The new brand is aligned to the widely adopted Progress Pride Flag which reflects the diversity of LGBTIQ+ communities including gender, race, social background, identity and sexuality, and builds on the original Rainbow Flag to also represent transgender communities and intersex people.

The launch of GALTA’s inclusive corporate and consumer brand is central to a suite of new projects that the organisation is launching in 2022 to mark its 30th year of operation, including a digital refresh, ambassador program and tourism industry workshops.

GALTA President, Louise Terry said that the re-brand was critical to the association’s ethos and aspirations to ensure all people feel welcome when travelling in Australia.

“GALTA was formed in 1992 by a passionate group of tourism operators who recognised that gay and lesbian travellers to Australia needed a trusted hub for holiday inspiration,” she said.

“This new brand for GALTA builds on that legacy by more inclusively reflecting the diversity within our LGBTQ+ communities and connecting all travellers with our welcoming tourism businesses from right across Australia,” said Terry.

GALTA’s new inclusive brand comes ahead of a rich, new travel website that will be launched during the Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE) in Sydney this May at gAyTE, a travel industry event hosted by Australia’s LGBTIQ+ tourism operators.

The refreshed website will connect LGBTIQ+ holiday-makers with a spectrum of welcoming experiences, from events and accommodation to tours and destinations, across city and regional areas in Australia.

To support and elevate opportunities for its national membership base, GALTA is also rolling out an ambassador program, including a partnership with content creators @husbands.thattravel, and a tourism operator workshop series, Welcoming LGBTQ+ Travellers, being delivered across Australia with regional tourism partners.

GALTA is a national, not-for-profit membership organisation guided by a voluntary Board and Team of tourism and travel industry professionals since 1992. Its consumer-facing LGBTIQ+ travel channels, promoted under the banner of Visit Gay Australia, can be found here:

VisitGayAustralia.com.au | Facebook.com/OfficialVisitGayAustralia | Instagram.com/VisitGayAustralia | Twitter.com/VisitGayAU

Image: GALTA has unveiled a new brand that embraces the progressive pride colours and an inclusive representation of queer communities and travellers (supplied)

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NGV Australia and NGV International, Arts Centre Melbourne, Fed Square, ACMI, State Library of Victoria and Melbourne Museum will all open late for this thrilling night-time experience.

Presented by Visit Victoria and produced by The Social Crew, this dynamic and limited-time-only program of free and ticketed experiences includes live music, visual and performing arts, food and drink, encouraging visitors to escape into the city and discover something new at Melbourne’s cultural venues.

Art After Dark will see Melbourne’s famous cultural institutions come together for a late-night program of experiences. See the likes of BRIGGS, Human Nature, latenight screenings of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, never seen before installations and much more for two big nights to experience the city at its cultural creative and vibrant best.

“Art After Dark is an exciting way for Melburnians to discover something new at our unsurpassed cultural venues,” said Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Martin Pakula.  “This new major event is supporting jobs and will bring tens of thousands of people into the CBD boosting our night-time economy.”

“We’re really excited to see these iconic Melbourne venues collaborate to curate Art After Dark – a vibrant and colourful program of new works and reintroduce some faves,” said Belinda Collins, The Social Crew creative director.

“The breadth of creativity presented in Melbourne’s art scene is one that should be celebrated and we encourage everyone to book quickly and make a night of it – or two! It’s a wonderful surprise of visual installations, music, film, exhibitions and much more. It’s time to get out there.”

Head to Fed Square on Friday 13 May for a Fed Square Live headlined by music sensation BRIGGS, supported by Kee’ahn, with her signature soulful melodies, Melbourne DJ Soju Gang and neo-soul band Izy. The deadly concert will be followed by the launch of Australian-first art installation, Constellations.

Lighting up over two nights, Constellations is a fascinating journey where the vectorial, monochromatic aesthetics of international artist Joanie Lemercier collaborates with the electronic soundscapes of producer Paul Jebanasam. Take in Art After Dark’s sights and sounds at Federation Square with a free takeaway hot chocolate, coffee, s’mores treat and glow in the dark fairy floss.

NGV Australia welcomes the return of popular exhibition, Mass, from Triennial, along with pop-up programming throughout the night to engender moments of joy and contemplation, from poetry readings to choir and DJs, Mass celebrates universally human form that links us all. NGV International’s iconic bluestone building will be transformed with a light projection curated as part of the free QUEER: Stories from the NGV Collection.

