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Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s spectacular new production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat arrived in Sydney last week.Image: SuppliedTold through song, with the help of The Narrator, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is the story of Jacob’s favourite son, Joseph and his 11 brothers. Joseph is sold into slavery by his brothers.

It was April 1968, and as an awkward young adult not long in the city from my rural upbringing, I was having an employment interview for a foot-in-the-door office job.I expected empathy from the young male interviewer as he also had a small-town upbringing.Eventually, he said I had the job, adding with a somewhat threatening tone, “You’re not a poofter, are you?” That ended any imagined empathy. He had carried his rural homophobic bias to the city and wasn’t afraid to use it. Back then, homosexuality was illegal and rarely spoken about. Gay men were never visible to straight society, and especially not to employers.

Sydney Catholic Schools’ production of School of Rock has left parents clutching their pearls at the show’s “adult themes,” forcing the school to apologise. The show, which took place at the Qudos Bank Arena, was billed as “extraordinary” and a “musical extravaganza” by Sydney Catholic Schools. A casting call video from earlier this year, featuring Sydney Catholic Schools Executive Director Tony Farley, teased, “Our School of Rock arena spectacular will be on a size and scale never seen before in our system of schools.“4000 performers from our 150 schools will perform this worldwide hit musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber, and be part of one of the largest musicals ever seen in the City of Sydney.”However, the “extravaganza” was overshadowed by an uproar from parents over a brief scene involving a same-sex couple, played by two male students. According to Sydney Morning Herald, Parents also complained about the language, disrespect for authority, and a scene where the children “prayed to the God of Rock.” The brief scene with a same-sex couple, however, was the transgression that really caused a stir. “Concerns have included language used in the show that is clearly unacceptable in a school or family setting, adult themes that are alluded to in the show which are in no way endorsed by Sydney Catholic Schools, and disrespect for authority that caused some concern.“Sydney Catholic Schools sincerely apologises and takes responsibility for any elements which caused offence and are undertaking a full review of all aspects of the production which will ensure that a situation such as this will not occur again.”School of Rock is the first time students from across the Sydney Catholic Schools system put on a show of this magnitude. ©

HIV organisations in Victoria have come together to identify key priorities for the next Parliament ahead of state elections in November 2022. Thorne Harbour Health, Living Positive Victoria, and Positive Women Victoria on Thursday released a document – HIV & AIDS Priorities – that has 38 recommended actions to improve the quality of life of people living with HIV and improve the state’s response to HIV. Simon Ruth, CEO, Thorne Harbour HealthThe first case of HIV/AIDS was reported in Australia more than 40 years ago. Since then there has been significant progress in HIV treatments, prevention and diagnosis.

A gay teenager has posted video footage of bullying in a viral TikTok, after finally being sick of staying ‘silent’ about the harassment he’s received at school. Trigger Warning: This story discusses bullying, which might be distressing to some readers. For 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention call Lifeline on 13 11 14. For Australia-wide LGBTQI peer support call QLife on 1800 184 527 or webchat.California high school student Landon Jones described his experiences of being bullied in a video that was posted to TikTok last month which included footage that was captured by him being targeted by bullies on two different occasions. “This is a little example of what’s going on in my life, and what’s been going on in my life.

John Oliver, host of the satirical TV news show Last Week Tonight, has gone viral for a pro-trans speech he made during his October 16 show.During the segment, Oliver discussed the fight for trans rights, with a focus on how conservatives have “truly lost their minds” about it. The host of the Emmy-winning series started by stating that over 100 anti-trans bills have been introduced in states across the United States, with 12 states signing them into law. Oliver went on to talk about the tactic used by conservatives to explain the rise in kids identifying as trans as “due to social contagion” or a “rapid onset gender dysphoria,” which Oliver said is, “total horseshit.”Oliver then pointed out that “there is ample evidence of gender variance throughout human history and as far back as historians have found evidence of trans people, they found trans children.   “And, to the extent that some young people are just exploring their gender identity, how exactly is that a bad thing? Who the fuck are they hurting?“Watching the conversation around this, it is hard not to feel like, to the extent that there is any social contagion here, it is among adults who have whipped themselves into such a frenzy that they can find themselves repeating some humiliating nonsense.”Holy shit pic.twitter.com/jAxYqytO8M— Ari Drennen (@AriDrennen) October 17, 2022Last Week Tonight with John Oliver airs Sunday nights and can be watched on Binge. © Star Observer 2022 | For the latest in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTIQ) news in Australia, be sure to visit

