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Self-described as a ‘bubbly bookish bisexual”, Rhiannon Wilde is deeply interested in championing queer stories and believes that being queer underpins her way of viewing the world, the stories she thinks of and the characters that pop into her head when she writes. When it comes to her writing practice, the themes that she enjoys exploring often stem from a “questioning of the self” and the “defining moments that lead up to and come from it.”She describes her latest novel, Where You Left Us, as one that brings her a lot of joy, where she’s able to approach both mental health and queer relationships by including a character with anxiety and exploring a budding romance that occurs between two bisexual girls. In its earliest forms, Where You Left Us was written as a single perspective from one character before Wilde developed a dynamic between two sisters in the novel and wanted to shed light on the individual journeys that they had. ‘Where You Left Us’ by Rhiannon Wilde. Image: SuppliedShe states that connections between people informs the heart of her work, “be it sisters or first loves or new relationships or very best friends”, and that queerness filters through everything she writes and attaches herself to. Wilde describes Where You Left Us as a “gothic Wuthering-Heights-meets-Evermore” that focuses on the two Prince sisters (Scarlett and Cinnamon), two romantic interests, one family mystery on a cliff by the sea.

A federal judge from Texas, Judge Reed O’Connor has made a shocking ruling, stating that the inclusion of the HIV treatment was a violation of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.This comes after companies Braidwood Management and Kelley Orthodontics brought the case to the US District Court. The companies were represented by Johnathan Mitchell, a man infamously known for his anti-abortion behaviour.The companies filed the lawsuit, stating that PrEP’s coverage in the Affordable Care Healthcare Act (ACA) forced religious companies with anti-LGBTQ+ to finance and help “homosexual behaviour.”Their argument was that including the PrEP treatment “forces religious employers to provide coverage for drugs that facilitate and encourage homosexual behaviour… prostitution, sexual promiscuity, and intravenous drug use.”With Judge O’Connor’s ruling, neither of the companies is required to cover PrEP costs for their employers.

This week in Queer Melbourne we have a platter of delicious options. Enjoy your fix of culture with intergenerational queer bonding, speed dating, theatre, burlesque and more.One Friday every month, the Motley Bauhaus is taken over by the campy, glitter streaked performers of the Melbourne burlesque scene. This month you’ll have the pleasure of watching Evana de Lune, SHAM, Celia Bow, Whiskey Falls and Zaphyer Enfield.

While video games have come a long way from the usual heterosexual, cis-gendered characters or storylines, very few have taken a step further into the LGBTQI territory. However, a new video game from a Melbourne-based company, Up Multimedia, along with support from the Victorian state government and Film Victoria Australia, does just that.The Beat: A Glam Noir Game is an investigative thriller game where you take on the role of a gay cop still in the closet who has to investigate a murder that’s happened in an unnamed city’s gay scene.Game developer, Luke Miller went into detail behind some of the game’s iconic locations, like the laundrette and Black Rock Beach.“In the 1980s there was a ground-breaking gay film from the UK called ‘My Beautiful Laundrette’.

Web Weaver, the new gay Spider-Man, will make their highly anticipated debut in October and Marvel Comics has released more details on how the newest member of the Marvel Universe gets their powers, as well as visuals of their fabulous crime-fighting costume.The character will make their debut in Edge of Spider-Verse #5, the concluding instalment of the five-part series.In the comic, created by out writer Steve Foxe, and artist Kei Zama, Web-Weaver is introduced as a “not-so-mild mannered fashion designer at Van Dyne [who] gets spider-powers and shows us a very different kind of Spider-Slayer.” “Web-Weaver is *not* Peter Parker–he’s a brand-new hero in the classic Spider-hero archetype,” tweeted Foxe on Friday. “And I promise you don’t need a degree in fashion to follow his exploits.

An anti-suicide crisis hotline for young LGBTQI members in the United States, the Trevor Project, was hit by a malicious trolling campaign recently.Trigger Warning: This story discusses suicide and contains slurs against the LGBTQ+ community, 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 trolls, a term used to describe those who post inflammatory, aggressive, insincere, and extreme topics on social media, were users from the far-right website 4chan.A spokesperson for the Trevor Project, Kevin Wong had told Buzzfeed News that its helpline was flooded with fake cries for help and other trolling, which led to an increase in wait time for those in genuine need of help.“They inundated our crisis services — the crisis services that are meant for LGBTQ young people to connect with a trained counsellor so that they can talk through some of the stuff and get support through some of the things that they’re finding challenging,” Wong said.“It’s appalling — that’s the word I would use — that anyone would want to stop someone from finding services to prevent them from attempting suicide.”Dubbed Operation Gomorrah, a reference to the bombing of Hamburg during World War II, the coordinated attack originated on a 4chan message board where users were directed to use the Trevor Project’s digital chat or text support and “make up some bullshit.”“Fuck up the queue so sodomites and fags commit suicide due to being unable to receive assistance,” one message on the board read.Senior Researcher from Media Matters, Alex Kaplan had taken screenshots of the 4chan forum where trolls discussed

