Oh Hey, Gays!

Vollie LaVont by Oh Hey Gays

Happy Mardi Gras, everybody!!!! ​ If you didn't know, we celebrated Mardi Gras this weekend in Sydney. It's the annual LGBTQ+ event that runs for weeks and finishes with a parade down Oxford Street. ​ There's so much history involved in the event and this week Sarah and I unpack all of that and more!

So this week Sarah and I take a look at Martina Navratilova's recent comments about trans people in sport. She says that “Letting men compete as women simply if they change their name and take hormones is unfair — no matter how those athletes may throw their weight around,” Navratilova wrote. ​ So Sarah and I take a look at that. Is she out of her mind? Is she telling the truth? Can men pretend to be trans in order to win sporting scholarships? We examine the evidence.

Hey so this episode my friend Brooke and I went to talk to the incredibly talented, Handsome. We are both huge fans of her music and it was a match made in heaven when she agreed to come on the podcast.  ​ We spoke to her for over an hour about everything you can think of. She gave her time and her thoughts on life to us so freely that when we left we did cartwheels in the hotel hallway we were so excited.  ​

This week Sarah and I talk about gay slang. Well, derogatory words I guess. Is it appropriate for LGBTQI people to use derogatory terms with each other? Or should we not use them at all? And how do you feel when straight people use them? ​ I think we can and should use them, but maybe you don't? Ya'll know Sarah probably doesn't think we should. ​ It's an interesting topic. I also discuss my week of drag race. #TeamManila

With the recent news about the attack on Jussie Smollett, Sarah and I talk homophobia. Why in 2019 are we still unable to walk down a street without the far of being beaten up or have something yelled at us? It drives me crazy, as you'll see in this ep.

My chat with Robin Hammond was one of those moments in your life where you realise you're not doing enough. Of anything, for anyone. ​ You might know the really popular Instagram account, Witness Change. It's visual storytelling platform that documents human rights abuses A project of that organisation is Where Love is Illegal. It shares LGBTQI stories of survival from around the world. And that's why I wanted to talk to Robin. ​ I hope you enjoy the chat. He's a really great guy and the work he does is so important.

Horoscopes by Oh Hey Gays

We are at the end of Season 3! I can't believe it and I want to thank you all for listening and supporting us. We're finishing Season 3 with just the two of us, discussing a situation I was part of on the weekend. It really left me thinking hard for a few days about expectations - our own and everyone else's. Again, thanks for listening and see you in the new year!

So I'm guessing ya'll remember our episode last season with Brandi Love and how incredible she is? Right? Well guess what - she's on again!  ​ I feel like Brandi Love is now a best friend of Oh Hey, Gays! & you know what, we like it! She's so smart and funny and articulate and honestly remains one of our favourite guests.  I had some questions this time for Brandi that I knew only she could answer and I'm so grateful she let me ask them. We talk staying healthy in the industry, squirting, anal sex and more! Hope you enjoy!

So anyone that knows me, knows how much I love drag queens. I follow a few on Instagram and am an absolute devotee of RuPaul's Drag Race.  ​ One of the Queens I follow is Kari Kerning and I've been busting to speak to her for so long. She's a New York Queen, a Concept Queen and just a gorgeous human being.  ​ We chat literally about everything and I wish I could have stayed talking for hours.  ​ Thanks again, Kari. I'm forever grateful I got to be part of your world for an hour.

Hey guys, first up I'd like to say how lucky I feel to do this podcast. I've met some of the best people doing it and Eleanor is one of them. ​ She's one of those kinds of people who dream really big and actually set out to do what they dream about. She also inspires a serious amount of people along the way. She recently competed in the Great Pacific Race that took 62 days to complete in a 7.6m ocean rowing boat. Like, holy shit guys! That's intense! ​ But I guess it's not about the race - it's about pushing mental limits and putting trust in yourself. She's a super cool lady and it was an amazing chat.