Dan Levy (Schitt’s Creek) is set to write, star in, and direct a new Queer film.The film, called Good Grief, will be released on Netflix and will also star Luke Evans (Beauty and the Beast). In a post to celebrating the news, Levy wrote, “Well, this is a g d dream come true!”Well, this is a g d dream come true! https://t.co/8Opw95bAVa pic.twitter.com/iULw34n6kM— dan levy (@danjlevy) October 17, 2022Evans posted to social media, writing, “What a dream team. So thrilled.”According to Netflix, Good Grief follows Marc Dreyfus (Levy) who, after losing his mother, decides to try and distract himself with a comfortable marriage.

Dan Levy (Schitt’s Creek) is set to write, star in, and direct a new Queer film.The film, called Good Grief, will be released on Netflix and will also star Luke Evans (Beauty and the Beast). In a post to celebrating the news, Levy wrote, “Well, this is a g d dream come true!”Well, this is a g d dream come true! https://t.co/8Opw95bAVa pic.twitter.com/iULw34n6kM— dan levy (@danjlevy) October 17, 2022Evans posted to social media, writing, “What a dream team. So thrilled.”According to Netflix, Good Grief follows Marc Dreyfus (Levy) who, after losing his mother, decides to try and distract himself with a comfortable marriage.

ABC Media Watch’s most recent episode has been criticised for platforming anti-trans talking points and targeting LGBTQI organisation ACON and its Pride in Diversity Program. The episode broadcast on Monday, October 17, claimed to be looking at the “relationship” between ABC and ACON, which runs the Australian Workplace Index Awards. “Can the ABC remain impartial when it partners with a lobby group and gets ranked in a competitive index?” the programme asked. The programme appeared to suggest that ABC’s coverage of LGBTQI issues, especially issues of the transgender community, was impacted by it participating in ACON’s Pride In Diversity initiative. Media Watch raised the issue of  independence of ABC‘s editorial coverage in  light of the fact that it participates in ACON’s AWEI program.

One of Australia’s oldest and longest running gay saunas, the Bay City Sauna located on Glen Huntly Road in the inner Melbourne suburb of Elsternwick, will close down at the end of December 2022.“We have been informed by our landlord that the construction of the slab may be compromised due to the age of the building,” Shane Gardiner, General Manager, WP van der Linden Pty Ltd, told Star Observer. Last week, the sauna had posted on social media that it was closing for maintenance from October 10, 2022.“Sadly it has come to the end of its life and the landlord has been concerned about the weight from all the equipment.

New Kids on the Block singer Jonathan Knight took to twitter late at night on October 11 to share a heartfelt message to his followers. October 11 was National Coming Out day. This day originated in 1988 to commemorate the Washington March for gay and lesbian rights.

Puerto Rico’s José Lopez was crowned Mr Gay World 2022  on Sunday, while second runner-up, Germany’s Max Appenroth, made history as the first trans finalist in the pageant. Tony Ardolino from the United States of America was named as  first runner up. Thirty-two year-old Lopez in a statement posted to social media after his win, said winning the title was an opportunity to be a “spokesperson and an ambassador” for the LGBTQI community.

Best known for his roles in Love, Simon and The Flash, Australian actor, dancer, and singer-songwriter Keiynan Lonsdale will be headlining and co-hosting Rainbow Republic, Sydney WorldPride 2023’s closing concert on March 5. While the release date for this new album is top secret, Lonsdale disclosed that the new album charts new personal ground. Reflecting on recently turning 30, he said, “I’m thinking about love differently, I’m thinking about identity differently. “My first album was all about coming out… really accessing this identity and exploration and this fight and yearning to be understood. “Now, I’ve just been a lot more settled into myself and just a lot more self-reflection. I feel more relaxed into myself and navigating life and love outside of the secrets, and travelling to different countries, and growing into myself more as a man and loving myself more as a man, and really solidifying my values.”Rainbow Republic marks Lonsdale’s return to hosting after a decade. The former MTV VJ, who interviewed celebrities and hosted parties and events, is relieved that he would not be doing it alone, with Melbourne-based non-binary singer-songwriter G Flip sharing hosting duty.Not only does Rainbow Republic promise to be the biggest audience of Lonsdale’s career, but it will also be his first-ever Mardi Gras.“I’ve always been away from the country and when I lived here I was too scared to go, to be completely candid with you,” he says. “It’s always been this thing that I’ve been looking forward to being able to access and enjoy.

