 35 years Fill in the blank: Wear it _____ Day A. Green B. Purple C. Pink D. Rainbow What percentage of South Australians voted in favour of marriage equality? A. 55.8% B. 58% C. 60.1% D. 62.5% What was the original name of IDAHOBIT (International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia)? A. IDAHO B. IDAQ C. IDAHOB D. IDAHOL What percentage of Australians identify as being same sex attracted? A. 1% - 5% B. 4% - 10% C. 3% - 11% D. 7% - 13% Send an email with your answers to us at onditmag@gmail.com! If your answers are correct, you will be able to collect a prize at a later date.

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