Life Is A Disco

Interview with Anastasia Le, passionate intersectional advocate

Anastasia Le (she/her) is a passionate intersectional advocate. Her experience of being forcibly displaced, of being trans and CALD fuels her drive on various Equity and Equality Platforms. One of her recent projects for work is building pathways for exonerated/former incarcerated LGBTIQA+ access to inclusion and accessibility to social services to obtain and sustain meaningful employment. Her endeavour is to help the most neglected, the most invisible voices to be heard, help making them feel as part of a community. “Your intersectional experiences are not barriers. The perceived barriers are systemic, social, political, and personal. As long as you can remember that, shall you gain more strength, more drive in life to make it work for yourself and others”. In this podcast, Anastasia shares her thoughts about labels (3:20), navigating pagan spirituality and reclaiming trans inclusion in our history (10:25), her work translating words for our community into non-English languages (20:15), about work in employment of LGBTIQ (29.10), what do we look for in leadership in employment of LGBTIQ people (34:50), public safety for LGBTIQ in the western suburbs (37:18), baking, maths and taming the wild (42:50). You can find Anastasia through various projects, from Transfemme with Zoe Belle Gender Collective, Public Safety Plan in the west with local city councils, to Employment Outcome Improvement with various Victorian LGBTIQA+ community organisations, supporting LGBTIQA+ youth with surviving skills such as cooking and food preservation.

Commissioner Dr Judy Tang talks LGBTIQ and the Victorian Multicultural Commission

Commissioner Dr Judy Tang is a passionate advocate for multiculturalism and the LGBTIQA+ community. Judy has dedicated over 10 years to volunteering and promoting equality for migrants. Judy now practices as a Clinical Neuropsychologist while serving on the Board of Directors at Victorian Pride Centre and holding one of Victoria’s 12 positions as a Multicultural Commissioner at the Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC). Commissioner Dr Tang talks about her role as a Victorian Multicultural Commissioner (6:28), the VMC report (see link below) celebrating its first 40 years (8:12), what stage multicultural communities are currently in accepting LGBTIQ (13:44), supporting multiculturalism even when they don’t accept us (16.17), navigating being multicultural and LGBTIQ through advocacy (22:40), leadership across our communities (28:37), what she cherishes about her Chinese background (34:55), and her sport of choice weightlifting (39:07). VMC report [https://www.multiculturalcommission.vic.gov.au/vmc-40-year-anniversary-research-report] Australian GLBTIQ Multicultural Council [http://www.agmc.org.au]

Sasja Sydek an Indigenous Singaporean trans woman and passionate advocate for the transgender community

Demetra Giannakopoulos interviews the wonderful Sasja Sydek about identity, spirituality and an extraordinary life. Sasja Sÿdek, an indigenous Singaporean trans woman of colour based in Narrm/Melbourne, is a passionate activist and advocate for the transgender community. She encourages others to break free from societal and gender expectations to live authentically. With a primary focus on ending violence against trans women, Sasja has also made significant contributions to the book “Nothing To Hide – Voices of Trans & Gender Diverse of Australia” and leads the organisation Trans Sisters United. Sasja shares with us her warrior spirit of living her true self (5:30), forming Trans Sisters United after being inspired by the documentary (8:05), creative safe space to celebrate Ramadan And share Ifta (14:40), reclaiming her faith and what she values most about being muslim (17:27), navigating your faith and being trans (22:30), debating the nationality of the Pav (26:10), what leaders should teach their communities to welcome the rainbow community (29:10), 32:48 surprises encountered Sasja transitioned (32:48), her 36:28 favourity music (36:28) and fandom for Novak Djokovic (38:10).

Interview with Dannii Karametos

Demetra Giannakopoulos interviews Dannii Karametos about life, gender identity and all things Greek.

Interview: Craig Brown about faith and being a capital G

Craig Brown came out 2.5 years ago in the traditional manner: watching Schitt’s Creek. He used to be a church minister, was married and is still a proud dad of three adult kids. He occasionally reads the news on Joy. Craig shares with us the moment he realised he was gay thanks to @schittscreek (3:45), being authentic and to know [thy]self (9:22), surprises when he came out to his church (15:15), a shout out to the Queer Theology podcast [https://www.queertheology.com/listen/] (21:57), a story from the Bible with a rainbow lens (38:05), keeping a keen eye on the AFL, including the scores (41:00).