While in the Great Hall, artist Hannah Brontë’s immersive video installation, EYE HEAR U MAGIK (2020), explores how ancestral intuition has been passed down through Aboriginal people in the wake of colonisation. Visitors can revel at art across all levels as the entire venue will be open with free access to all exhibitions.

Arts Centre Melbourne will present an evening of nostalgia on stage with live performances, including from Australian home-grown heroes Human Nature on Saturday 14 May. In addition, the Art After Dark programming includes the Australian Music Vault to stay open late with curators and tour guides telling stories and engaging with visitors about local music.

The forecourt will have DJs playing from the balcony and additional food trucks will accompany the offering of the Art Centre Melbourne bars.

Melbourne’s inaugural Art After Dark takes place at NGV Australia and NGV International, Arts Centre Melbourne, Fed Square, ACMI, State Library of Victoria and Melbourne Museum on Friday 13 – Saturday 14 May from 6.00pm – 1.00am on both nights. For more information, visit: www.artafterdark.com.au for details.

Image: Australian Music Vault, The Amplifier – photo by Jason Lau

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Staged over five days (19 – 23 February 2022), Out & Loud & Proud will be an opportunity for LGBTQIA+ choirs and allies from across Australia and the world to come together for workshops, pop-up performances and the chance to performance at a gala concert to be held at Sydney Town Hall.

“Music brings people together, and as we welcome the world to Sydney for WorldPride it’s incredibly special that we will literally get to hear the voices of LGBTQIA+ people from across the globe as part of Out & Loud & Proud,” said Sydney WorldPride Festival Creative Director Daniel Clarke.

Sydney Gay and Lesbian Choir is one of the cities most beloved community organisations having been in operation since 1991. “SLGC is proud to be co-hosting Australia’s largest ever international queer choral festival,” said Kate Deakin, President Out & Loud & Proud.

“Following the success of Out & Loud festivals across Australia and New Zealand, this new festival will offer international LGBTQIA+ singers and allies from around the world the chance to join together in song, raising our voices in pride and celebrating our identity as part of Sydney WorldPride.”

“We are delighted to welcome you to Sydney.  Let’s raise the roof together: Out & Loud & Proud!” said Deakin.

Choirs and individual singers can now register their interest in taking part at www.outloudproud.org. Singers travelling to Sydney are encouraged to book their flights and accommodation early, as the city will be heavily booked due to WorldPride.

Sydney WorldPride, incorporating Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras, will be staged 17 February to 5 March 2023. For pre-sale access to tickets and news updates subscribe to the mailing list. For more information about Sydney WorldPride, visit: www.sydneyworldpride.com for details.

Image: Sydney Gay and Lesbian Choir (supplied)

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Artistic Director Tina Arena – singer-songwriter, record producer, actress, consummate performer and ARIA Hall of Fame inductee – presents her first festival program bursting with alluring performances and sultry disco evenings, as audiences and artists unite over 12 decadent days and nights.

Adelaide Cabaret Festival 2022 returns to Adelaide Festival Centre and Her Majesty’s Theatre, featuring 377 artists and musicians across 97 performances including 14 world premieres and 15 Adelaide premieres by a large contingent of Australian artists and performers from the USA, Germany, Rwanda, and New Zealand.

Adelaide Cabaret Festival Artistic Director Tina Arena wants her program to bring hope and happiness to audiences: “Cabaret is a magnificent fusion of stories, song, dance, and all things theatrical. Cabaret is escapism of the most fabulous kind and boy, couldn’t we all use a little bit of escapism after the year that’s been?” she said,

“I am excited to be able to share this program of diverse voices and cultures, representing the best of cabaret and incredible talent. I hope this year’s festival takes you on a journey of much-needed connection and healing, from the personal stories of Songs My Mother Taught Me to the decadence of The Piña Colada Room – leave your worries behind and let the music save you, just as it continues to save me,” said Arena.

In shows exploring themes of nostalgia and cultural heritage:

Headliner show The Gospel According to Marcia will see the extraordinary Marcia Hines celebrate memories from her childhood in Boston and her early experiences with Gospel music in a one night only unmissable concert at Her Majesty’s Theatre on 17 June. Accompanied by Adelaide’s own Charmaine Jones & The Gospo Collective, audiences will rejoice with hit gospel songs including Oh Happy Day, I Don’t Know How to Love Him and Lean On Me.

