VIC
Neighbours help man paint his rainbow house after homophobic death threats
A gay man living on Phillip Island in Victoria has thanked dozens of locals who helped him defy homophobic trolls and paint his house in rainbow colours. Mykey O’Halloran (pictured), a professional hair artist, moved in to his bungalow on the island in February. However just a month later, a group of neighbours who heard …
Victorian man gets death threats from neighbour over ‘rainbow house’
A man who recently moved to Victoria’s Phillip Island has been left shaken but defiant after neighbours allegedly hurled homophobic slurs and death threats over his plans to paint his house in rainbow colours. Mykey O’Halloran, a professional hair artist, (pictured) moved in to the bungalow on Phillip Island in February. However on Tuesday night …
Fifty years ago, lesbian couple Phyllis and Francesca came out on Aussie TV
Phyllis Papps and Francesca Curtis are many things. Researchers. Writers. Ultra-feminists. Partners. They’re also the first lesbian couple to come out on Australian television, fifty years ago. The two women appeared together on ABC current affairs program This Day Tonight in October 1970. Over five decades later, Phyllis and Francesca are still together and live …
Melbourne gay couple’s 1920s romance celebrated, a century on
This year marks 40 years since Victoria decriminalised homosexuality in the state. To mark the occasion, the Australian Queer Archives has released an amazing report listing 100 icons of the state’s LGBTIQ+ history. The report, A History of LGBTIQ Victoria in 100 Places and Objects, covers queer people, places, objects and stories of significance to …
One in three queer Victorians harassed in public in the last 12 months
The Victorian Pride Lobby and multicultural community leaders have welcomed moves to strengthen anti-vilification laws as they warn of an increase in prejudice and hate crime. A Victorian Parliamentary inquiry into anti-vilification laws gave its recommendations to government this week. The inquiry recommends the state government ban on Nazi symbols and Germany’s Third Reich insignia …
University of Melbourne academics slam colleague’s transphobic website
University of Melbourne academics have called for the removal of a colleague’s website inviting anonymous submissions of encounters with transgender women. Earlier this week, lecturer Holly Lawford-Smith created the website, NoConflictTheySaid.org. She wrote that the site is in response to birth certificate legislation around Australia benefiting trans people that “replaces sex with gender identity”. The …
Victoria passes ‘life-saving’ legislation to outlaw harmful ‘conversion therapy’
Survivors of so-called “conversion therapy” have applauded the Victorian parliament for passing a “world-leading” bill to outlaw the practices. The new legislation makes it illegal to try and change or suppress a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity in Victoria. Under the reforms, any person who seriously harms another with the practices could face up …
Aussie gay club blasts Lady Gaga’s Chromatica and the whole world is jealous
Footage of a packed Melbourne gay nightclub blasting Lady Gaga’s Chromatica has gone viral, sparking jealousy and anguish online among fans stuck in COVID-19 lockdowns overseas. Victorian Twitter user Matt posted the footage of Lady Gaga’s “Chromatica II” transitioning into “911” at Poof Doof, the Melbourne queer club night, on Monday night ahead of the …
Tributes for Bridget Flack after discovery of unidentified body
Friends, admirers and sympathisers took to social media to post tributes for Bridget Flack. The search for Bridget ended yesterday after the discovery of an unidentified body in Melbourne’s east. Victoria Police issued a statement following the discovery of the body. “Police will prepare a report for the Coroner following the discovery of a woman’s …
Family appeal in search for missing Melbourne woman Bridget Flack
The sister of Bridget Flack, a Melbourne woman who has been missing for 10 days, say her disappearance is “incredibly uncharacteristic” as she joined police in appealing to the public for information. Victoria Police have renewed calls for public assistance in the search for the 28-year-old (pictured). Bridget was last seen at about 10.30am on …