Last episode we chatted with Rae Hill who shared their life story and their marriage to our very own Aussie born Dibs.

Dibs and I first met back in 2018, when Dibs came to get a suit made from Shane Ave. After a few conversations around their life and their transition it would be Dibs whose story would be the first to be shared on The Unsuitable. Check it out Series 1 Ep 1.

Dibs has lived abroad in Montreal, Canada for the past 3 years and is back on Aussie soil for an extended holiday. We couldn't miss the opportunity to have Dibs back on our podcast to share what they have been up to the past few years and share with us how they met and eventually married the wonderful Rae Hill.

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Today's guest has an interesting story that saw her leave her homeland in France in search of a better life down under. Arriving on Australian shores in 2012 as a newly married couple, Lucie and her husband settled into Australian life and went through the motions of having a child and securing permanent residency.

In 2017, 5 years after landing in Australia, Lucie subconsciously started thinking more about herself and how unhappy she really was. Some self exploration which included cutting her hair short led her down a path that, at the age of 32 she accepted she was gay. 

She describes it as a light bulb moment that just felt right and liberating. Sadly, this led to a breakdown in her family relationships and today Lucie has no contact with her immediate family.

Lucie will share with us the trials and tribulations she has experienced as a result of her coming out.

Get in touch with Lucie on Instagram: @lucieptyltd

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Alli and Ebony have a story that has tested their relationship and saw them come out stronger than ever with a passion to help others going through mental health challenges.

Alli identifies as gay and Ebony identifies as bi sexual. In this episode we will hear both their coming out stories and how that impacted their lives as well as the turbulent time they had when Ebony had some serious struggles with her mental health.

This is a story of love and courage that has resulted in Alli and Ebony starting a charity called The Good Fight. The Good Fight.

The Good Fight mission is to have a society where mental health is no longer stigmatised. By launching a clothing brand that sparks conversation, and having the profits donated to funding vital research, the goal is to one day rid the world of mental health conditions. By wearing the apparel it shows that you are a supporter of people who suffer mental health conditions and are there for someone to talk to when they are in need... and sometimes, that is just enough to save a life.

https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/

Check out the girls charity and support them in "The Good Fight" https://www.thegoodfight.com.au/

ttps://au.reachout.com/articles/lgbtqi-support-services 

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Growing up in Brisbane with a twin sister, Georgina was a happy, sporty active kid. Then at age 10, the unthinkable happened and Georgina had to not only figure out her individual identity but somehow figure out how she was going to live out hers. completely bald.

Georgina suffered from Alopecia at age 10 and within 6 months all her hair had fallen out. Playing numerous sports and being an active kid meant a wig was out of the question but what followed was years of bullying and torment that resulted in a lifetime of PTSD.

Georgina identifies as Lesbian and works as a Cardiac Physiologist and is blessed to work in an environment where she is judged on her clinical ability and not her looks or identity.

Georgina shares from the heart, her life story and how the obstacles she has faced as a bald gay woman have helped to shape her into the person she is today.

Sit back and enjoy this heartwarming episode!

https://aaaf.org.au/

Australian Alopecia Foundation

ttps://au.reachout.com/articles/lgbtqi-support-services 

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Antonio Mantonio is the Drag King performer name of Olivia Hopkins.

Olivia spent her high school years in a super conservative school which she found extremely difficult particularly when most days were filled with bullying in one way or another.

Olivia shares with us the trauma associated with the bullying and how she went on to bring Antonio to fruition.

Olivia identifies as bisexual cis -female while Antonio identifies as a heterosexual male.

A successful high school tutor and performer Olivia hopes to one day write a novel about her experiences

Tash grew up a tomboy and over the years they have grown and evolved to gain an understanding into what that really meant for them.

Tash is a high school teacher and an advocate for safe spaces in schools. Tash was instrumental in creating a safe space group called All Sorts at the high school they work at. This group allows students to have a safe space to go to talk or just hang out with supportive and like minded students.

During the plebiscite Tash was subjected to online abuse from a small group of students who suggested they should 'kill themselves." Students in the group were also ridiculed, spat on and insulted throughout that time.

Tash believes the kids in that group helped them through that period and became their drive to push for equality and understanding of gender diversity.

Tash shares their story of growing up, coming out and their push for better understanding and acceptance in todays youth.

Growing up in India and born into a strong Christian faith meant Nerissa had to spend the first 22 years of her life suppressing any feelings that would allow her to identify as gay.