Bringing her Italian heritage to the program, audiences will get a rare chance to connect with Tina Arena on a personal level, as she headlines and hosts the world premiere show, Songs My Mother Taught Me. Featuring Tina, and special guests Lior, Thando, Jess Hitchcock, Wendy Matthews and Sophie Koh, the show celebrates culture, legacy and love and is inspired by storytelling and family. Two shows only at Her Majesty’s Theatre on 24 & 25 June.

Continuing the exploration of personal history, comedian and performer Oliver Twist will reflect on his time as a refugee from Rwanda, in a delicately told and unforgettable one-person show that proves exceptional storytelling and belly-aching laughter are powerful antidotes to trauma – three shows from 23 – 25 June at Space Theatre.

In a special Adelaide Premiere, First Nations regional musicians and performers Kuko, Katie Aspel and Rob Edwards will bring a mix of blues, jazz soul and folk in a night of remarkable sound and story telling in T.R.A.I.L on 19 June.

International acts include swing band Davina & The Vagabonds in an Australian premiere where they draw from the past 100 years of American music, from Fats Domino to Aretha Franklin and Tom Waits in a show led with New Orleans charm and Memphis soul in The Famous Spiegeltent over the first weekend.

The same weekend, New Zealand company, A Slightly Isolated Dog bring Don Juan to the Space Theatre, bringing together physical comedy and twisted pop songs in a hilarious and irreverent show directed by award-winning Leo Gene Peters.

Audiences will travel back in time with vocal powerhouse Catherine Alcorn and Phil Scott in 30 Something – an immersive show set in Sydney’s Bohemia Kings Cross on New Year’s Eve 1939.

And South Australian cabaret favourites Amelia Ryan, Michaela Burger and Michael Griffiths will celebrate the golden age of rock ‘n’ roll, sexual revolution and the leaps and bounds of women’s liberation in Simply Brill – The Women Who Defined Rock ‘n’ Roll.

Other South Australians with their own shows this year include cabaret favourite Libby O’Donovan in Sister Elizabeth which explores the divine nuns of film, TV & Pop culture and features the Yankalilla Miracles.

In its first ever cabaret festival appearance, State Opera South Australia will bring drama to the stage with their new show How to Kill Your Husband (and other handy household hints) at Dunstan Playhouse.

And Adelaide’s own Victoria Falconer makes her festival debut in And Then You Go – The Vali Myers Project, harnessing the flame haired-bohemian figure and visionary artist. The show is this year’s Frank Ford Commissioning Award recipient – the award by Adelaide Cabaret Festival’s late founding father, provides $20,000 a year towards the creation of new works by South Australian artists.

Crowd favourite and former recipient of the Adelaide Cabaret Festival Cabaret Icon Award, international siren Meow Meow will bring her show Pandemonium to Her Majesty’s Theatre stage accompanied by Adelaide Symphony Orchestra.

Fellow cabaret sensation Reuben Kaye brings his new show Live & Intimate to this year’s festival while Australia’s Queen of Burlesque, Imogen Kelly, performs her jaw dropping award-winning acts from The Burlesque Hall of Fame in Las Vegas in La Grande Folie at Dunstan Playhouse on 17 June.

Bringing variety to the festival, audiences will experience mind-bending contortion, aerial artistry, incredible dancers and death-defying acrobatic feats in Cirque Bon Bon during the second week of the festival.

Charming host and comedian Paul McDermott will bring a nightly variety show to the last two weekends of the festival with The Funhouse – a dark carnival of minstrels and misfits, comedy and music and featuring Claire Hooper and Dilruk Jayasinha plus an array of special guests each weekend.

Musical Theatre fans will not be disappointed with Moments in the Woods – Songs & Stories of Sondheim paying tribute to the genius and legacy of musical theatre’s most ground-breaking composer, Stephen Sondheim, featuring Philip Quast, Geraldine Turner, Queenie van de Zandt, Josie Lane and Adelaide’s own Mitchell Butel for one night only at Her Majesty’s Theatre.