Packed to the Rafters actor, Hugh Sheridan recently revealed that they were married to a fellow entertainment industry figure for the past nine years.Sheridan who uses they/them pronouns spoke on Jessica Rowe’s Big Talk Show and revealed the secret wedding took place on 11th July 2011. Despite not revealing the star, the pair managed to keep the nuptials on the down low for almost a decade.“I can’t say their name because they were in the same industry, so.

While WorldPride 2023 will transform Sydney into a brighter and more colourful city during Mardi Gras, it seems other surrounding cities and places across the Greater Sydney area will be joining in.Organisations across Greater Sydney such as the Scenic Skyway in Katoomba, the Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust have announced that free public artworks will be installed.The City of Sydney will also be joining in the floral wall idea with their own, which will include planter boxes and will use hundreds of different foliage and plants in rainbow colours.Lord Mayor Clover Moore expressed her joy at the project and helping to make the city vibrant during the biggest LGBTQ+ festival of the year.“A key feature of our Living Colour floral program will be a huge wall created with hundreds of plants and foliage in each colour of the gay pride flag.”“Complementing the project and our Living Colour program will be our iconic rainbow crossing at Taylor Square in the heart of Sydney’s LGBTQIA+ district.”Not wanting to be outdone, the Randwick Council is set to update its noteworthy 27m long walkway at Coogee Beach by adding colours of the Progress Flag.Mayor of Randwick, Councillor Dylan Parker is thrilled that the project will see the walkway updated to include “the progressive pride flag colours, as a show of support for diversity and inclusiveness.”The proposed update for Coogee Beach Rainbow Walkway.

In the first such report of its kind, Victoria’s Coroner said that over 200 LGBTQI Victorians have died by suicide in the past decade. Trigger Warning: This story discusses suicide, which might be distressing to some readers. For 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention call Lifeline on 13 11 14. For Australia-wide LGBTQI peer support call QLife on 1800 184 527 or webchat.The state’s coroner admitted that that the numbers are likely to be an “undercount” due to “issues with its ability to identify LGBTIQ+ people among deaths investigated by Victorian coroners”.Between 2012 and 2021, there were 208 deaths by suicide by LGBTQI persons, including 34 deaths – the most deaths during the 10 year period – that were recorded in 2014. The numbers also reflected what LGBTQI organisations have been saying for years, young LGBTQI people are the most vulnerable.

Queensland police organised a training, earlier this week, for its police officers to support LGBTQI victims. The training comes close on the heels of Queensland Police revealing that it was working with Brisbane Pride to issue an apology for its past treatment of the LGBTQI community. “We have sworn police, Police Liaison Officers and administration officers attending this course – all of whom are open to learning how they can better support people who identify as LGBTIQ+,” said LGBTI Liaison Program State Coordinator Sergeant Rodney Bell, Queensland Police Service (QPS) in a statement. Queensland Police trained 63 new personnel to support LGBTQI victims.

Jeremy Rockliff, the Premier and Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, last week announced the 2022-2023 implementation plan for the Tasmania’s mental health strategy.Trigger Warning: This story discusses mental health and suicide, which might be distressing to some readers. For 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention call Lifeline on 13 11 14. For Australia-wide LGBTQI peer support call QLife on 1800 184 527 or webchat.The “Rethink 2022-23 Implementation Program” identified LGBTQI Tasmanians as one of three priority groups they are aiming this strategy towards.

The glitter and glam of the Parramatta Pride Picnic returns next week, Saturday 22 October 2022.Brought to you by ACON, Parramatta Queer Forum, and Proud at Woolworths Group, this will be the Pride Picnic’s 14-year anniversary.Featuring activities for the whole family, The Parramatta Pride Picnic is an event that has assisted in fostering community pride amongst LGBTQI people in Parramatta.As western Sydney’s largest Pride event the Parramatta Pride Picnic promises to be “full of fun and pride.”   There will be community and corporate market stalls as well as all-day entertainment, drag performers, DJs, exhibitions, activations, food and drinks.According to organisers, Trolley’d, a mobile bar company will be there with their “life-size aviation theme’d bar.”Speed dating company CitySwoon, there will also be a “free, fun, flirty & fast pop-up matched speed dating event.”A spokesperson for Woolworths Group said, “As collaborating partner, we’re committed to inclusion and belonging and at Parramatta Pride Picnic we’ll have a family-friendly activation with face painting and more, ideal to glam it up before you can proudly hit our Runway Stage!”Community groups such as Harbour City Bears, Dykes on Bikes, WorldPride Sydney, Rainbow Families, and Bobby Goldsmith Foundation will also be in attendance. This will be the first Parramatta Pride Picnic since 2019 as COVID-19 restrictions caused the cancellation of the picnic in 2020 and 2021.Prior to 2020, the Parramatta Pride Picnic included many LGBTQI community organisations.