A move to Sydney at age 22 bought more to Nerissa's life than she had ever imagined.

It took a further 8 years before Nerissa was comfortable in her own skin. Nerissa shares the highs and lows in this awesome episode.

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Sarah Tiong is an accomplished Lawyer however her passion for food and cooking led her to apply for a spot on Masterchef and she hasn't looked back.

Sarah is a passionate ally for the LGBTIQ community and shares with us her conflicts growing up in a Chinese/Malaysian family where the cultural expectations didn't fit her expressions of herself.

Experiencing some degree of discrimination in society for her sense of dress, Sarah relates to and has enormous empathy for those in the LGBTIQ community

 

Growing up in the 70's and 80's usually meant you married in your early 20's, had kids bought a house and supposedly lived happily ever after!

Thats exactly what Kylie did except the happily ever after never came.

Kylie spent most of her life in a state of depression and after 21 years of marriage and 4 kids in the mix she came to the realisation that happily ever after in a hetro normative marriage was never going to happen as she longed to be in the arms of a woman

Kylie shares what life was like during those years and how she overcame depression and left her marriage to start all over again

Deb welcomes everyone back!

We have had a bit of a break whilst we navigated our way through the current situation.

We are pleased to say we are excited to be starting Season 4.

We will be bi weekly for the time being with a view to going back to our weekly episodes in the coming months.

Nik Kacy was born in Hong Kong and grew up in New York before heading to LA for college.

Nik is the founder of NikKacy Footwear and we had the pleasure of accessorizing some of our designs at the dapperq show with Nik Kacy footwear and accessories.

Nik has an interesting story that will pull at your heart strings as they share their struggles to live in a body that didn't belong to the real Nik Kacy.

Nik knew at around 8/9 years of age that they were born into the wrong body, and they longed to be able to live life as a boy. Suffering childhood depression and wishing they had never been born, Nik struggled for many years.

After 3 non fatal attempts at suicide, Nik knew they had to make some changes.

They share the life changing moment they made the decision to live and not simply exist and how it set them on a journey to make a positive impact on the lgbtiq community.

 

Pepa Randall is a semi professional athlete. When she isn't taking to the field with GWS Giants, she can be found tending to the grounds at GIANTS Stadium as a Greenkeeper.

Pepa grew up in Melbourne and had what she describes a privileged childhood. Spending the first 18 yrs of life in a heteronormative environment, Pepa never considered herself gay. In fact she feels she may have at some stages been judgemental and homophobic herself.

Having played many different sports growing up, it wasn't until she joined a womens AFL team that she found herself amongst a group of people that she connected with and felt right at home. Being around women who identified as gay helped Pepa to come to terms with her own identity.

Pepa shares her story from childhood to playing in the AFLW with GWS Giants. Pepa is honest and transparent about the challenges that come with playing sport at this level.

Mental health and depression can affect any one of us and Pepa openly share show she got through a bout of depression and what she does to monitor and stay as mentally healthy as she can.

Pepa relocated to follow her dreams of playing in the AFLW and enjoys life in Sydney with her partner Pip.

Enjoy this episode with the charismatic and down to earth Pepa Randall.

ttps://au.reachout.com/articles/lgbtqi-support-services 

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Born to a Buddhist mum and an atheist dad, todays guest was raised in a small family with 60's hippy parents in Victoria Canada. Rae lived in Central America for a number of years as a young adult which they describe as a very catholic and conservative culture. Having a life long love for fashion they would start their own brand called Origami Customs which is a podcast story of its own and we will explore it more in depth during our chat.

Rae identifies as queer non binary and began their own transitioning four years ago. An in depth discussion around non binary transgender.

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Carol Stephenson was born in Canada and spent her early childhood in Edmonton, before moving to Sydney at the age of 8. Life was different, moving to a new country and new school bought its challenges including the onset of Anorexia Nervosa. Carol fought the hard fight and eventually won the battle although it can still rear its ugly head in stressful situations.

Carol worked in Athletic Fashion in Canada and Australia before launching Charlie Boy Clothing in 2013.

Charlie Boy Clothing was born out of a need for well fitting, stylish shirts that was non gender conforming.

Deb Beveridge-Stephenson is Carols wife and together they make a formidable team. 

Deb was born and raised in Melbourne but spent many years traveling and representing Australia in Inline Skating. Deb has won over 22 National Titles and 11 World Championships for Australia.