While acclaimed musical theatre performer Hayden Tee will peel back the layers to some of musical theatre’s most loathsome characters (some of which he’s played) from Miss Trunchbull (Matilda) to Javert (Les Misérables).

In his cabaret debut, multi-platinum Australian R&B artist Gary Pinto (member of former hit Australian band CDB) will bring his soulful voice to Dunstan Playhouse in Sam Cooke: The Music. Celebrating the legacy of “The Godfather of Soul” Sam Cooke, Gary will belt out classics including A Change is Going to Come and You Send Me in an evening of storytelling and musical melodies to warm the soul.

“This will be a new and exciting experience for audiences with the opening-up of the Riverbank Precinct and Festival Plaza and we are delighted to have Tina Arena at the helm,” said Adelaide Festival Centre CEO & Artistic Director Douglas Gautier AM.”

“Last year’s festival took home the silver medal at the South Australian Tourism Awards, so we know how important it is for our community. As a winter festival, Adelaide Cabaret Festival is a seat at the fireside, warming our collective spirits,” said Gautier.

“We look forward to bringing some much welcome glamour and sparkle back to Adelaide, with an outstanding line-up of some of the finest cabaret artists from around the country under the artistic vision of the incomparable Tina Arena,” said Adelaide Cabaret Festival Executive Producer Alex Sinclair.

“We can’t wait to welcome back our much loved and enthusiastic cabaret audiences from tonight and share a dance under the mirror ball this June!”

This year’s new late-night hub – tipped to be one of the hottest tickets in town – will see The Famous Spiegeltent pay homage to the icons of disco at The Piña Colada Room. On til late between 10 – 25 June.

The inspiring Class of Cabaret program returns to shine a light on the cabaret stars of tomorrow, proudly supported by Adelaide Festival Centre Foundation through the Nathaniel O’Brien Scholarship which allows one student from regional South Australia to participate in the program.

Free events include the popular LGBTIQ+ Elders Dance Club by All The Queens Men, the fabulous afternoon tea dance party for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, gender diverse and intersex elders and all allies will be held at The Famous Spiegeltent on Sunday 19 June.

Festival favourite Trevor Jones – The Piano Man is back at the Festival Theatre foyer Quartet Bar nightly and the Corryton Burge Bar and Cabaret Lounge return as the perfect places for patrons to settle into a quiet corner or keep the party going between shows.

Produced and presented by Adelaide Festival Centre, Adelaide Cabaret Festival has grown from modest beginnings in 2001 to become Australia’s major winter festival and the largest cabaret festival in the world. Previous Artistic Directors of the festival include Julia Holt, David Campbell, Kate Ceberano, Barry Humphries, Eddie Perfect, Ali McGregor, Julia Zemiro and most recently, Alan Cumming.

The festival has been a platform for shows and performers who have achieved critical acclaim and featured world-renowned artists including Ms Lisa Fischer, Kristen Chenoworth, Idina Menzel, Dita Von Teese and Patti Lupone to name a few.

Adelaide Cabaret Festival 2022 opens on Friday 10 June and runs until Saturday 25 June 2022. Tickets now on sale. For more information, visit: www.adelaidecabaretfestival.com.au for details.

Image: Tina Arena AM – photo by Jai Vasicek

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Beloved organisations including Sydney Stingers and the Sydney Rams will join several new organisations going all-out with interstate and international championships hosted in Sydney, plus new events for a variety of skill levels.

Sydney WorldPride has been able to support each of the sports organisations financially to help fund and elevate their plans for summer in 2023. Checkout the full list of recipients below!

With Sydney WorldPride now only 12 months away, this is the perfect time to get back into a team, register your interest in a new sport, and encourage your sporting friends and groups from outside Sydney to come and join us.

The sports events are one of many streams of activities in the Sydney WorldPride festival which will also include visual arts, literature, music, dance, digital arts, contemporary performance and more.

Each LGBTQIA+ sporting organisation has signed Sydney WorldPride’s Sports Inclusivity & Diversity Commitment, which aligns to our shared goal of creating trans-inclusive, accessible events and activities to welcome our community’s kaleidoscope of LGBTQIA+ identities, diverse backgrounds, and everyone, including people with disability.

Sydney WorldPride CEO Kate Wickett says she’s thrilled to see so many sporting organisations join the festival. “Since we won our bid to bring WorldPride to Sydney, our local LGBTQIA+ sporting organisations have been among the most excited and engaged groups with our plans.”

