Pride Line vox pops, file 7

Prideline_2023-09-06_1746.mp3

00:02:25.404

2023-09-06

So I guess I'm supposed to share my story. That's the point of this, right? So I'm 16. I'm a lesbian. I don't know, I've had like, different experiences, I don't know, of questioning my sexuality, but I think I've always sort of known somehow. Like, it's always sort of been there.

I remember I used to walk around and follow this girl who I was friends with and I had, like, give her flowers, and I just thought that every other girl felt that way. And then I was like, at one point it just clicked in my brain. I was like, not everyone feels that way, you know? And I sort of knew I was like, different. And I guess I had a primary school girlfriend while I held her hand in the playground, that sort of thing. But I don't know.

I always felt, I don't know, strange compared to other girls. They're all girly or as I like to do, I guess boy activities or whatever they're called. But I always wanted to be something that other girls didn't, you know like, do things that boys were expected to do in those traditional gender roles. And then that was sort of pushed off of me, I guess you could say, you know, by certain people. They'd say, like you know, you don't wear much pink or anything, like you don't wear girl clothes And I'd be like, I don't know, confused. I'd be like, what do you mean? They're just clothes and yeah.

I don't really know what else I'm supposed to say, but I just think it's cool to be a part of this collection. You can contact me if you want. That'd be a bit weird. I don't know if I'm not allowed to do this because I'm a minor or whatever. But maybe in five years time when I've got an acting gig or released music or something and I'm more well known, maybe this will be become cool or something, but I don't know. Maybe that sounds like cringey in five years or something. But yeah, that's all I'm going to say for now and goodbye I suppose. Question mark.

Prideline_2023-09-06_2236.mp3

00:01:57.864

2023-09-06

To whoever is listening, my name is Rose and I use she/they pronouns. I came out as a lesbian when I was 13 years old. I'm now 16. I was so lucky to have such an amazingly supportive family who were there for me no matter what. I'm just so grateful for them. Unfortunately, I've not found as much kindness at my private Christian School.

I don't think people fully understand how much it hurt being told by your teachers and pastors, people you look up to, that your mere existence is a sin. Hearing my sexuality being mocked and ridiculed by some of my peers has been heartbreaking. But watching my teachers know that they make these comments and they're not taking action is even worse. Why should your religion justify hatred? If something doesn't affect you, should you really be so concerned over it? How does my queerness affect you? Preach love.

An important thing for me as a queer person is seeing queer adults. LGBTQ young people are four times as likely to commit suicide compared to their peers. It's so important that in this time, where hate and ignorance is plastered all over the news, to see that there is a future for us, that we have a place in this world.

Being able to see queer representation in the media is extremely important as well. Another important thing is to be able to have community support. I have a strong love for theatre. My local theatre group has been an amazing place to go and be loved and accepted for who I am. I also attend a youth group for LGBTQ people where I've been shown nothing but kindness.

If I could say one thing to you, it would be love. Love your children. Love them unconditionally. My parents unending support is what got me through some of my most difficult times. Love your kids, no matter what their sexuality or gender may be. Love your love your friends. Love your classmates. Love your neighbours. Kindness and acceptance can make such a difference in someone's life. Thank you.

Prideline_2023-09-07_1046.mp3

00:01:02.136

2023-09-07

My partner and I met through university. I'd just come back from exchange in Brazil and I was looking to meet the new Brazilian exchange students that had come here to Australia in Melbourne at Monash University. And yeah, we met at a bar night.

I thought she was super cute. And then we got each other on Facebook and I saw that she was going to Thursday at Yayas and I was like, that's a queer event, right? And she's like, I'm a lesbian. I was like, cool me too. Which she thought was a funny reaction that we still talk about today, 6 1/2 years later.

We had to do long distance when she finished her last finished her last year at university in Brazil, which was really hard, but now she's here and she's becoming an Australian citizen this month. So yeah, it's really awesome and I love her so much. Thanks.

Prideline_2023-09-08_1540.mp3

00:05:01.140

2023-09-08

Hi, my name is Holly Dodwell and I wanted to call because this kind of feels important. I am. I'm 23, I'm a high school teacher and identify as a cis-lesbian woman. It's pretty vanilla, but my story is like, kind of sad. So being queer so far hasn't really brought that much joy. And I hope that by talking about it I can like, be a part of a history that I hope will no longer exist in the way that it's existed for me.

What happened, I hope I don't run out of time, but what happened was I grew up really religious and I married my best friend since high school when I was freshly 22. I didn't realize what love could be, and the love that we shared, like, just felt as good as any. He absolutely meant the world to me, which is why it was so confusing and devastating when I realized that I was gay after we had the chance to become more physically intimate with each other, which you can, you know, see religion for why it took so long.