Guess what, everyone?! Even if you're part of the LGBTQI community, you still have rights! Astonishing isn't it? ​ Having recently experienced my own very special kind of discrimination, and discrimination in the past, I was keen to shine a light on what rights we actually have in Australia. Turns out, there are a few. From workplace situations to family matters, LGBTQI people can access services (and often free) if they need them. I sat down with Matilda Alexander from the LGBTQI Legal Service in Brisbane, Australia to talk about the law and where we actually stand when we come across a situation that we don't think is right.

Hey so I interviewed YouTube legend and LGBT sex educator, Stevie Boebi this week. ​ I harassed her manager A LOT to get this interview and I'm glad I did. Thanks Dan! ​ We talk YouTube, LGBT sex education and illness. It's super fun and Stevie is great as per usual.

So I saw this Ted Talk a few months ago and was incredibly moved by Morgana's story. So much so that I immediately had to contact her and ask her to come on my podcast. ​ Her talk is called "The Danger of Hiding Who You Are" and in it, she comes out to an audience full of her colleagues. ​ As moving as that is, it's the story of why she decided to come out that really gets you thinking. ​ I'm not going to say anymore - watch the video and then listen to the podcast. We'd love to hear what you think.

So you want to be a straight ally? Good news! You can be! ​ With so much going on around the world lately in regard to LGBTQI rights, we need all the support we can get. ​ On this episode, Sarah and I discuss the logistics of being a straight ally, how you can do it and how you can do it well. I also get a bit worked up about how it feels to always be fighting for our rights. It's a fun ep.

This week I sat down with two of my favourite homosexuals, my pals Nicole and Jarrad to talk about rainbow families. We are all parents but have all taken VERY different paths to form our families and it's interesting to learn about our differences. ​ I think we often hear a lot of critical talk about LGBT families but I'm here to tell you - there's a lot of thought and planning that goes into making a rainbow family and they come in all shapes and colours. Hope you enjoy this episode - it was fun to record.

Shea Diamond. It's hard to even know where to start but to say she's completely blown me away would be an understatement. As soon as I saw the video clip for her acoustic version of ‘American Pie' I knew I had to move mountains to speak to her. And mountains I moved. She shares stories about growing up, being trans, going to prison and what it means to live your truth. I'm not going to say anymore - Shea speaks for herself. She's thought-provoking, articulate and it's worth every second of your time. The best hour I've spent with someone in a long time. Trust me when I say this amazing lady is gonna change the world and I'm gonna be right there cheering her on.

So in between season 2 & 3, I wanted to put up a few mini eps each week so you don't miss us too much. This one - Sarah and I talk about stress. What stresses you? How do you deal with your stress? Should I really have to put down my device in order to stop my stress? We find out!

So in between season 2 & 3, I wanted to put up a few mini eps each week so you don't miss us too much. This one - Sarah and I talk about casual sex. We cover how to do it, what kind of fetishes you might come across and how some of us are just way better at it than others. Hint: not me.

So in between season 2 & 3, I wanted to put up a few mini eps each week so you don't miss us too much. This one - Sarah and I ask each other a bunch of questions with hilarious results. Hope you enjoy!

So Sarah and I were both really lucky to sit down with living legend, Miss Coco Peru recently.  ​ Sarah and I are huge fans and it made sense that she would be the icing on the cake for Season 2.  ​ Coco is without a doubt one of the greatest performers in the industry. She's done film and theatre and her one-woman shows are legendary but it's her humour, her compassion and her activism that sets her apart from most.  ​ I feel like she needs no introduction so if you aren't familiar, head over to her YouTube page and prepare to spend hours giggling hysterically to yourself.  ​ ​

So when I saw a picture of Terri Butler living her best life at Mardi Gras, I knew I wanted to interview her for the podcast.  ​ She's one of those people that you could sit and talk to for hours. She's funny, really smart and has that special knack of making you feel comfortable right away.  ​ We talk about a lot of stuff in this interview but of course I focus on the stupid marriage survey, we talk LGBTQI rights for the next 18 months and also, why it's important to get involved in what's happening around you.