Deb met Carol when she made enquiries about getting some shirts through Charlie Boy Clothing. Clearly Carol won Deb over with more than her shirts  and the rest is history. All will be revealed in this episode.

Sit back and enjoy this awesome and fun filled story of how two worlds collided in two states of Australia.

https://www.matildas.com.au/

https://au.reachout.com/articles/lgbtqi-support-services 

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Visit the girls at

https://www.charlieboy.net.au/

Chloe Logarzo is living her dream as a midfielder with the Australian National Football Team and will soon be heading to the UK to join Bristol.

A lot of girls dream to be where she is at.

Some will say she is lucky, but after you hear her story you will soon realise that Chloe is just a normal 25 year old that went through the normal trials and tribulations of being a teenager and coming out to her family and friends.

What sets Chloe apart from your average young person is the determination to chase her lifelong dreams at a time when she had lost her way a bit.

Backpacking around Europe after hanging up her boots for a period, Chloe came to the realisation that if she was to fulfil that dream of playing for her country then it was up to her to go after it as nobody was going to hand her the place on a golden platter.

Chloe shares with us her coming out story and her rise to achieving her dream to play for the Matildas.

Transparent, real, honest, authentic, inspiring are just a few words that come to mind when I think of Chloe Logarzo.

Truly inspiring!

https://www.matildas.com.au/

https://au.reachout.com/articles/lgbtqi-support-services 

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Tammy did was most women who grew up in the 80's, she left school, got married, had kids and lived happily ever after.

Well at least that what she thought was going to happen. At 30, Tammy had her 3rd son and it was not long after that she started to feel "different." Tammy started to see women differently but with no real understanding about what that was she continued to focus on being a mum and running her business.

It was another 10 years before Tammy knew she couldn't keep up the charade any longer and in June 2013, Tammy moved out of the family home straight into the arms of a girl 13 years her junior.

That relationship didn't go the distance however Tammy has found her soulmate in Stacey and will be married later this year.

Join us as Tammy shares her story, that is all too familiar with a lot of people

https://au.reachout.com/articles/lgbtqi-support-services 

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Lori was born into a traditional family environment with mum and dad and two younger brothers.

At age 13 Lori's world as she knew it was about to change forever.

Her mum fell in love with a woman and before too long Lori was part of a blended family that now consisted of two mums and 5 brothers.

Lori shares with us what that was like as a 13 year old and how that impacted her as a young adult. Lori is an accomplished teacher who prides herself on being more than just a teacher that teachers the curriculum. Lori is an avid ally of the lgbtiq community and strives to be a supporter to all young people that cross her path and identify as gender diverse.

Lori has taken life's lessons that she gained from being in a blended same sex family and instilled them into her teaching and her relationships.

Join us as we delve into the world of life as a child in the lgbtiq family space.

Sarah Wall has forged a very successful career as a top female barber/hairdresser. Ranking as 3rd in Australia's top female barber.

Sarah has worked for Toni and Guy for over 16 years as a hairdresser and educator before moving on to Preston Guild in Enmore.

Sarah shares her career story, coming out story, her encounter with some homophobic thugs on the street that belted her and her partner and how she ended up in the hotel suite of The Veronicas to cut Lisa's hair. 

A humorous yet engaging story that will have you as enthralled listening to it as I was doing the interview.

Sarah credits Beyond Blue for helping her at a time of crisis and we have put the link at the end of the show notes should you ever need to call on them.

http://prestonguildhair.com/

https://www.facebook.com/sarahwallindustries

https://au.reachout.com/articles/lgbtqi-support-services 

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Luke Antony is a singer and recording artist who lives in Sydney and identifies as gay.

Luke is the eldest of 3 and was raised in a christian household that was very close and spent lots of time camping, water skiing and attending church.

Luke moved from Townsville to Sydney in pursuit of his singing career which saw him reach top 13 on The Voice under the guidance of Boy George.

That opportunity bought the nation to its feet as they applauded this incredible artist but it was the call from dad after one appearance on the show that reduced this openly gay man to tears.

Luke shares this moment with us and much more in this heartwarming interview.

The modelling world is a tough environment that only the strong survive. When you are a black lesbian who is masculine presenting, the modelling world suddenly becomes a whole lot harder.

Vjay is a police officer in Chicago who has crafted a career as an androgynous model and is co owner of Famme Entertainment.