You could have heard a pin drop during the gala opening night of Opera Australia’s production of The Phantom of the Opera August 26 at the Joan Sutherland Theatre at the Sydney Opera House. The audience was packed with celebrity Sydneysiders in bow ties and gowns but the real stars of the evening were Josh Piterman, Amy Manford, and Blake Bowden.This trio of truly gifted performers, surrounded by a stunning supporting cast and orchestra, powerfully delivered the musical’s signature songs, Music of the Night, Think of Me, All I Ask of You, the awesomely beautiful Masquerade, and of course the main title song, with vitality and power.This new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s mega-musical adaptation of Gaston Leroux’s novel, overseen by producer Cameron Mackintosh, and director Seth Sklar-Heyn is simply superb on every level.While the story of an obsessive and dangerous love in 19th-century Paris is now familiar to many, it’s the exquisite attention to detail which delivers the magic to this new staging.The  27-piece orchestra under the musical supervision of Guy Simpson is phenomenal, and the production is elevated even further by truly glorious stagecraft. The Phantom of the OperaThe lush costuming by Jill Parker, recreating the original designs of the late Tony award-winning Maria Bjornson is stunning, and the hair and wig design by Angela Cobbin is perfection.The lighting design by Tony Award winner Paule Constable and the sound design by Mick Potter is also extraordinary, with some terrific video and projection design by Nina Dunn.There is also a wonderful use of pyrotechnics throughout the show and of course the thrilling and iconic moment when the chandelier falls towards the heads of the audience still inspires

Social media has become a new platform for the public to learn more and understand the HIV virus, thanks to a Knowledge Translation (KT) project.While Monkeypox has dominated the headlines in recent weeks, the original virus that had a deep impact on the LGBTQ+ community, HIV, hasn’t stepped to the sidelines. And with the lack of media attention on the subject, many can be left uninformed about HIV and not understand the medical jargon.Thankfully, the Australian HIV Community have taken advantage of TikTok’s popularity to create videos, memes and more to help Australians better understand the complex research and nature of HIV, whether they have it or not.The quick, simple, and easy information is being produced by HIV community advocates such as Beau Newham, Heather Ellis and Anthony McCarthy.

One of Sydney’s top creative artists, Markham Lane has passed away. His passing was announced via social media yesterday as various organisations have shared their grief and condolences to the family.Markham Images, the portfolio of Lane’s creative work, showcases his amazing and creative work.

Be it arriving international talent or getting to know your community better, here’s just some of the events you can check out in Sydney throughout the weekend. Hot off of making history as the first drag queen to headline Wembley Stadium in 2019, Bianca del Rio is back on Australian shores with her style of rude, crude humour in Unsanitized, her first comedy tour of the post-lockdown era. Hosted at the State Theatre over two days, the Drag Race season 6 winner is sure to offend and self-deprecate in a way only she knows how.

Be it arriving international talent or getting to know your community better, here’s just some of the events you can check out in Sydney throughout the weekend. Hot off of making history as the first drag queen to headline Wembley Stadium in 2019, Bianca del Rio is back on Australian shores with her style of rude, crude humour in Unsanitized, her first comedy tour of the post-lockdown era. Hosted at the State Theatre over two days, the Drag Race season 6 winner is sure to offend and self-deprecate in a way only she knows how.

A 76-year-old Melbourne man, who was arrested last year, for the suspected “gay hate” murder of Raymond Keam in a Sydney Park in 1987, was granted bail on a $1 million surety.Trigger Warning: This story discusses a gay hate crime, 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.Keam’s murder was among the spate of targeted killings of gay men and trans persons in Sydney and NSW between 1970 and 2010.

The Daniel Andrews-led Labor government in Victoria is promising its new law reforms will “change the way sexual violence is dealt with” in the state with no room for “inexcusable behaviour”.Victoria has passed the Justice Legislation Amendment (Sexual Offences and Other Matters) Bill 2022, that includes an affirmative consent model and bans “stealthing”.Stealthing is the act of not using, removing or tampering of a condom, without the other person’s consent. The new law comes into effect making stealthing a crime now in Victoria.

Sebastian Prokop, the man who told police “I don’t like gays” has been sentenced to five years in jail following the arson attack on a popular LGBTQI bar Envy Nightclub in Derry, Northern Ireland in 2020.The 24-year-old man from Crawford Square, Derry also faces deportation from Northern Ireland to his homeland, Poland as a result of the sentence. He will serve half of his five-year sentence in custody and the rest on license.The jury found Prokop unanimously guilty for the destruction of the Envy Nightclub on Strand Road.

