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Mental health issues are really important and everyone should learn about them, but Queers especially.  This is because as a Queer person you are more likely to experience depression and anxiety related disorders and it can be more severe and linger longer than your heterosexual counterparts.  This would suggest that there are significant environmental factors that link to the critical nature of mental health.  Clinton Voss started off the plenary with his experience working with the YMCA and Street Syde Crisis Accomodation and information pertaining to some of the recent developments in mental health research and resources for queer people.

Not long ago, any kind sexual or gender diverse representation was considered to be a mental illness – since then this horrific mistake has been rectified, but not corrected.  The priorities of institutions still consider predominantly mainstream causes and factors in diagnosis and treatment without much thought to structural oppression and the unique issues relating to gender and sexuality.  In other words, while it is no longer a mental illness, but proper treatment for queer patients is still under utilized.  Even recent Queer inclusive mental health strategies still exclude trans people and issues unique to that lifestlye.

It is important therefore to consider your own mental health and coping strategies which include mindfulness and communicating with your own support networks which can include family and friends or a professional such as psychiatrist or psychologist.  I guess the moral of the story is that help is out there if you search for it, but it isn’t likely to find you – because to them your issues are transparent.  That’s why initiatives from the autonomous members of the Queer community, such as shared with us today by Laura Seabrook contributed (see Laura’s webcomics here) greatly to the wealth of information and queer specific resources in the area of mental health.

It was also pleasant to hear the experiences and expertise of Ryan Cauilan, a Curtin student and registered nurse, currently specialising in Mental Health.  It was good to have an in depth discussion with our guest speakers. The intimate nature of the plenary got us talking about triggering and other mental health aspects that might be more common in queer people.  Thanks again to everyone who made it today.  It was obviously on the end of a rather long and enjoyable night at UWA and many people chose not to come to QC today.

Hope to see you at the Idols Party tonight!

Today at 11am we had 2 guest speakers at the #QC2011 Trans Plenary. The first speaker Lex Randolph provided those in attendance with an interactive ‘Gender Quiz’ which challenged them to question their gender and gender in general. By bringing gender and diversity back to the participants people were able to learn about gender and construction, rather than taking it for granted and thus absorbing it is a social privilege. The creative Quiz session, was consistent with Lex’s experience as an artist in the WA Community, many works are inspired by gender, identity and constructivism. Keep an eye out for the Gender Quiz available online for all those who are interested who could not attend the conference (coming soon).

The other speaker Zoe Hyde took a more direct attack on transgender oppression in society by explaining the inherantly flawed constructs in law, psychiatric manuals and explored the idea of how ‘gatekeeping’ policies put nearly impossible tasks in front of trans people for legal recognition and protection. Zoe’s experience founding and maintaining the WA Gender Project make her one of the most qualified trans political activists in Western Australia. She is also a valuable contributor to gender related sex studies, and is about to receive her PHD at UWA.

The other founder of the WA Gender Project Aram Hosie, wasn’t able to make it today due to work commitments, but is an inspiration and a role model to many young gender querying members of our collective. There was hope by many that the action for recognition of the gender of two WA transmen would be happening at this QC, but that won’t be happening. Trans Activism in WA could use support and I suggest that you get more information from the WA Gender Project by following this link or by clicking on the WA Gender Project Icon.

Thank you Laura, I think its great to have someone with your knowledge and experience at yet another QC.





Thx Charlie, this is so much fun! I hope everyone feels ok when this conference is over. It was really great today to have warm fuzzies on conference floor, affirming the positives is often overlooked by passion and determination on conference floor. I think at the end of the day we can have a beer and a chat and feel pretty good in each other’s company, considering all the awesome things we achieve on a regular basis. I think every single delegate appreciates the support of every other, so keep your positivity in tact, you might need it one day.

Thank-you Evan for helping make QC a safer space. Have fun with it peeps! It gets better – we’re lovers not fighters.



Thank-you Celia. I think its really great that you made a video, I really enjoyed it and I’m absolutely sure that this QC is going to keep being awesome. It Gets Better peeps!

We are many different people, with many different perspectives and experiences. We come to QC to work together, learn new skills and grow as a community. Emotions are high and there is a lot of passion on conference floor. There is a lot at stake sometimes and we should be mindful of the contributions people make and support them. The mindfulness of safer spaces should be ever present and respect for delegates maintained at all times.