Ya'll some thirsty bitches for our Monique Brumby episode. Turns out - you all bloody loved it. I had so many emails and messages that I literally could not believe what was happening. Every day someone told me how much they loved the interview and begged me to do another one.  Full disclosure - I could literally talk to her everyday so you weren't twisting my arm or anything. She's so funny and smart and nice, completely lovely and all the other really good words you can use to describe someone. I love chatting to her.  ​ We talk tragic family photos, how to keep fish alive, a new album and she shares a Bangles story that I feel is gonna wake me up in a cold sweat for the next 20 years and it didn't even happen to me.  ​

Religion is one of those funny things, isn't it. I've known a lot of people who really struggle with their beliefs and their sexuality, as if the two cannot exist together. Some people think you can only have one or the other which seems kind of crazy to me.   ​ I'm not a religious person but I'm so interested in what religion can and does do to the mental health of gay people. Having been on the receiving end of some good old fashioned hate mail recently, it's only made me more curious about this idea that gay people are sinners when I'm pretty sure I remember Jesus only ever preached love.

You might remember our incredibly popular porn episode and how I talked about a lovely lady I had discovered called Brandi Love. Hold onto your hats - BRANDI LOVE IS ON THIS EPISODE! A contender for the nicest lady in the universe award, she's also super smart, really funny, a kick ass business lady and an award-winning MILF. And she's a fan of the podcast! What a package!

Dr Rebecca Ray is a Clinical Psychologist, author and creator of the instagram page @Happihabits. 

Hey pals, so I'm going to start doing a lot more episodes where we share stories about people's lives. Ever since interviewing Rodney Croome, I've realised the more we share our stories, the less fear some people have about our lives.  ​ I was really lucky to sit down with the super cool Jaxxon Chilli this week and listen to his trans story. Jaxxon runs TBar at Sporties (in Brisbane, Australia) and he's one of the coolest people I've spoken to in a long time. His story is amazing - it's funny and heart-warming and I know you'll love it as much as I did. Jaxxon, thank you again for sharing your story with me and I'll see you on the 8September for TBar!

Full disclosure - I was moved beyond belief to hear Rodney talk about his life of activism and to hear what Tasmania was like when I was growing up. ​ Before I spoke to him, I thought I knew about what he'd done for the LGBTQIA community but believe me, I didn't. ​ He was right there in the fight for rights when people were calling for the death penalty for gay people. Yeah, the death penalty. ​ It's a big interview and it covers a lot of information. Let me know what you think.

LGBTQI icons. They're everywhere! It seems like everyone is or is vying to be an icon to our amazing community.  ​ But what makes an icon? Can they be straight? Or should we focus more on our community? Is 'fabulous' the only credential? Or should we want more from our icons?  ​ This episode Sarah and I discuss our personal icons; that time I asked Tracy Grimshaw out for coffee and Sarah gets spooked by a ghost cat. Fun times.

You might know her from 'I kissed a girl'. Or you might know her from being one of the greatest artists of all time. ​ There's no denying how fantastic Jill Sobule is. Her music is character-driven, political and turns simple life observations into beautiful songs you cannot get out of your head. Ever. ​ I was absolutely honoured recently to sit down and have a chat to Jill. Listen as I try to keep my shit together while talking to one of my favourite artists.

So June is Pride month and along with the celebrations and the conversations, I thought it would be a good opportunity to delve into the history of Pride. Why do we have Pride? Where did it all begin? Is it important and relevant for today? I'm sure you've all heard of the Stonewall riots in New York in 1969. These riots catapulted #lgbtq rights into the living rooms of people all over the world. I've done some research this week (you know how much I love research) and I take Sarah through the event step by step - from the political feels after WWII to the aftermath of the event and why we celebrate Pride now.

This episode I was absolutely honoured to sit down and chat with one of my favourite Australian singer/songwriters, Monique Brumby. ​ Not only is she brilliant at what she does, she's a deadset legend to go with it. ​ I had such a great time chatting with her that I'm now confident to call her a friend of the show. Enjoy, guys. ​ Check out her website for tour info etc.