Vjay shares with us the difficulties she faces in the world of modelling and how she overcomes the obstacles.

Vjay recently organised a photo shoot in remembrance of dominant lesbian women who have lost their lives to unneccesary violence and hate.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGRpUpZoq_I

https://au.reachout.com/articles/lgbtqi-support-services 

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Kris has been in a wonderful relationship for 11 years with his partner Jacqui. Kris lived life as a lesbian before coming to the realisation that he was in fact a man trapped in a womens body.

Kris spent his earlier years in childcare before embarking on a career as a fitter and machinist apprentice which saw him win many awards but often left him feeling like an imposter. Winning awards in the female sector but feeling like a man within, only led to further confusion.

 

 

https://au.reachout.com/articles/lgbtqi-support-services 

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Rey grew up in Manila and called a warehouse home until they migrated with their family to Australia in 2012. 

Rey spent their first 12 years in the Catholic School System in Manila where they experienced bullying and torment. Rey tells the story of when a school teacher made them lift their school uniform up in front of two of the bullies to prove they were in fact a girl and not a boy. Only realising when they migrated to Australia how wrong that was.

Rey identifies as nonbinary pansexual and is a talented artist in many areas including but not limited to podcasts, writing and musicals.

Rey tells us their fascinating story which i trust you find as compelling and as interesting as i did when in did the interview.

 

 

https://au.reachout.com/articles/lgbtqi-support-services 

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Mack is the youngest of 3, grew up in a conservative Roman Catholic Family where the environment was strict and loving but emotions not discussed.

Mack grew up in Detroit Michigan, studied an undergrad in Music education before completing the Police Academy training in Illinois. Mack embarked on a teaching career in the country before moving to the city in search of work and self discovery.

What Mack found was both. Mack currently works as a police officer, plays soccer and is a part of the largest community LGBTIQ programs in Chicago.

Mack in all her spare time also works as as actor on the TV Series Chicago PD as a plain clothes detective.

 

https://au.reachout.com/articles/lgbtqi-support-services 

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We often hear stories of guests struggles through life not knowing where they fit in terms of their identity but todays guest has a different story to share. In her mid 50's, Alice found herself in a relationship with a transman and although that relationship didn't last, Alice knew beyond a measure of doubt that she would never be in a hetro relationship again. Fast forward to today, Alice recently married her soul mate Jen, who was our guest in episode 4, and who she had secretly been admiring from afar for a number of years. As an Applied Mindfulness Coach and Facilitator, Alice will share with us her journey through life and the importance of engaged mindfulness, which I am sure we can all do with. 

Check out Alice's podcast Smart Sassy Seniors, that she co-hosts with her wife, Jen.

 

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It was the year of the millennium when founder of Shane Ave and host of The Unsuitable Podcast, Deb Saywell's life as she knew it was about to change forever.

It was in the year 2000 Deb fell in love with her life partner Sue.

Together for 19yrs, they have raised 6 kids in a blended family, had 2 successful businesses in the fitness industry.

Fast forward to 2015, they sell their businesses, Sue transfers from Army Reserves to full time Navy, while Deb takes up a position as a state manager for a fitness franchise group.

It wasn't long before Deb realised that after being self employed since her early 20's she probably wasn't cut out to be in traditional employment. With a burning desire to start another business Deb puts the plans in place for the inception of Shane Ave. 

Listen as Deb shares her story, the Shane Ave story and The Unsuitable Podcast story.

 

https://au.reachout.com/articles/lgbtqi-support-services 

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Season 1 of The Unsuitable has come to an end.

Rod Morrie chats Deb Saywell about Season 1 and the success of the podcast to date.

Tune in for Season 1 in review and discover who the surprise guest is that will see the start to Season 2.

Frank is the youngest of 4 siblings and the only queer in his family.

Frank lived a turbulent life that was filled with domestic violence at the hands of his father before leaving the family home for the last time at age 19.

Leaving home allowed Frank to explore his sexuality and take ownership of his identity.

Frank is a gay man who lives with his partner Chris and the owner of Same Love Photography. A brilliant photographer who spends months at a time abroad with his photography business, Frank shares with us many facets of his life.

Sit back and enjoy!

 

https://www.lifeline.org.au/get-help/topics/domestic-family-violence

https://au.reachout.com/articles/lgbtqi-support-services 

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They, them, their are pronouns our guest  LP uses to identify themselves. We are living in a world that is becoming more inclusive of people and their identities. 

