Writing ourselves into history

Hosts: Rae (they/them)

Today Rae (they/them) chats about recent trans rights issues in the news, including: Republicans in the House of Representatives introducing H.R. 7661, an anti-trans bill that would create a nationwide ban on LGBTQ+ books in public schools; the New South Wales government introducing proposed changes to the state’s Library Act aimed at protecting public libraries from book bans and censorship; and Brisbane drag performers winning an appeal, after an earlier vilification decision was overturned, finding that “drag is a vital and central aspect of queer culture.”

On Tranz Verse, poet River Snowdrop reads 'One Month On T'. Rae chats with Eli Sutherland (they/them) Festival Director of Trans Book Festival (TBF) about what you can expect from the festival being held on 17-19 April in Naarm. TBF is the only writers’ festival in the southern hemisphere focused on uplifting and celebrating trans and gender diverse (TGD) literary excellence in all narrative forms.

Rae also interviews Toby Fitch (he/they) about their new book Or: An Autobiography, which explores fluidities of self, body, and imagination. Its central long poem, ‘The Or Tree’, is a speculative version of the fictitious poem ‘The Oak Tree’, by Virginia Woolf’s Orlando.

🔗 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
• 01:13 - Community News and Events
• 04:25 - Tranz Verse: 'One Month On T' by River Snowdrop
• 06:24 - Eli Sutherland: Trans Book Festival (TBF) Part 1
• 20:11 - Eli Sutherland: Trans Book Festival (TBF) Part 2
• 32:13 - Toby Fitch: Or: An Autobiography Part 1
• 39:36 - Toby Fitch: Or: An Autobiography Part 2
• 47:34 - Toby Fitch: Or: An Autobiography Part 3
• 55:50 - Toby Fitch: Or: An Autobiography Part 4

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

📸 ID: Eli Sutherland (left) and Toby Fitch's book 'Or: An Autobiography' (right) bursting out of the Tranzmission logo.

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.