I saw the floor divided for the first time at QC2011, and I felt awkward, because I was observing a heated debate involving skills that were both remarkable and terrifying. The necessity of such exchanges is debatable, but action is demanded and but only for the rarest of occasions it is provided. I admired the delegates who exchanged on the issue, but also felt that no matter the final outcome, we were crossing the line and the safer spaces agreement.

In the end the motion to boycott the event at the Court Hotel was passed, but for all involved, there is reason to be angry and to feel excluded. The Reclaiming Queer Venues issue is a real one, and it applies to other states, not just WA – but the targeting of the Court and the campaign against them is an ongoing local campaign, which should not have been imposed on interstate delegates in such an aggressive manner. The elevation of emotions and the increasing intensity made delegates feel uncomfortable, and with respect to today’s session, it could have happened differently – for the better.

Keep your sense of humour, because it gets better – you know – QC it’s still totally awesome.

Not your first QC? Want to share your experiences? Suffering from politics won’t last forever -
Make a video telling troubled delegates it gets better and post a link in the comments.

Infinity welcomes Wednesday. Three seperate sessions on Conference Floor – Reclaiming Queer Venues (RQV), a Hypothetical about the Queer Gene and report backs in the afternoon, add to that two rounds of workshops and you can tell your mates today was ‘chockas’. The reclaiming Queer Venues Plenary was pressed for time, but an important session to attend – Queer venues are very close to our ‘pride centres’ (hearts?) and it is important that these spaces remain safe and cater to the needs of their Queer patrons. The story is grim, crawling out of the shadows left by opportunistic entrepreneurs for whom the dollar is the bottom line, whether it pink or otherwise.

Stemming from this simple precept comes shifting attitudes towards sex and gender diverse peoples who may only be patrons of ‘Queer’ venues in the interim while it adapts and encourages a steady heteronormative market. The cost of this is ambiguous representation of queer culture is outright discrimination against patrons who should be welcomed at these venues. It is a breach of trust and it is difficult to believe that safer spaces ever came into it. When management and owners are consulted, they might as well refer their complaints to market forces.

The question of whether or not the Court is guilty of this is debatable, but it is commonly acknowledged that the Court’s rainbow flavour has been watered significantly since the takeover by current owner Bree Day. The last thing we need to do is point fingers at other queer people who seem to be caught in the grey area left by those shifting in the shadows – there is no right and wrong – going to the Court Hotel is still a preferred venue for many Perth Queers, but that is because if buildings were people, it would be ‘the only gay in the village’ (except for Connections which only comes out at night). The continued action against the Court is promoting alternative venues, since communication with the establishment has basically broken down.

And yet.. A number or Queer nights and a venue has failed in Perth over the last few years – citing lack of support from the community. What does this say about us? That we want shiny new things, but don’t support those who make the effort to put them together? I think the silence is deafening, and we’re beginning to realise how as Queers we must actively engage and support the community, if not then we’ll just have to accept what we’re given – but don’t slip into apathy, get up, get loud, get stormhammer, gain 1000x points and RECLAIM YOUR QUEER VENUES!

I’m glad I made it to the Ageism plenary in the morning. Learning new things and being open to new experiences and lifestyles is one of my favourite things about QC. Ageism is something that I rarely think about, because in my own way I think both young and older people have their own survival patterns and give as good as they get. There are many types of ageism, and the focus of this plenary was Queer ageism. I was pleased to see a good variety of speakers and experiences on the Panel – especially June Lowe who has experience with the GRAI – GLBT Retirement Association Incorporated, a much needed service in our community.

There is a sense of vitality that comes with youth that helps us cope with the difficult times, the body and the mind are resilient and while we face oppression and may feel victimised, we are beautiful sexy rebels which combined with our health is at least some compensation. When we get older and those things are no longer the carrier of our lives, we lose personal autonomy and become dependent on others to care for us, often strangers and this can be a problem. Many people choose not to disclose, or lie outright to avoid discrimination in the twilight of their lives to avoid discrimination and violations based on sexuality.