Yet for many people there is a lack of real understanding around many identities in the LGBTIQ community. Our guest LP from Nashville Tennessee joins us to chat about life as a non binary and what that means for them.

We were blessed to hav LP walk for us in the dapperq New York Fashion Show for our sister brand Shane Ave. They represented our brand with authenticity and integrity and it was with certainty we would have them as a guest on our podcast.

LP with share with us their life growing up and the hurdles that they overcome to eventually recognise that they were most comfortable and happy identifying as non binary.

We trust you will enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed making it.

 

https://au.reachout.com/articles/lgbtqi-support-services 

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Coming to terms with your own identity can take time and often that time can be spread over a number of years. 

By her own admission, Mindy Friedman's coming out to her mum and dad was somewhat passive aggressive in nature. 

Mindy expected her mum and dad to embrace her coming out with the same unconditional love she had become accustomed to all her life however this wasn't the case.

Mindy shares with us how they overcame the initial reaction and obstacles in order to have the beautiful and loving relationship they have today.

 

Sit back and enjoy the wonderful story of Tam Prins.

https://au.reachout.com/articles/lgbtqi-support-services 

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Fair to say not every story has doom and gloom attached to it. Tam Prins lived a relatively normal childhood in the southern suburbs of Melbourne and grew up attending an all girls Catholic School.

When in her mid teens, Tams parents separated which saw Tam and her mum and sister take up residence in a bus for a small period. 

Apart from being hauled into the principal office in year 10 and being blamed for turning the whole year gay, Tam had a joyful if not sometimes confusing childhood.

Tam tells her story and shares her experiences of growing up in the late 90's and early 2000's. For those listeners who are struggling with their identity, this story is for you. Life can and will take on twists and turns but eventually you will find where you are meant to be.

Working in the US and Mexico at youth camps before joining the Royal Australian Navy, Tam has had an adventurous life that has enabled her to travel and see much of the world.

Tam is married to her life partner Amanda and currently works as a Physical Trainer in the Navy, stationed back in her home town of Melbourne.

Sit back and enjoy the wonderful story of Tam Prins.

https://au.reachout.com/articles/lgbtqi-support-services 

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After more than a decade together, Lara and Elise had what could best be described as the perfect life.

They shared a love that was the envy of their friends, they were both successful in their careers, they owned a beautiful home in the inner west of Sydney and they had two gorgeous daughters.

When Lara and Elise married in 2010 same sex marriage was not legal in Australia but that didn't stop them declaring their love before 101 of their closest friends and families. For them they were as good as married, they just didn't have the legal marriage certificate to prove it.

Just 3 weeks after the birth of their second daughter, Lara's world came crashing down when tragically, Elise lost her life. For Lara, the trauma of losing the love of her life and the mother of her children was only the start of the trauma that followed.

Australia voted Yes for same sex marriage and in doing so they got it right ...... #this is why

 

 

 

https://au.reachout.com/articles/lgbtqi-support-services 

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Lacie -Jade is a proud femme queer lesbian who has had her fair share of challenges not only in the wider community but in the lgbtiq community as well.

Often mistaken as a straight woman, men often become hostile when she has to correct them. Femme invisibility is a blessing in some ways and a curse in other ways.

Lacie-Jade has her own podcast, The Fat Collective. Lacier-Jade is an advocate for body positivity and likes nothing more than to remind people in marginalised bodies that they are beautiful and perfect just the way they are.

 

 

https://au.reachout.com/articles/lgbtqi-support-services 

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Spat on, abused and bullied during the same sex marriage debate. Despite the fact the vote went in favour of legalising same sex marriage, there is still a large portion of the community that feel they have the right to voice publicly their opinion and bully those in the lgbtiq community. 

Jade Alexander gives an honest and raw account of the abuse she was subjected to during the same sex marriage debate.

Jade also shares her life growing up in the Western Sydney suburbs and how she came to develop a passion for suiting up and sourcing antique mens accessories.

 

https://au.reachout.com/articles/lgbtqi-support-services 

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Sam Badrice is living a life filled with self love and a passion for helping others through body dysphoria and choosing to live a life of authenticity.

But it wasn't always this way. Sam was born in the body of Sarah, a body that just never felt right. Always awkward and uncomfortable and never really understanding why. 

