Blog

Emergence of Rainbow T

Toni Paynter is a much loved Trans Elder in her 70s who has never made a film before - but made this film to share her life story. Well done and thank you Toni https://vimeo.com/224939371

Identifying LGBTI inclusive aged care

The National LGBTI Health Alliance wants to hear from LGBTI elders (65+) about ways to assist LGBTI Elders and Older people to easily identify aged care service providers who deliver LGBTI inclusive services. The attached survey is confidential, has 5 questions and...

Alice: My Authentic Self

The thing I love most about my life right now is getting to be my authentic self, day to day. I have really grown into myself, despite not having any sense of self or direction when I was younger. I feel a responsibility to do what I can in my time here to aid the...

A woman who knows who she is: Kathy Mansfield

A woman who knows who she is: Kathy Mansfield

There are those who are blessed to know at age 6 that they are different; they are clear and they act on it. Then there are those like me that started to have experiences that sit outside what is considered to be ‘traditional’ gender binary norms. Like I’ve always...

Sally Conning: I found out who I am

Sally Conning: I found out who I am

Being myself has been easier as I’ve aged. I’m ageing disgracefully. I don’t let age constrain who I am. Getting older is nothing to worry about As I’ve gotten older I’ve come out of my shell more. I’ve done so much advocacy work and that has helped me. I’ve told my...

Toni Paynter: I feel free

Toni Paynter: I feel free

I suffered a very severe emotional neglect as a child. In adulthood, I coped by being a workaholic - until the wheels came off the Toni machine. I was depressed, fatigued, anxious and had a relationship breakup. I was broke and I was homeless. I went to live at the...

Michelle Brooker: What took me so long?

Michelle Brooker: What took me so long?

I’m a 64 year old transgender woman who only came out 4 years ago. The pressing question I ask myself is what took me so long? My first memory of being female was when I was around 6 and dressed up in my mother’s dress and her shoes, wearing some lipstick and powder....

Brenda Appleton: Life really does begin at 50!

Brenda Appleton: Life really does begin at 50!

Like many trans and gender diverse people, I struggled to accept my gender identity being different to the sex assigned to me at birth. I was assigned male but from a young age, I knew I was different but was unable to discuss gender identity confusion in my somewhat...

Tina Healy: I am home. I belong. I am safe

I recall sitting in a meeting of a government consumer reference group, listening to a highly paid consultant convey a multi-layered policy document that ticked all the diversity boxes. Following thirty minutes of outcomes-based delivery, he called for questions....

Jill Bolen

Jill Bolen

  Adapted from an article Published in LOTL Magazine 1/12/2014 by Anneke Deutsch Jill Bolen has a dignified, imposing presence. She’s broad-shouldered, square jawed with a helmet of white hair.  She ... speaks with a broad, working class accent. Raised in Cairns...

100 Years of Love

100 Years of Love

Today we launched 100 Years of Love - a project celebrating the lives and loves of three lesbian couples living in Ballarat who have collectively been in relationship for almost 100 years. The first celebration involves Edie Mayhew and Anne Tudor (pictured - photo (c)...

Hold Hands on a Tram

Hold Hands on a Tram

Today we launched a beautiful new project recognising lesbian history and celebrating their stories of resistance. See our webpage for more details: https://alicesgarage.net/tram/  

Breast Screening

Breast Screening

The Beautiful Women Campaign continues to grow. In June BreastScreen Victoria hosted a screening session for lesbian and bisexual women at the Rose Clinic in Melbourne. All 12 mammogram spaces were booked and 25 women attended. Bree McAulley had her first mammogram at...

Elder abuse

  Catherine: Thanks to Matthew Wade from the Star Observer for a fantastic issue on LGBTI Elders. I was also delighted to be invited to be a guest editor and to write about LGBTI people's experiences of Elder Abuse. The piece I wrote included the story of Nancy,...

Queensland apology

  So heartwarming today to hear that the Queensland Government has apologised for past gay sex laws and put in place an expungement scheme. Well done to all involved....