Kyle Sandilands has defended his Monkeypox comments he made on air last Tuesday and denied he accusations of  homophobia.While Sandilands is no stranger to controversy his comments when he described Monkeypox on the Kyle and Jackie O Show as the “big gay disease floating around”, has invited censure even from Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton.“Please remind me – what’s the point of Kyle Sandilands? If you can’t say something constructive, maybe keep quiet?,” posted Sutton.Please remind me – what’s the point of Kyle Sandilands? If you can’t say something constructive, maybe keep quiet?— Chief Health Officer, Victoria (@VictorianCHO) August 28, 2022The controversy erupted after Sandilands requested fellow host Jackie O to be vaccinated against whooping cough prior to meeting his newborn son Otto. The topic of Monkeypox then came about after Newsreader Brooklyn Ross asked Sandilands if he needed to have the Monkeypox vaccine.“What about me, do I need the Monkeypox vaccine?” Ross asked.

Inspired by true events and based on the 2005 film by the same name, the original Broadway production of this musical garnered six Tony awards including Best Musical, Best Actor and Best Score for Cyndi Lauper who wrote the words and music.Kinky Boots centres on a family-owned shoe business in the UK which is financially in trouble. The son who has taken over the business is persuaded by Lola, a drag queen, to have the factory produce a new line of shoes which would hopefully appeal to beautiful drag queens.“This Packemin production has a lot of glitz and glam.

Ahead of the state elections in Victoria in November, Victorian Greens have committed to stronger protections for the LGBTQI communities and a $200 million Rainbow State Fund.“We should all feel safe and have equal opportunities in life, no matter our sexuality, gender identity or sex characteristics. Yet here in Victoria lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer and asexual people continue to face discrimination across multiple areas of their lives,” Victorian Greens LGBTIQA+ spokesperson, Sam Hibbins MP said in a statement.The party launched their ‘Rainbow State Action Plan for Victoria’ on Friday August 26, 2022, at the Victorian pride Centre.The Greens cited to their vote in the Victorian Parliament to pass the government’s LGBTQI law reforms “to protect students and teachers at faith-based schools, for birth certificate reform and for an end to so-called conversion practices.”“But we know there’s much more that needs to be done.

After a sparkling Sydney debut at Cargo Bar in June last year, popular Melbourne based event, Sundaylicious will return for an encore this September with a great line up of DJs and entertainment, delicious cocktails and an unbeatable view. Cargo Bar will once again host the afternoon-into-evening LGBTQIA+ soiree/chillout/party. The spacious, waterside venue in Darling Harbour offers lots of room to breath, move, and dance and is very easy to get to – and kick on from (Monday, be damned!).   Sundaylicious was created in Melbourne by Julie Mackenzie thirteen years ago.

Peruvian trans activist Rodrigo Ventocilla has died in police custody in Bali after being arrested at Denpasar airport. Ventocilla was a Harvard Kennedy School student from Peru and was known as a prominent trans rights activist.The trans activist was detained on August 6 after local police found ‘suspicious items’ in his luggage while going through customs, as reported by the BBC.

Jacksonville State footballer Jack Dawson was arrested on multiple counts of assault against a former teammate Troy Municipal Court Supervision Officer David Hennigan confirmed to the Montgomery Advertiser on Monday. In a federal lawsuit which was obtained and publicised by Jacksonville’s CBS 42, ex-teammate John Haynes has alleged he was attacked because Dawson and fellow teammates thought he was gay. The assault ranged from verbal attacks to forced sodomy with a pool cue. Dawson turned himself into authorities in Troy (Alabama), on Monday and was released on bond. Criminal warrants for Dawson’s arrest were issued last October.

Two Australian rules football players from a suburban Melbourne club are in trouble after mobile video footage emerged of them performing a sex act in the middle of a crowded pub.The incident has led to the Glen Waverly Football Netball Club promising action against the two players and the other team members involved in the alleged incident.“The Committee has been made aware of an incident which has occurred during the post season celebrations of some of our senior playing group,” the Glen Waverly Football Netball Club committee said in a statement. The incident reportedly occurred on Sunday August 14 after the club’s final game of Eastern League’s Division 3 season, where they finished last and were demoted to Division 4.The last place did not dampen the spirit of the players as they celebrated at a bar, with other patrons present. The Daily Mail reported that the raucous group indulged in some heavy drinking, smashed glasses inside and outside the pub, vaped indoors, stole drinks from the bar, danced on tables and trashed the venue property.

From comedy to kink and quiet contemplation, Melbourne has got it all! Welcome to our pick of queer events that you can check out this week in Melbourne. Image: Pride Of Footscray BarIf there’s one thing us queers know how to do, it’s laugh. With Geraldine Hickey to MC, check out the best of Melbourne’s up and coming queer comedic talent at this classic LGBTQIA+ friendly venue, ‘Pride of Our Footscray’.