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13.01.2022 LOVING THEM 12/ many Name: Aiden-Zayde Bryant... Pronouns: He/ Him Age: 21 Grew up in: South Australia Most of the time your kid would probably be happy to sit with you and discuss these things because at least you are trying Something BIG Aiden-Zayde has to say: The most supportive people I had were my parents, I wasn’t out during my early childhood, but they taught me about value and how to treat people the right way. There’s lots of things that I have learnt that I couldn’t have done without them(As a parent) do some research if you don’t understand and just be there for your child. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, most of the time your kid would probably be happy to sit with you and discuss these things because at least you are trying. Q: What changes have you seen (if any) over the last 10 years that have impacted the way you have been able to express your identity? Most of it comes down to social media. When I came out as Transgender there were resources, but these days I see so many young people posting about their journeys and experiences YouTube is a great place to start. Sometimes you just need to hear about someone else’s experiences and see if you relate to it The first year I came out, I felt like I had to look at what society expected of me as a male and adjust my life to that and using social media to find fashion trends etc. was a way of doing that. #projectlovingthem

12.01.2022 LOVING THEM 13/ many . . Name: Lily... Pronouns: She/ her (also happy with they/them) Age: 22 Grew up in: Adelaide Other people might like to have thoughts on these things, but the only person’s thoughts that matter are yours. Something BIG Lily has to say: There is no reason (besides personal gain) to pretend and exclaim that a little girl’s best friend is her ‘boyfriend’, or to tell a little boy that he can’t wear a skirt. There is no good reason to tell a child what and who they are, when you have no idea who they will grow up to be. Q: Throughout your childhood, did you ever feel isolated or marginalised because of your gender/ sexuality/ romantic (or other) identity? When I first worked out I wasn’t straight, I didn’t think I could tell anyone, ever. I felt like it was just another trait of mine which would contribute to my already well-established ‘weirdness’ or alienation from everyone else I genuinely believed being queer was abnormal or at least unusual Another fear which emerged was that my close girl friends would associate my affection and loyalty to my attraction to women. I thought they would all suddenly believe I had feelings for them, which would ultimately make them uncomfortable It was a time filled with a lot of self-hatred and uncertainty. Q: How would you / have you explained gender and sexuality to your children (or a child close to you)? These are the things that you know about yourself, or work out over time, that you are born with. Other people might like to have thoughts on these things, but the only person’s thoughts that matter are yours. Everyone is different and it is important to embrace and celebrate these differences, so everyone can feel comfortable being exactly who they are. . . #projectlovingthem

07.01.2022 LOVING THEM Name: Lily Pronouns: She/ her (also happy with they/them) Age: 22... Grew up in: Adelaide Other people might like to have thoughts on these things, but the only person’s thoughts that matter are yours. Something BIG Lily has to say: There is no reason (besides personal gain) to pretend and exclaim that a little girl’s best friend is her ‘boyfriend’, or to tell a little boy that he can’t wear a skirt. There is no good reason to tell a child what and who they are, when you have no idea who they will grow up to be. Q: Throughout your childhood, did you ever feel isolated or marginalised because of your gender/ sexuality/ romantic (or other) identity? When I first worked out I wasn’t straight, I didn’t think I could tell anyone, ever. I felt like it was just another trait of mine which would contribute to my already well-established ‘weirdness’ or alienation from everyone else I genuinely believed being queer was abnormal or at least unusual Another fear which emerged was that my close girl friends would associate my affection and loyalty to my attraction to women. I thought they would all suddenly believe I had feelings for them, which would ultimately make them uncomfortable It was a time filled with a lot of self-hatred and uncertainty. Q: How would you / have you explained gender and sexuality to your children (or a child close to you)? These are the things that you know about yourself, or work out over time, that you are born with. Other people might like to have thoughts on these things, but the only person’s thoughts that matter are yours. Everyone is different and it is important to embrace and celebrate these differences, so everyone can feel comfortable being exactly who they are.

03.01.2022 LOVING THEM 11/ many MEET ZOE! After a little break from the project, this week's post is back with a bang. Zoe talks about her experiences being a part of the LGBTQIA+ community as a woman in Australia. ... ------- Name: Zoe Mawby Smart Pronouns: She/ her Age: 22 Grew up in: Flinders Ranges and Adelaide I think its impossible not to learn about gender and sexuality, it is all around us and so we have a responsibility to teach kids about it in a better way Something BIG Zoe has to say: "I knew what was expected of a women before I knew I had a choice. I did not realise I was gay in school but I think that highlights the issue that female sexuality is so frowned at, that I thought it was normal for a girl to have no sexual feelings I think if before having a child we analysed everything in its environment and asked ourselves ‘does this reinforce gender roles or does it reinforce a binary gender?’, we would be shocked. We don’t have control over everything but if in the space we do control, we create a super open and safe environment, that might be enough to give a child the opportunity and courage to explore I think we should talk more about the process of discovering our identity. We need to welcome curiosity into the LGBTQIA+ community. Being curious shouldn’t be invalidated by us or the heteronormative community." Q: What do you believe (Australian) schools/ universities could do and/ or provide to be more supportive of, and educated about the LGBTQIA+ community? "Celebrating pride as a school would be a great step in making queer kids comfortable and showing them which of their friends are allies. All schools should address that gender and sexuality is fluid. Schools should have non-gendered bathrooms and protocols in pace for if a student discovers their gender/ sexuality. Also clubs where queer students can support each other I think it’s impossible to not learn about gender and sexuality, it is all around us and so we have a responsibility to teach kids about it in a better way." Q: Throughout your childhood, did you ever feel isolated or marginalised because of your gender/ sexuality/ romantic (or other) identity? "I felt and still feel marginalised because of my gender. Occasionally I have felt marginalised because I don’t have many queer friends and I sometimes feel a little left out of the hetero club I wouldn’t say I was embraced by society when I came out. It felt like admitting a fetish and people would gasp when they heard the rumour. Whenever I talk about anything queer to people outside the community there is this collective held breath like they are anxious to know how far I will go, how open I will be and how uncomfortable I will make them this time." . . #projectlovingthem

03.01.2022 LOVING THEM 10/ many - Name: Sarah/ Sare Pronouns: She/ her... Age: 41 Grew up in: Melbourne Treat people as a whole person and don’t stigmatise people due to their sexuality or gender choices Something BIG Sare has to say: Treat people as whole people and don’t stigmatise people due to their sexuality or gender choices don’t put them into socially accepted boxes so that they have to ‘conform to social norms’. Q: What advice do you have for parents raising kids in gender and identity safe and supportive environments? Just be congruent to who you are and just let your child choose who they want to be, without fear of judgment make it a normal part of conversations like it is with boys liking girls etc. . . . #projectlovingthem