“We’re delighted to align and support each other as we get back out there, get active, and welcome the world to Sydney next year,” said Kate.

“Whoever you are, where ever you’re from, whatever your ability, sport is all about getting out there and getting active. I’m so pleased to see Sydney’s LGBTQIA+ sporting organisations going from strength to strength and looking forward to welcoming visitors to our beautiful city for games during Sydney WorldPride,” said NSW Minister for Tourism and Sport Stuart Ayres.

Pride in Sport Index co-founder Andrew Purchas OAM says he is very proud for Pride in Sport to be working alongside Sydney WorldPride for this momentous occasion and to help ensure all participating clubs are inclusive for all of our wonderful rainbow community.

“Sydney WorldPride is going to be an absolutely huge opportunity for our communities to showcase their sporting prowess to the world, as well as demonstrate the ability for sport in general to be an inclusive space for everyone,” he says.

“Pride in Sport is excited to be working with Sydney WorldPride to ensure that everyone is welcome to participate and excel in the sport they love, and to help place our rainbow sporting teams on the world map,” said Andrew.

More information about the developing schedule of events happening during Sydney WorldPride is arriving regularly to the website over the next few months. For the latest event, ticketing pre-sale and talent information, sign up to our email alerts here.

Image: LGBTQIA+ sporting organisations with Sydney WorldPride CEO Kate Wickett (supplied)

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Midsumma Pride March is one of Midsumma Festival’s signature events, where over 7,400 marchers usually take to the streets down Fitzroy Street in St Kilda each year and over 45,000 people line the streets and balconies along the march route to show their support – making this the best-attended Pride March in Victoria.

In 1996, Melbourne’s LGBTQIA community took to the streets in a show of solidarity for the first Pride March. The 1996 march took almost the same route along St Kilda’s Fitzroy St, transforming the strip into a show of community pride.

The first Pride March in Melbourne, governed by Pride March Victoria, is remembered as quite extraordinary, with a gathering of 11,000 people. The annual celebration is about affirming that the LGBTQIA+ community is fabulous, loved, diverse and proud, marching in solidarity for those who can not.

Attendees will parade and party celebrating the March’s 27th anniversary, showing that marching for pride is more important than ever before. As per tradition, Dykes on Bikes precede the marching contingent – with the march itself led by Boon Wurrung Elders and a Rainbow Aboriginal Float along with the Premier of Victoria, Minister for Equality and Commissioner for Gender and Sexuality. View the March Order here!

At the conclusion of the march, attendees are led into Catani Gardens for celebrations and entertainment featuring DJs and live performances including DJ JARV!S, The Merindas and Harlow and Hart. The Winners of the Midsumma Pride March Awards will also be announced. Catani Gardens is open and free for all to attend!

The 27th Midsumma Pride March takes place on Sunday 6 February from 11.00am. For more information, visit: www.midsumma.org.au for details.

Image: Midsumma Pride March – photo by Dean Arcuri

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With an incredible line-up of spectacular performances, exhibitions, visual arts, live music, theatre, spoken word, cabaret, film, parties, sport, social events, and public forums, Visit Gay Australia takes a look at twelve events worth checking out!

50 Years: Queers & Pioneers
Cracked Actors Theatre (CAT): 5 & 6 February (online)
2023 will mark 50 years since PM John Gorton put forward a motion in Canberra that “in the opinion of this House homosexual acts… should not be subject to the criminal law” – 50 Years: Queers & Pioneers will showcase artists who will present their work for the chance to be selected for a fully produced season at CAT for Midsumma Festival 2023 to celebrate this milestone!

And She Would Stand Like This
Stables – Meat Market: 3 – 12 February
Presented by Antipodes Theatre Company, Greek tragedy meets Harlem ball culture in this fierce and fabulous new play, adapted from Euripides’ The Trojan Women and inspired by the seminal documentary Paris is Burning. Set in a hospital waiting room during a mysterious plague, the play is a modern observation of HIV/AIDS and reimagines the Greek characters as Queer bodies of colour fighting for survival.