Body dysphoria is real and it is soul crushing for those experiencing it. Sam hit a low point in his early 20's where in his own words he said 

"if I don't do something about my identity and start to live life as my authentic self, I will end up in a box"

Harrowing words for a person in the prime of their life, but sadly these are words that many can relate to.

Sam has been blessed with an understanding and supportive family that have been by his side through his transition and continue to support and love the man he has become.

Sam shares with us the timeline of how he came to the realisation he was born into the wrong body and the process that lead to his transition to become a proud transman.

If you or anyone you know needs further information check out the links below, you are not alone!

https://transcendsupport.com.au

https://au.reachout.com/articles/lgbtqi-support-services 

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Natasha studied at university with the aim of becoming a designer for Disney and whilst doing so worked in retail environments where she developed a passion for suiting.

Fast forward a few years and Natasha is a much sought after custom suit designer who works for an awesome company in Toronto called Got Style. Growing up in Toronto Canada, Natasha shares with us the difficulties she faces working in a male dominated industry where she was often not taken seriously and questioned if she is trying to be a man because she enjoys wearing suits.

Natasha also shares with us how she found the love of her life Amelia, and how they are navigating a long-distance relationship between Canada and Sweden.

 

For anyone living in the US and needing a custom-made suit make sure you hit up Natasha!

Link here!

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Alex bears the scars of gay conversion therapy, and in this weeks episode she speaks openly and honestly about the lasting effects of her experiences around gay conversion therapy and the religious organisations that continue to practice this unethical and barbaric therapy.

Gay conversion therapy comes in many forms and is often practiced in secrecy within churches and religious communities. Whatever form it is delivered in, it is an evil practice that aims to perpetuate the idea that LGBTIQ+ people are in some way "broken" and can be fixed.

Alex is living proof that she is far from broken although she still carries  trauma and pain associated with her coming out experiences.

Today Alex is living a full life as a high school teacher and is a very active board member of Wear it Purple. https://www.wearitpurple.org/ 

Wear it Purple principles can be found below:

• Advocate for and empower rainbow young people
• Celebrate and promote the value of diversity and inclusion in all community settings
• Raise awareness about sexuality, sex and gender identity and challenge harmful social cultures
• Champion rainbow role-models to help young people establish the confidence to be who they are

 

Alex shares her story in the hope that parents and people in the wider community will think more about the importance of acceptance and being a trusted ally for family and friends who confide in them, particularly when they first disclose their sexual identity.

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Rebecca Johnson and her friends were humiliated and rejected at the first Brisbane Pride Festival in 2007. Today Bec is President of Brisbane Pride and the co founder of Indigilez that was formed as a direct result of the treatment they received. Bec shares her story of growing up in the Northern Qld town of Bundaberg with parents that were active and well respected for their community work in Indigenous Affairs.

Bec is an advocate for all things LGBTIQ and particularly the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community. Bec story is compelling listening.

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Remove the content on your social media or lose your job!

This is what Kim Sheehy was told when she started a new job as a music teacher in a Catholic School.

Kim grew up in the country town of Maclean in Northern NSW. 

After her appearance on The Voice in 2016, Kim settled in Sydney NSW and secured a job as a music teacher in a Catholic School.

Tired of living a lie, Kim left the Catholic School and started work at a public high school where she could be her authentic self, a lesbian woman in a loving relationship.

Kim recently appeared on The Voice All Stars and thrilled Australians with her amazing voice. Kim shares what life was like growing up in a country town and what The Voice has done for her confidence and growth, both as a person and a musician.

Kim has some exciting plans for the future and you can hear them first on The Unsuitable.

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At 13 Dibs came out as bisexual. By 15, they identified as lesbian. At 17 they felt more trans masculine though fast forward seven years and Dibs now identifies as gender non binary.   Dibs' journey is not an uncommon one in the queer community and is just one of the reasons we chose them for this inaugural episode of The Unsuitable podcast. From the reactions of family members to bullying at school and the simple issue of language and words surrounding being non binary, Dibs is open, honest, forthright and thoughtful in this first of what we hope will be many educational and entertaining episodes to come.   Keep up to date with The Unsuitable Podcast at:   Facebook   Instagram   Shane Ave     Instagram    

Welcome and thanks for clicking on our new podcast, The Unsuitable.

Through my business Shane Ave I have been exposed to some of the most remarkable human stories imaginable. In fact, they are stories so good I couldn't keep them to myself. Enter - The Unsuitable Podcast.