I feel that the root of this problem is a disconnection between generations, between history and the present, between what we are, what we were and what we are becoming. I love connecting with respected older members of the community – politicians, business people, etc who are doing amazing things. We exist in a Queer movement which was started decades ago and the social progress and the privileges we have today started at a time most of us were not yet born. Times change though and so does our perception of the world, but we have a lot to learn from those that came before us and I feel there is a lot that young people contribute to the mature community – and age should not be a factor in the contributions that can be made to the community. Labeling people as old, young, mature, etc aren’t constructive ways to interact and engage with the unique perspectives and experiences they have – treating everyone equally without discriminating based on age, is an opportunity to learn more and strengthen the community in the process.

Food today – It wasn’t a return to plastic, in fact dinner was quite a feast and lunch was an improvement – Some kind of failed risotto experiment I suppose (vegan) due en masse production of what I presume to be a delicate dish absolute murdered by industrial preparation. Spinach and Pumpkin risotto sounds good, but I got the impression the meal was already digesting itself by the time I got to it.

Lots of workshops today – I couldn’t go to any unfortunately, because I had errands to run, but there are re-runs of some of them which I hope to catch – especially Fuckability (which I totes only got the other day) and if fortune smiles – Libraries as Queer Venues. My mood after day 2 is a bit lower than my spirits because I’m a bit exhausted, but optimistic for the rest of the conference. Another day, another dose of awesome.

Today happened.  I think a lot of people are still learning the conventions under which we do motions, and at times it was frustrating – I feel guilty for not being a politician, but I’m sure at the end of the week, I’ll be clued in to wtf is going on.  It was a good feeling having so many different faces and voices, which is both uplifting and a cataclysm waiting to happen.  I think we avoided all major disasters today – but I was sad to see the chance for a public Trans* action pass us by, narrowly missing out on a vote 37-35 to Queerphobia in Schools with a number of delegates skipping the vote for an early dinner.

We had a number of caucuses today which ran with success, even if things got sticky at report backs in the afternoon – notable complaints about the scheduling of workshops specific to women being grouped in one time slot and the wording of the reader were amended and hopefully now, the rest of the conference will unfold blemish and conflict free – or not… It doesn’t really matter – people have got to deal.  I’m optimistic about the conference and the motions and resolutions that will be put to conference floor.  If everything was perfect, then I’d be freaking out, the little hickups and frustrations just show we’re human.

The food though – Well, I don’t know many vegans who would consider steamed cabbage and rice a decent meal, it seemed like something Charlie Bucket would be more likely to eat.  It’s healthy enough – I’ll live – which could have been the message they were going for – a small step up from cruelty free cardboard.  Dinner was not a dinner, it was a snackathon – I get confused about those sorts of things.  It’s kind of undignified hovering over a plate of food, in order to get your daily calories – I’m not a scavenger..  This is not a criticism – it’s digital encouragement for the rest of the conference – put real food in my little plastic box.

The sad thing is that the entire Trans/Genderqueer caucus was discussion about the form the action would take, create the best strategy, etc and meet to plan the action to meet the needs of those in attendance… But when it came time to vote, it seems trans and genderqueer peeps prefer food – oh well, say bye bye Action on Gender…

Hello everyone glad you could make it.

It’s finally here, July 4 – Day 1 of QC 2011. Welcome to Perth and Curtin University for 7 days of exchanging on Queer Issues and 7 days of fun. If you’re hungry, make your way to the Main Cafe for breakfast at 8am or skip along to registration at 9am. It is important that you attend registration, because this is where you will receive a welcome pack, which includes your reader, if you asked for a print copy, your delegates ID and campus map. You will be required to have your delegate ID in order to participate in the conference, so DON’T MISS REGISTRATION!

Today is the first day of the conference and so we have some housekeeping issues first up with QC101 and Action Planning which will take us up to about lunch time. After lunch at the Main Cafe, please feel free to participate in the skill share, or attend one of the caucuses this afternoon. If you’d like more information about events, when they are happening and where they are happening, please visit the timetable link from this website.

An Opening Night Dinner will be held tonight at Curtin, which will be a great chance to network and get together with some old friends and new friends made today at the conference. Also keep an eye out for blogs appearing on the QC website.

That’s it for now, I am wishing everyone a safe and enjoyable conference and remember you can follow Queer Collaborations 2011 on Twitter, by using and following the hashtag #QC2011 or following the Cross Campus Queer Network – @CCQNWA who will be making regular updates throughout the conference.