lgbitq+

Alfie Arcuri realized he was gay at age eleven, he came out to his family at age twenty

 four and then came out again on national television at twenty six. His fear of coming out was once so great he prepared himself for the reality that his Italian catholic family may not accept him at all. He was working as an architect and felt he couldn’t even sing until he came out of the closet.

Three years later and Alfie found his voice and went on to became a household name in 2016 when he was crowded the season five winner of The Voice Australia. A win he shared with his TV coach and mentor, Delta Goodrem. His heart felt covers of Zayne’s ‘Pillowtalk’, Sam Smith ‘Lay Me down’ and ‘Alive’ by Sia cemented his place as a fan favourite both with teenage girls and gay men.

Alfie went on to sign a worldwide deal with Universal Music and his debut album ‘Zenith’ peaked at #5 on the ARIA music charts. The following year Alfie released his most personal song ‘If they only knew’ about having to hide his relationship with his boyfriend from others. His follow up single ‘Love Is Love’ became a gay anthem during the time of Australia’s marriage equality campaign.

In 2019 Alfie was back on TV screens, first as a top five contender to represent Australia at the Eurovision Song Contest and in 2020 Alfie co-wrote the song ‘Running’ for the Cypriot Eurovision entry. He returned to the world stage again in 2023 to represent San Marino and proudly qualified for the final. 

In his spare time Alfie loves to travel, cook, preform at gay pride events and spend time with his French Bulldogs Susie and Gary. He also returned to the pop charts with a new sound and five new tracks on his EP, Love Is A Dangerous Drug including an infectious dance track ‘Devil’s Lips’ and a sultry cover of Cyndi Lauper’s hit ‘I Drove All Night’.

Chris Lani McAllister is the Co-host and producer and comedian of regular Sydney event Queers of Joy ,which provides a platform for trans and gender-diverse performers. Chris who identifies as non-binary and believes gender to be an expression, not just something assigned at birth. Chris is dedicated in showing the world a positive side to the transgender community through fun laughter and enjoyment!

Reece Carter is an Australian fantasy author who’s debut book, A Girl Called Corpse was first published in Australia and then internationally in the UK, Italy, Spain & Norway. It has gone on to become a beloved and bestselling children’s novel. Since then Reece allowed his imagination to run wild yet again to release his spooky follow up book, The Lonely Lighthouse of Elston-Fright.

 Reece was raised in rural Western Australia and began writing short stories whilst in High School. He now resides in Sydney with his flat haired retriever, Hagrid who was inspiration for a character in his books.    

love for stories especially those filled with whimsy, magic, and a little bit of weirdness began as a child growing up in rural Western Australia. There was an unfortunate lack of witches and ghosts on his family farm, and so Reece had to find them in books instead.

It wasn’t until high school though that Reece thought to try his hand at writing his own stories. He loved it, and never looked back.

Reece now lives in Sydney. When not reading or writing, he can usually be found talking to his dog, Hagrid, and hoping that one of these days Hagrid might decide to talk back.

Danielle Laidley is the most prominent transgender person in Australia  AKA Dean Laidley who played 151 games for West Coast Eagles and North Melbourne football clubs, winning an AFL premiership with the Kangaroos in 1996. She became one of the youngest senior coaches ever at 36, coaching North Melbourne for 149 games across seven seasons.

Her amazing career and personal life were never what they seemed on the surface. Danielle faced a private and lifelong battle with gender dysphoria and that constant struggle with her identity had led to legal troubles and addiction issues.

Her transition was publicly exposed without her consent by the St Kilda police when photos were taken and sadly distributed publicly, but this was just the start of her incredible journey.

Danielle’s captivating life story is now a documentary, Two Tribes is now streaming on Stan or you can read all about it, in her revealing memoir Don’t look away.         
                                                                                                                                           

Bill Rossi is a successful entrepreneur and business leader and a proud advocate, a partner of twenty - two years and a father of twin daughters. Named Crain’s Notable LGBTQ+ Exec for three consecutive years Bill was consistently seeking ways to stand out and make a difference in the community.  He stands for diversity in the workplace and actively fights for equality and inclusion.

 Bill’s personal and professional journey has been marked by significant achievements and challenges. This has inspired him to lend his leadership and voice to support others and incite meaningful conversation about issues that affect the LGBTQ+ community, especially young people who face the challenges he once faced. 

Shannon Molloy is an award-winning journalist and author with more than a decade of experience working for major media outlets spanning print, digital and publishing. Shannon is the 2020 recipient of Journalist of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.

His debut book Fourteen, a memoir about growing up gay in regional Queensland, is a critically acclaimed bestseller that is now being adapted for the screen. Fourteen is this generation’s Holding the Man – a moving coming-of-age story.

Shannon also contributes to various charity organisations, including as convenor of the annual Clare Atkinson Memorial Scholarship for journalism at The University of Queensland.

