News
Trans youth advocate Georgie Stone gets a guest spot on ‘Neighbours’
Trans youth advocate Georgie Stone has signed on for a guest role on long-running TV soap Neighbours as a transgender character. The 18-year-old told the Daily Telegraph she scored the gig after pitching herself for the role to executive producer Jason Herbison last year. She said she was thrilled to receive a reply back from …
Queensland Police LGBTI Liaison Officers in Brisbane now available 24/7
Queensland Police Service (QPS) LGBTI Liaison Officers in the Brisbane policing region have launched a new service allowing community members to contact them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. As part of the QPS’ LGBTI Liaison Program, a number of personnel are dedicated liaison officers, able to provide support and assistance to LGBTI …
Sydney man who contracted HIV while taking PrEP opens up about diagnosis
A Sydney man has become the second gay Australian to contract HIV while taking prevention medication PrEP. Steve Spencer returned a positive diagnosis in December during one of his regular sexual health tests, a requirement for people taking the pre-exposure prophylaxis pills. “It was a surprise and a shock,” the 27-year-old told ABC News. “I …
Melbourne man avoids jail for extorting money from engaged Grindr user
A Melbourne man has avoided jail time after he blackmailed and extorted money from an engaged Grindr user he threatened to “out” to his fiancee. On Friday, Timothy Ruge was ordered to serve a 24-month community corrections order and complete 220 hours of unpaid community work by a Victorian County Court judge, 9 News reported. …
Gay ‘conversion therapy’ survivor wants new TV doco to challenge church views
Gay conversion therapy survivor Chris Csabs wants his appearance on upcoming SBS documentary Christians Like Us to spark conversation. The new two-part “social experiment” sees ten Australian Christians with vastly different beliefs live under the same roof for a week to confront controversial topics ranging from clerical sexual abuse and abortion to conversion therapy and …
Brisbane mum RJ Miles on marriage, parenthood and defying the doubters
One of the great delights of editing an LGBTIQ magazine is exposure to many of the wonderful and varied voices that comprise our communities. Regular QN Magazine contributor RJ Miles (pictured) — lesbian, wife, mother, author and educator — is one of those voices. What drove your passion for teaching? In 2009, I was 19 …
Brisbane vigil this Friday for victims of Christchurch terror attack
All Brisbane residents have been invited to come together this Friday for a memorial service to honour the victims of last week’s terror attack in Christchurch. Brisbane Deputy Mayor Adrian Schrinner announced a vigil for the victims of the shooting would be held at King George Square, outside Brisbane City Hall, from 5pm this Friday …
Domestic and family violence: Not now, not ever, not anyone
Domestic and family violence affects all communities including transgender people and, just as it affects all people, the laws regarding domestic and family violence in Queensland, protect all people. Domestic and family violence is about power and control. It can involve physical, sexual, emotional and psychological abuse. The abuse need not be physical. Crissie* was …
Opponents of Tasmania transgender law reform slammed for ‘fearmongering’
A group named the Tasmanian Coalition for Kids fighting the progression of legislation to benefit Tasmania’s transgender and gender diverse community has been accused of fearmongering ahead of this week’s Upper House debate on the laws. The Tasmanian Coalition for Kids is made up of the Catholic Archdiocese of Hobart, the Catholic Women’s League, members …
Gay Tasmanian man denied next of kin rights crowdfunds for legal fight
A gay man is crowdfunding to take the Tasmanian Government to court over discrimination he experienced after the death of his partner. Ben Jago’s partner of five years, Nathan Lunson, died by suicide in January 2015, and at the time Jago was told by Tasmania Police and the coroner’s office that he would not be …