Part Time Ongoing Working in Public Health has never been more important or meaningful.About our Monash Health Gender Clinic The Monash Health Gender Clinic is a state-wide service that provides client-centred care for transgender and gender diverse people. The Gender Clinic comprises a specialist team of psychiatrists, psychologists, peer workers, research and administrative staff.Monash Health Gender Clinic has a number of newly funded positions available for peer workers and family/carer peer workers to provide services for clients experiencing gender incongruence. A day in the lifeThis permanent position for a Level 3 family/carer peer worker or peer worker will be based at the architecturally designed, purpose built Victorian Pride Centre in St Kilda, and is flexible from 0.4-0.8EFT. You will work within an established, friendly team environment, providing clients/family/carers as appropriate with peer support, and assisting with access to community services.

Award-winning movie and stage actor and gay icon, Angela Lansbury, has passed away at the age of 96, five days before her 97th birthday. She is best known for playing crime-solving mystery writer Jessica Fletcher in the crime mystery series Murder, She Wrote, for which she received 11 Emmy nominations.Lansbury also starred in numerous films such as The Portrait of Dorian Gray and The Manchurian Candidate, winning Golden Globes for both. In 1971 she starred in Disney’s Bedknobs and Broomsticks endearing herself to a generation of children. Lansbury’s breakout role came at the age of 19 when she acted in the psychological thriller, Gaslight, for which she received her first Oscar nomination.She made her Broadway debut in 1957 and over the course of her stage career was awarded five Tony Awards for roles in such plays as Mame and Blithe Spirit.  In 1945, Lansbury married actor Richard Cromwell. The marriage only lasted a year on the account of Cromwell being gay.In a 2017 interview with Radio Times, Lansbury recalled, “I had no idea that I was marrying a gay man,”“I found him such an attractive individual, a very glamorous person – he knew everybody, he was a friend of Joan Crawford’s, these people who I was fascinated by as a young actress.

Yarra Trams is inviting Victorians to have a say in its Pride Tram design. Set to be unveiled in mid-December at the tram’s home depot in Malvern, Victorians are able to choose from five designs that will wrap the Pride Tram till October 21.The five finalist designs for this #AllAboard tram contest are as follows:The artist behind Design One explained that the colours of the flag “represent us all, allowing us to be ourselves, inviting us, all aboard! The two hands move toward an embrace, representing the community helping each other, no matter who you are. The hands are gender and raceless, everyone is welcome aboard.”Design OneDesign Two’s creator stated that, “the unification of people has become part of our city’s identity and I hope my design encourages Melburnians to demonstrate the same acceptance in their lives, so that we can all travel with pride each day.”Design TwoDesign Three’s artist wanted to express “‘A new chapter for all of people’, that’s why I designed the “AllAboard Sunrise.” Design ThreeAccording to the artist behind Design Four.

Sydney WorldPride 2023 has announced the headliners for Rainbow Republic, including G Flip, Keiynan Lonsdale, Muna, as well as Peach PRC, Alter Boy, BVT and Vetta Borne.Image: SuppliedAustralian musician G Flip, who will be co-hosting with actor, dancer, and singer-songwriter Keiynan Lonsdale, is incredibly excited to be a part of the celebration, saying, “I’m from Melbourne and identify as non-binary so just the fact that WorldPride is in Australia is exciting. “I’m so honoured to be a part of celebrating Pride – it’s going to be epic!”Lonsdale (Love, Simon), exclaimed, “I can guarantee some magic is on its way for us in Sydney 2023. I cannot wait to be part of it.”Influencer and singer-songwriter Peach PRC says she is incredibly “honoured” to be part of WorldPride.“After being so welcomed into the queer community in the last year or so,” she said, “I’m so incredibly proud to be performing alongside some of my favourite people!”This is American indie alternative pop band MUNA’s Australian debut and they have said they are “super stoked,” to be playing WorldPride 2023.According to Sydney WorldPride CEO Kate Wickett said, “Rainbow Republic is for the young and young at heart, and is the biggest live music event at Sydney WorldPride.