An Intimate Evening with Granny Bingo
Comedy Republic: 27 & 30 January
These darling old dames of the comedy scene have been titillating audiences for decades at their hilarious bingo night, and now they’re going to bare all in this intimate evening, reflecting on their many years on this planet. After a sold out season at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Edith Vale (Thomas Jaspers) and Maureen McGillicuddy (Kyle Minall) are back for two nights only with their hilarious show An Intimate Evening With Granny Bingo.

Benched
Footscray Community Arts Centre: 10 – 12 February
Astroturf. Mum’s Tupperware of orange slices. A bench. You pick the ball, shoe, or frisbee and take a seat on the bench. You will hear a story. You will leave your orange rind on the astroturf. Jamila will remain on the bench. Actor and award-winning playwright Jamila Main invites you to join them on the bench for an intimate moment of rumination on athleticism within a body whose access needs subvert the assumed binary of disability. This is one-on-one theatre that is joyful, conversational, and candid.

BROAD
Gasworks Arts Park: 27 – 29 January
Agnes Moorehead. Rhonda Burchmore. Vivienne Westwood with a tit out. There is something heady about those brassy broads we grew up admiring. So many (b)older women, so many (A)FAB icons to look up to. So what happens when these camp inspo glamour heroines feel a bit close to your own sagging jawline? Well, you get to write your own ridiculous story and paint your own ridiculous face in a cabaret about how anyone can find their Endora – bejeweled kaftan and all – and take on the world. Multi-award-winning rock cabaret artist Geraldine Quinn returns to Midsumma Festival with her first original show in four long years – BROAD. Growing up idolising fabulous, bold, brassy (mostly ginger) older women – now she’s becoming one. So Quinn makes her overdue return to the cabaret stage to release everyone’s inner DGAF Dame.

Dioramas
Ross Watson Gallery: 22 January – 6 February
Watson’s new series, Dioramas, demonstrates an exciting development in the artist’s work, and explores personal themes relevant to his experience of the global pandemic and lock downs. A starting point was offered by the experience and the artist began imagining creating painted theatre sets or glass showcases which may be be viewed by an audience – many of which we are observing online in numerous countries as international travel remains restricted. Artworks from Watson’s 1992 Self Series also feature, which coincides with his artwork included in the upcoming NGV QUEER exhibition.

Melbourne Pride
Gertrude Street Precinct: Sunday 13 February 
To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Victoria. Midsumma acknowledge the courage and resilience of our LGBTQIA+ community. Melbourne Pride will celebrate with live performances, music, circus, interactive activities, community stalls and demonstrations. In a contemporary exploration of festivities, we will embark on a journey of equality through inspirational arts, community involvement, food, and culture. This iconic event will feature live performances from Deborah Cheetham, KYVA, Alice Ivy, Vetta Borne, YUMMY, All The Queens Men, Kira Puru, Jawbreakers, Reuben Kaye and Electric Fields.

Midsumma Pride March
Fitzroy Street, St Kilda: Sunday 6 February
Parade, pride and party come together once a year in Melbourne’s iconic march celebrating solidarity in gender and sexuality diversity. A chance to tie up your bootlaces or throw on your heels, and join the spectacular act of unity that is Midsumma Pride March. Whether you join the fanfare by foot or by wheel, with workmates or with family, with friends or with lovers, as ally or as queer, Midsumma Pride March is for you. Midsumma Pride March is one of the Festival’s signature events, where over 8,000 marchers usually take to the streets down Fitzroy Street in St Kilda each year.

Run
Bluestone Church Arts Space: 1 – 5 February
Yonni is a seventeen-year-old gay Jewish kid. His devoutly religious family is preparing for the weekly shabbat, but he can think only about his schoolmate, Adam, with whom he is infatuated. As the evening’s events unfold – some of them real, some of them imagined – a deeply personal story about first love and infatuation expands to interrogate the difficult intersection of religion and queerness. Encompassing a world beyond space and time, Stephen Laughton’s Run explores what it means to love, to lose, to rebel and how to grieve. Run will also be presented at Gasworks Arts Park: 8 – 12 February.

SLUTNIK™
Theatre Works: 1 – 4 February
Part lip-sync, part fighting montage, part open mic night… SLUTNIK™ is a queer glitter-bomb of an event detailing the final fortnight on Earth of the International Fleet of Lesbian Space Cannibals. We’re just about to lift-off, and motherboard has initiated very important and very gay training for the lesbians on board before their intergalactic travels. They’ve not given away their lift-off location… but rumour has it that wherever they are, they’re living on the flesh of selected political officials. Directed by Tansy Gorman, SLUTNIK™ by Flick is a love letter to queer relationships and friendships.