The stories of my clients range from heartwarming to gutwrenching and everything in between. They're stories of triumph and tragedy, heartbreak and hope.

But ultimately, they are human stories and they are the best tales of all.

Don't forget to hit the subscribe button so you never miss an episode and we hope you enjoy the journey with us.

 

Growing up in the housing area of the western suburbs of Brisbane in the 60's, Jen spent a large portion of her youth trying to be the peacemaker in a family that was filled with physical violence at the hands of her dad. Always the tomboy, Jen tapped into what she describes as the "masculine side" in order to combat the physical violence at home.

At 17 Jen decided to join the Army as a means of escaping from the family situation and in doing so, found a career path that she loved and could see herself progressing in for many years to come. Sadly, this all came to an abrupt end when the powers to be in the Army harassed her to the point of no return.

As a result, Jen never did pursue a career in the Army however this did not define her and she went on to live a full and eventful life in Naturopathy that saw her traveling the world as a speaker and author.

Jen is an avid podcaster and shares many helpful tips on how to live a healthier life via her podcast, Healthy Life Hacks. Link can be found below in the show notes.

Click here to check out Jen's podcast!

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Alex identifies as a lesbian and has a wonderful relationship with her partner Jackie. Alex attended an all girls Catholic School run by Opus Dei. Alex enjoyed school and her faith, so much, that she made the decision at 16 to become a numerary. This is where things went sour for Alex. Made to wear a cilice (metal spiked chain) for an hour a day around her leg as a form of self harm and referred to as mortification of the flesh, sleep on a blanket for a mattress, sleep without a pillow, take cold showers and regularly use a flagellum (small whip) on oneself is all part of the corporal mortification that is expected of all numeraries within Opus Dei.

Alex became close to an older numerary who would often invite Alex into her bed especially during a time when Alex was suffering deep depression and mental health problems as a result of living in the Opus Dei homes and working toward becoming a numerary. Alex had always considered herself heterosexual as homosexuality was a sin and not something she would have ever considered, however all that changed when she left the Opus Dei sect in Sydney and headed to Spain where she discovered amongst other things, AFL and teams filled with lesbian women. Tune in as Alex shares her fascinating story that will have you captivated and shock you all at the same time.

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Originally from Glasgow Scotland, Sam is a transgender guy who has had to overcome some massive hurdles in his journey to understanding gender and what it meant for him. Sam abused alcohol and substances as a means of masking the confusion and pain that he felt from being "different". Sam talks about his childhood bullies and how they impacted his life, the dark days of his teenage years and his diagnosis of ADHD as an adult and how he lives with his diagnosis whilst also being completely sober. No doubt many will resonate with Sam's story and we trust that his raw and honest encounter will help many who are on a similar journey.

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Zac Callaghan spent their entire life living between two identities. Born female, Zac struggled with body dysphoria and their identity for almost 50 years. Top surgery in Australia is not covered by medicare and starts at around $12k, so having this surgery and starting the transitioning process was never an option. When their beloved dog took ill it took a whopping 14K to save him. This led Zac to revaluing their own health and life and making the decision that if they could spend $14k to save their dog then they could spend $12k to save themselves and finally live their best life. Zac shows us that its never too late to live your authentic self!

Book your tickets to see Zac show Queer as Flux at the Sydney Opera House 3 nights only 24th, 25th and 26th November 2022.

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Izzy grew up in Adelaide and lived a normal life that saw her start playing soccer at age 6 when her mum knew the energetic Izzy needed a sport to exert her energy.

Life was spent playing soccer, boating in summer and skiing in winter. Izzy developed a relationship with an older woman when she was in Yr 12 and kept it very much in the closet. When it idd eventually come out, as expected, her parents were not too thrilled. They were not as concerned about the relationship as they were about the fact Izzy felt she had to hide it from them.

An opportunity to move to Tennessee on a soccer scholarship was too good to refuse which saw Izzy spend 4 years abroad. This time away allowed Izzy to be open about her identity and live her life authentically.

Izzy is back on Aussie soil now and plays professional soccer back in Adelaide, although her relationship stood the test of time whilst abroad it did eventually breakdown on her return. Izzy is in a wonderful new relationship and living life to the fullest.

Join us for this light hearted chat with Izzy Hodgson.

 

https://au.reachout.com/articles/lgbtqi-support-services 

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