I thought that I was, like, broken, or that I was asexual. And I didn't realize that I was actually queer until I met a woman at work who gave me a joy and a passion and a meaning in life that I would never hope to expect. And it caught me completely off guard. I found what it was like to want to be close to someone, the joy of physical and emotional intimacy and the fire and passion that I didn't know could ever exist.

My husband didn't understand any of this either and it became deeply traumatic for both of us as he implored me to stay [inaudible] him, when deep down I knew that really wasn't an option. If I ever wanted to experience any form of love in the fullest way that I could. I was made to feel sinful and wrong and deviant by my parents and friends and [inaudible] me when they found out.

I dreamed of running away with this girl to Melbourne or anywhere. But she was in the worst situation to me, actually. She came from a Middle Eastern background and when her parents found out about our secret relationship, they threatened to kick her out and excommunicate her from her family and her culture, which absolutely meant everything to her.

So the guilt was just so immense on her part. But we still tried to maintain some secrecy while our worlds we're both burning at once. And you know, because at least we had each other. Exactly a year ago today actually, was the day I left my husband in the middle of the night, after he woke me up screaming at me and we had this huge fight. Like I just, I vowed to rebuild my life healthier.

So I left and I quit my job, so that her and I could also be involved in something healthier where we weren't really retraumatizing each other every day and needing each other stay afloat. Like I wanted to be my own person. I moved in with my parents. I left the church and the community that raised me. Her life remained the same, though, and before long we kind of broke up for good because she valued her family more than anything, which is so fair. But we also realized we couldn't be healthy and be in each other's lives.

She was everything to me. She was my Milky Way and she was all of its constellations. The constellation Orion actually was one we pointed out to each other and we used to wish on every star and pray fervently at 11:11 each day. You know, the ordained time to make a wish that we could be together. I even used to set an alarm for 11:10 so I would never forget, and I would take every chance I could to implore God, the stars, anything that would come, so that I could take care of her and we could take care of each other.

So now instead, I turn my phone off when I see that time approaching. I can't bear it. There's no happiness I feel I desire with anyone if she's not a part of it. It's easy to be angry and blame being gay for the pain I feel, though. It made me unlovable and a disappointment. If I was straight, I'd be married and joyful and live the life I always dreamed for myself. I wouldn't have to compromise on everything that I felt was important, and I wouldn't have compulsive ticks and twitches from the trauma that I went through.

But I guess it took that illusion shattering to realize that there's more to life than that. And even if it looked great on paper, being queer is who I am, and it's something that I could never be anything else, you know? If I wanted to be happy, I have to find joy and healing, and there's more to life than just looking great on paper.

I've begun to find meaning and acceptance away from the things I want, or I needed, which unfortunately looks like it's without her. I can't wait to see Pride month as something to celebrate, because right now it's a time of mourning. I'm sick of mourning it. I, like, the things that can't be, I really, this is something I want and I want to live this life. I hope to speak of all the happiness and meaning that I found if this recording's ever found and looked back on. But I can't do that yet.

All I wanted to be loved for who I actually am. And I think that's all anyone want. But not in the dark and not only by certain people. I want to be loved and love others without those kind of restrictions, whether it's culture or religion or society or parents or anything. Anyway, Happy Pride Week anniversary. Thank you so much for listening to me share this and I hope you have a really great day. See ya.

Prideline_2023-09-26_1525.mp3

00:01:31.116

2023-09-26

So for a lot of my life I have known that I've been queer, but I've struggled to identify with the label lesbians but feeling a strong connection to it. I'm currently in a lesbian relationship with someone who identifies as a lesbian, and through our journey together I am finding more and more relation to the term lesbian, to the lesbian community and to lesbian culture.

I find it empowering to be able to identify with something so rich in history and in culture and to see my lesbian relationship finding resonance with so many other women and people throughout time. I'm starting to really enjoy talking about my girlfriend and about my lesbian relationship. I feel when I utter the phrase my girlfriend. I'm speaking through all of the people in history who could not say the phrase for fear of danger or harm.

I want to say my girlfriend for every person who had to call someone their friend or their roommates. My girlfriend. My girlfriend. My girlfriend. So my name is Zara and I'm a lesbian who loves my girlfriend very much. I feel the love of all the lesbians before me coming through my voice when I say that, and I love all of them too. This is my Pride story and I'm so thankful that it is one I can share and speak about openly. Thank you.

Prideline_2023-10-01_1354.mp3

00:00:23.400

2023-10-01

Hi, my name's Amelia. I'm gay and I came out with my parents when I was 12 years old. My mum was like, no, you're not. And I was like, yes I am. And yeah, it just went on from there. Thank you