The Art Hunter presents Twilight Salon
Alex Theatre, St Kilda: 29 January & 5 February
In recent times, David Hunt has launched a weekly YouTube channel – The Art Hunter, where he conducts a one-on-one interview with an artist, up close and personal, covering all disciplines: visual arts, actors, dance, opera, musical theatre, authors, cabaret and theatre/film writers… for Midsumma, David presents Twilight Salon – a panel show discussing the arts with live performances & interviews. Guests include: Maree Coote, Moria Finucane, Gerard O’Conner, John O’Hara, Ali McGregor, Stephen Russell, Richard Watts and Warren Wills.

The Shy Manifesto
Bluestone Church Arts Space: 1 – 5 February
Seventeen-year-old Callum is proud to be shy and he thinks you should be too – because what this noisy, crazy world needs right now is a bit more self-restraint. Tonight he is to address an audience of radical shy comrades and incite the meek to finally rise up and inherit the earth. But memories of the previous night’s drunken escapades at a classmate’s end-of-term party keep intruding, and threaten to upend the fragile identity he has so carefully created for himself. Jake Matricardi stars in this bittersweet coming-of-age comedy/drama about a shy boy who is fed up of constantly being told to come out of his shell.

The 2022 Midsumma Festival continues to Sunday 13 February. For more information and full program, visit: www.midsumma.org.au for details.

Image: Midsumma Pride March (supplied)

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Fringe is bringing the official guide closer to audiences across the state with over 150 collection points including your local Foodland Supermarket and BankSA branch.

With the official poster winner Mali Isabel’s vibrant and beautiful artwork gracing the cover, the 2022 Fringe guide encourages people to explore online, using QR codes to link to more information and direct ticketing links.

Adelaide Fringe Director and CEO Heather Croall says the jam-packed guide ignites the buzz and excitement of Fringe. “When the official Fringe guide lands every year, it really signifies the kick-off of Fringe,” she said.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with the iconic Foodland stores which are local, independently owned supermarkets to help distribute the guide across over 90 stores in South Australia.”

“There are over 1000 shows this year across more than 350 venues, it’s always so exciting to see the amazing level of creativity and innovation in Adelaide Fringe.”

“This year Fringe hosts a wide variety of shows, experiences and events, and audiences can experience Fringe in their own way with open air, indoor and online events available – so start planning,” said Ms Croall.

Come and explore the biggest Arts Festival in Australia – collect your guide from your local Foodland Supermarket, BankSA branch, Fringe Box Office or registered Fringe venue.

The 2022 Adelaide Fringe runs from 18 February to 20 March. For more information and to view full program,visit: www.adelaidefringe.com.au for details.

Image: Monski Mouse and The Jack and Annie Show – photo by Nikki Sztolc

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Established officially in July 2021, the Gladstone region-based organisation is gearing up to make a big splash on the local event scene in June 2022 with the inaugural Rainbow on the Reef Pride Festival from 10 – 12 June 2022.

The exciting festival program has been co-designed using results and recommendations from the organisation’s community survey which was launched in May 2021. The event will be a celebration of PRIDE unlike anything seen before in the region.

Rainbow on the Reef Ltd President, Heather Richards, said the community survey had received over 200 responses from across Queensland. These results were collated and reviewed at an event planning session in October where the wider community was invited to participate.

“The survey reached a really diverse range of community members, and the responses have provided clear directions for our team to work with,” she said.

“The event planning is continuing with regular community meetings held where we collaborate to co-design and deliver each element of the festival. It really will be for our community, by our community!”

Heather said Rainbow on the Reef Ltd had also recently launched their first Sponsorship Prospectus that is available to organisations and businesses who wish to explore opportunities to support the Pride 2022 Festival.

“We have come together to help nurture a culture of PRIDE in identity and diversity for the Gladstone Region and beyond. We invite organisations and businesses that share these values to review our prospectus and explore opportunities to support the event through sponsorship to help bring our community’s vision to life,” said Heather.

The Rainbow on the Reef Ltd board also invites LGBTQIA+ community members, their friends, families, and allies to come along to their community meetings. The next community meeting will be on Tuesday 11 January 2021 from 5.30 pm at the Philip Street Communities and Families Precinct in Gladstone.

