Tranz Verse: Prema Arasu's Vampire Squid

Today Rae (they/them) chats with Prema Arasu (they/she) about their poetry collection Vampire Squid, the relationship between humans and the deep sea, and creatures that resist binary classification, like the vampire squid and hermaphrodidic flatworms. Rae also introduces Tranz Verse, a new segment highlighting poetry readings from trans and gender diverse creatives living in Magandjin and beyond. This month’s Tranz Verse features Ciaren (they/them), m k zariel (it/its), Lucian (they/them), and Amber (they/them).

In trans news, Rae chats about the Pride Flag being reinstated at Stonewall; the Miss Tasmania Pageant condemning online abuse directed at transgender contestant Lucy Faulkner; new research suggesting publicly funding gender-affirming hormones and surgeries could save Australia’s Medicare system millions; Olivia Coleman feeling 'sort of non-binary'; and Open Doors celebrating 25 years!

In events, Andrea Gibson's 'Come See Me in the Good Light' will be screening on Thurs 19 Feb at echo & bounce thanks to SpeakEasy Poetry. And Trans Joy Meanjin are holding a fundraiser on Thurs 26 Feb at the Cave Inn to make the world's largest trans flag for Trans Day of Visibility.

🔗 If you'd like to listen back to the unedited episode - with the music - head to our On Demand website. And don't forget to follow our socials at Facebook and Instagram.

Timestamps and Links:

• 00:00 - Acknowledgement of Country
• 00:20 - Welcome to Tranzmission
• 01:04 - Community News and Events
• 05:46 - Prema Arasu: Vampire Squid Part 1
• 15:22 - Prema Arasu: Vampire Squid Part 2
• 16:24 - Prema Arasu: New Species
• 20:50 - Prema Arasu: Top Surgery
• 23:40 - Prema Arasu: Vampire Squid 4 - Squidtember
• 28:16 - Prema Arasu: Fencing Lessons with Hermaphroditic Flatworms
• 29:32 - Prema Arasu: Other works and events
• 32:04 - Tranz Verse
• 33:17 - Tranz Verse: Ciaren 'Untitled'
• 36:09 - Tranz Verse: Lucian 'Far Above Gender I Soar'
• 38:24 - Tranz Verse: mk zariel 'transistor'
• 40:00 - Tranz Verse: Amber 'Identity'

Community News and Events

• Q News: Pride flag back at Stonewall after Trump administration ban by Jordan Hirst
• Q News: Miss Tasmania pageant condemns online hatred towards trans contestant by Dean Arcuri

• The Conversation: Funding surgery and hormones for trans people can save Medicare millions: new research by Karinna Saxby, Brendan Nolan, Clue Coman, and Dennis Petrie

• Star Observer: Open Doors Youth Service Celebrates 25 Years With Trans Youth Art Exhibition by Michael James

• Shimmer @Museum of Brisbane until April
• Come See Me In The Good Light
• Star Observer: Queensland To Create World’s Largest Trans Flag To Support Trans Youth by Michael James
• Trans Justice Project - We’ll unveil the world’s largest trans flag this Trans Day of Visibility 🏳️‍⚧️: Fundraising Concert @The Cave Inn Thursday, 26 Feb, 6pm AEST

Prema Arasu Events and Works

• Vampire Squid
• Fencing Lessons with Hermaphroditic Flatworms
• Words on the Waves Writers Festival
• The Book of Sea Monsters: Leviathans of Literature

Support Services

• QLife - 1800 184 527
• QC LGBT Mental Health Services
• Open Doors Youth Services Inc.
• LifeLine - 13 11 14
• Beyond Blue - 1300 22 4636
• How to Support Transgender & Gender-questioning Youth
• Transgender Map

Get Involved

• Trans Justice Project
• Meanjin Peoples Pride
• Parents of Trans Kids Speak Out
• Protect Trans Kids QLD

4ZZZ's community lives and creates on Turrbal, Yuggera, and Jagera land. Sovereignty was never ceded.

Produced and recorded by Rae at 4zzz in Fortitude Valley, Meanjin/Brisbane Australia on Turrabul and Jaggera Country and audio and cover image edited by Tobi for podcast distribution for Creative Broadcasters Limited.