Fourteen is showing at QPAC Brisbane.  Grab tickets now - they’re selling fast! https://qpac.com.au/event/bf_shake_stir_fourteen_22/

Fourteen the book now available @ Darlinghurst bookshop 15% off limited time.

httphttps://www.thebookshop.com.au/books/gay-men/life-stories/memoirs/fourteen/

Shannon Molloy @ http://www.shannonmolloy.com/

If this story has raise any questions for you, please remember help is available 24/7 anonymous and free peer support service for people wanting to talk about sexuality, gender, bodies and all sorts of queer stuff.   www.qlife.org.au

As Sydney’s only Lebanese, lesbian, ex-Jehovah’s Witness, comedian, Naomi Mourra grew up as a door-knocking Jehovah’s Witness and closeted lesbian to Lebanese parents in the 1980s in Cabramatta, Sydney, Australia.

 Naomi is your gateway woman to chicks, chickpeas, cults and culture.

 Her solo shows, An Open Book, debuted in 2018.

An Open Book, Naomi explores her own anecdotes as well as some of the Biblical stories you may (or may not) know and what lessons our modern world can learn from them. Like why you shouldn’t turn around, why seeds must never be spilled and why it’s really important to be articulate in a registry office.

She’s been around the block a few times and knows that when opportunity comes knocking, sometimes it’s best to pretend you’re not home and that for every door that closes another also closes.

“Laughed out loud! It was like someone holding up a mirror - which they so rarely do!” - God

Naomi who has performed in London and Sydney. She is the co-founder and co-producer of What She Said, the only weekly all women's comedy night in Sydney. She is also in the improv troupe Shut Up Darryl, and has performed at The Factory Theatre and the Belvoir. She has trained at LMA and Second City Chicago.

Naomi NEXT show Work Hacks From The Holy Book is at the Factory Theatre, Marrickville part of the Sydney Fringe Comedy Festival 2022.

Dates are Wednesday 14 and Friday 16 September 2022 @7pm

Buy tickets from https://aucentury.sales.ticketsearch.com/sales/salesevent/76531

https://www.instagram.com/naomimourra/

1.     I Want You (Dustin Zahn Monolith Remix)     6:15     Citizen Kain, Phuture Traxx    

2.     Rainbow Bridge (Original Mix)           3:57     Mark Broom    

3.     Axioma (Original Mix) 6:41     Christian Hornbostel   

4.     Ritual (Original Mix)    7:01     Pleasurekraft  

5.     Giant Peach (Original Mix)      5:45     Anna Unusyan

6.     Arkenstone (Original Mix)      6:45     Cosmic Boys    

7.     Space Date (Pleasurekraft Remix)      9:09     Layton Giordani, Green Velvet, Adam Beyer

8.     The Greatest Question (Original Mix) 6:51     Belocca           

9.  Graphit (Original Mix) 5:51     F-Rontal          

10.  Don't Look Back (Original Mix)           6:15     Lilly Palmer     

11.  Together One Time (Original Mix)      6:57     Kaiserdisco      

12.  Cryptic Speech (Original Mix) 5:55     UMEK  

13.  Entropy (Spartaque Remix)    7:04     Joyhauser        

Andrew Mercado has been named one of TV’s most significant commentators while The Sunday Telegraph describes him as a walking TV encyclopedia.

Andrew Mercado developed a love of TV and movies early on in his youth while spending every Saturday night hanging out with the projectionist at his local suburban picture theatre. His first job in television was a Village Roadshow Movie World Studios as Location Manager for the series Paradise Beach. Following this, he became the Unit Publicist for such TV shows as The New Adventures of Flipper and Pacific Drive. Shortly after becoming the publicist at Foxtel music station Channel [V], he was moved into an on-air role.

Andrew Mercado is now fondly remembered by a generation of music fans as Super Mercado after becoming Channel [V]’s inaugural entertainment reporter in 1998. Later, he became the first VJ on sister channel Music Max. Whilst he would work simultaneously on both stations, eventually he crossed over to Max full time to create, produce and host the panel show The Know.

Over the years he has interviewed such A-listers as Robbie Williams, but he also has loved meeting Aussie TV legends through his work as a TV Historian for the National Film and Sound Archive. Andrew also released a top selling  book call Super Aussie Soaps: Behind the Scenes of Australia's Best Loved TV Shows, available now from Booktopia https://www.booktopia.com.au/super-aussie-soaps-behind-the-scenes-of-australia-s-best-loved-tv-shows-andrew-mercado/book/9781864031911.html Andrew newest passion project he is working on call outrageous, a documentary taking a walk back in  time when Australian TV once led the world with diversity and queer representation on screen. Fine out more at https://documentaryaustralia.com.au/project/outrageous-the-history-of-aussie-queer-tv/

Reformed Mormon missionary Brad Harker speaks his truth about his religious upbringing, the struggle to come out at 42, fighting for marriage equality and finding love and acceptance within the community.