“We would love for some additional volunteers to come on board. There are opportunities to suit any level of commitment and skill set,” said Heather. “It is a great opportunity to be part of something BIG and meaningful for our community.”

“Save the date, and follow us on Instagram or Facebook. We have some big announcements coming up that we are very excited to share,” said Heather.

The three-day Rainbow on the Reef PRIDE Festival 2022 will launch on Friday 10 June, and promises to accelerate and celebrate PRIDE across the weekend. For more information on Rainbow on the Reef, visit: www.facebook.com for details.

Image: Rainbow on the Reef (supplied)

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“Covid and how to handle it remains an ongoing challenge and given the evolving nature of the current Omicron outbreak, it’s not just lip service when we say the safety of our artists, audiences, volunteers, crews and partners particularly our Higher Risk groups (Aboriginal, HIV status, 55+ and disabilities, immunocompromised) is and always will be our number one priority ongoing and that Naughty Noodle Fun haus will continue to exceed expectations with regards to cultural safety and duty of care,” said Festival Director Glitta Supernova.

“Navigating through these tricky times as an Arts and Culture Organisation is the biggest professional challenge of my lifetime, definitely not for the faint of heart. The Twist team has worked tirelessly over the past twelve months to reduce risk, put in place multiple plans, prepare for the worst but this time round there was simply no way forward. A record number of cases surrounding us and close contact isolation and result times presenting too great a risk for the festival to take place amongst the chaos.”

“It has tested our physical stamina and metal resilience. That said and on the flip side we welcomed unexpected and new volunteer champions and doers to the organisation and more local business involvement than ever before from Long Jetty to Umina beach.”

“Being able to offer up something of this magnitude to our coastie communities and visitors is something we will be coming back with once again in September, seeing our region benefiting from the cultural and economic benefits that the Coastal Twist LGBTIQ Arts & Culture brings when people get together, share experiences and togetherness while seeing, feeling and experiencing art, acceptance & culture, its actually vital to our souls.”

“There is a very real sadness of seeing a year’s work snuffed out just 2 weeks from delivery and with thousands of hours of work undone. We had been so very excited by the elevated and expanded January Festival program offering to be shared this summer, from world class superstars Electric Fields to parents and the region’s leading youth organisations hosting the first Youth rainbow dance, all epitomising the celebration, visibility and inclusion through culture for the entire coast that is what Coastal Twist is all about.”

“We are sorry there is no way to push through for January and are simultaneously so full of immense gratitude to our Government, Corporate and local partners & stakeholders for standing by Coastal Twist Festival team and artists and we very much look forward to bringing this festival in for September, the Audience support is phenominal from across the country and tickets for all activations are avaliable now.”

“Current ticket holders will recieve an email within the next few days detailing their options which include keeping their tickets for the new dates (nothing more to do), cancelling (and getting a full refund) allocating a credit for any activation we hold over the next 12 months.”

“We cannot wait to present a stunning, vibrant and hugely entertaining festival that has been a long time in the making to say the least!” said Glitta Supernova.

The 2022 Coastal Twist LGBTIQ Arts & Culture Festival will now run 27 September – 3 October. For more information, visit: www.coastaltwist.org.au for details.

Image: Victoria Mykles Queen and June Richards – photo by Lisa Haymes

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PUT DARWIN ON YOUR MUST-VISIT LIST

Review by Rod Stringer – September 2021

It was a nice warm (38 degrees!) Darwin day to pay a visit to one of Visit Gay Australia’s newest members and meet manager Taryn Hughes, along with some of her great staff members.

Palms City Resort is in an ideal location right on the esplanade and within walking distance of CBD shopping, bars and first class restaurants.

Palms features private cabin style villas and stylish rooms overlooking tropical landscaped gardens.

I was shown around the property by assistant manager Gina and was also introduced to her assistant Richard who is the best go-to person to ask about gay welcoming clubs and restaurants in the city.

According to Richard, “Palms has hosted many gay couples (and singles) in the past who enjoy the convenient location and facilities.”

Thanks to our GALTA ambassadors – Husbands that Travel – for introducing us to this wonderful LGBTIQ+welcoming property in the heart of Darwin.

More details and to book click here.

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