Yes, it's time for the sexual health episode.  ​ There has been some talk that kids in school aren't getting a proper education when it comes to sex education. It's a big issue. We don't touch on it at all.  ​ Sarah talks to us about an adventure she had after a condom broke and I reminisce about the time my mum told me about the birds and the bees.  ​ You won't want to miss this one, hunty.

Did you know that young LGBTQI people are 5 times more likely to commit suicide? Or that transgender people 18+ are nearly 11 times more likely to commit suicide? And that's not even the half of it.  ​ Mental health is a big deal and we need to take care of each other. This episode Sarah and I talk about our own experience with mental health - I discuss how I'm a nervous wreck most of the time and she talks about her transition. It's an extra special glimpse into our lives that you definitely didn't ask for.

Politics. Yawn. Old people insulting each other in parliament and thinking they know best when making decisions about our lives. ​ So how important is it to be a political gay? Do we even have a choice? How much change can we actually bring by marching and campaigning? ​ I'm also lucky enough to have a chat with Sally Rugg - prominent lesbian & IMO the face of the marriage equality campaign. I also find out that she is NOT a fan of RuPaul's Drag Race. Sigh. But we manage to fill the time with her terrific opinions.

You can't deny that fashion and style have always played a large part in the queer community. Oppression and forced secrecy in the face of homophobic communities has meant that queer people have always had to know how to read clothing more carefully. I've always loved those stories about identifying gay men by wearing a red tie between 1920 and 1950 to wearing shoe laces instead of shoe buckles in 18th century Paris, but it's more than just whimsical tales. Queer fashion has been used to express sexual orientation to like-minded peers in eras where your life could have been at risk if you got it wrong. ​ In this episode, I'm going to take a look at LGBTIQ style and the impact the queer community has had on fashion and how we're still fighting for the right to express our gender and preferences on the street and especially in the workplace.

Gays! On film! Shut up and take my money! I want to see them all and I want to see them all the time! How great does it feel when you hear there's a movie coming out that focuses on gay people?! My heart soars. Or even better - when you don't realise there are going to be gay characters and you're totally taken off guard (hello, Atomic Blonde).  ​ It's no secret that my favourite gay film is Carol (at last count I'd watched it 47 times) but there are more and more gay-centric films being released now that I feel a bit spoilt for choice.  ​ In this episode we talk gays on film - favourite movies, favourite moments, gays on the small screen (yes, Xena) and anything else we can fit into 30 minutes.  ​ Also, please enjoy my Carol collage.

I've never watched porn or really been interested in it but found myself on a wild ride through the middle of it recently. Which made me think - it's a multi-billion dollar industry that nobody talks about! In Queensland alone, people spend an average of 9 minutes watching porn with the most popular scenarios being lesbian and step mum. It's got me so intrigued. The stigma alone is enough to drive you crazy. Are you watching ethical porn? Are you even aware of it? Are you in a relationship? Does your partner know you watch and if so, how do they feel about it? A total mindfield. So I've got the gang together to go hard and uh, get to the bottom of the best gay porn and why the hell no one is talking about it.

If you've come to this podcast to receive advice on how to keep a genuine, human connection between you and another person alive, you're probably going to be disappointed. ​ If you've come here listen to stories about my toilet of a love life and how you can take active steps to avoid my mistakes, you're in luck! ​ Also we'll be talking relationships in general - horror stories, lovely stories and I'm pretty sure Sarah mentions Canada a million times.

We've all come out of the closet. Sometimes there are open arms waiting to catch you and sometimes there's a wild mob with fire and pitchforks, hoping to scare you back in. Sigh.  ​ It's also not something that happens once. You could potentially have to come out all over again every time you make a change in your life. It can be a tough gig.    ​ This is a topic close to my heart as my debut into the gay world was not very well received at all. I've sat down with my friend Sarah (who legit has her own special coming out story) to discuss the whole topic - how to do it, how not to do it and what a minefield it can be .