Pridefinder: The Rainbow Road Trip Podcast

Damien (he/him) is a program manager, activist, and proud dad living in Shepparton, Victoria. In this episode, Damien shares his inspiring journey from self-shame to self-love. Reflecting on his upbringing in a faith-based household and enduring years of internalised homophobia, he discusses the importance of building safe and inclusive spaces for LGBTQIA+ communities in regional areas. Damien rec...

Isabella (she/her) and Arlo (they/them) are two best friends from the Macedon Ranges who recently graduated high school. In this episode, Arlo reflects on their experience as a trans-masculine non-binary person navigating high school and undergoing top surgery at a young age. They discusses the challenges of growing up in a regional area and the support they received from family and friends in the...

Sparklez (they/them) is a queer, non-binary youth project worker and advocate from Warrnambool, Victoria. In this episode, Sparklez shares their journey of resilience and self-discovery, beginning with their escape from a small rural town at age 16 to pursue safety and self-acceptance. They discuss their experiences growing up in a deeply isolating environment, finding community in Melbourne, and...

Sandy (they/them) is a queer, non-binary, neurodivergent parent, birth educator, and advocate living in Ballarat. In this episode, Sandy shares their journey of self-discovery, beginning with revelations during the COVID-19 pandemic about their neurodivergence and queerness. Sandy reflects on how they embraced their identity through community connections, personal growth, and representation, trans...

Seth (he/him) is a circus performer, swimming coach, and father living in Albury Wodonga. In this episode, Seth shares his journey of self-discovery, starting with his unexpected leap into the circus at age 10, which helped him embrace his identity as a young gay man in rural Australia. He discusses his experiences as an intercountry adoptee from Colombia, the profound impact of becoming a father...

Mieke Louise (she/her) is a queer singer-songwriter and advocate from Beechworth, Victoria. In this episode, Mieke shares their journey of coming to terms with her bisexuality after growing up in a religious family and the challenges of letting go of harmful beliefs while navigating self-discovery. She discusses the role of songwriting as a therapeutic tool in her journey toward self-love and acce...

Season 2 of The Pridefinder Podcast launches on Friday, January 17, 2025! Join us as we continue exploring the unique stories of regionally living LGBTQIA+ Victorians. Produced by Helene Thomas, this season deepens the journey, highlighting new voices and experiences that resonate with authenticity, courage, and pride. Tune in to hear powerful stories of hope, resilience, and community as we celeb...

Ashlee (she/her) is a lesbian woman who works as the Community Engagement Manager at Midsumma. In the final episode for this series, Ash discusses what it was like growing up as the daughter of arts practitioners and how this affected her coming out story. She speaks to the process of grieving your future and expectations that is entwined with coming out both for the individual and those receiving...

Donna (she/her) is currently a singer in a band called The Lost Girls. In this episode, Donna shares a story about a time she visited Daylesford in 1981 to perform with a feminist band called Nice Girls Don't Spit. She shares about a negative experience she had then after a show and also reflects on a more recent tour to Daylesford and how far it has come to now be a very accepting rainbow communi...

Georgi (she/her) is a queer, cis-gender, endosex 33yr old who lives with a disability, loves labels and lives in Greater Shepparton. In this episode, Georgi shares what she loves about Shepparton and the work that she does supporting LGBTQIA+ young people in the community. Georgi is a passionate advocate, she discusses some small ways that she gives back to community by volunteering and practicing...

David (he/him) and Ka Chun/KC (he/him) are a gay couple who have been living in Shepparton, but are currently planning to move due to feeling unsafe in the community. In this episode, David and KC detail a horrific incident in which they were the subject of an unprovoked hate crime as they were preparing for a small family gathering. KC is a doctor and also outlines some of the ways that he has be...

Ken (he/him) is a bisexual and polyamorous man who is an army veteran living in Benalla. In this episode, Ken shares his experience of growing up in Mansfield and some of his struggles with homophobia. After being publicly outed, Ken has chosen to use his infamy in the community for good by having his door open to anyone that needs a cup of tea and a chat. He prides himself on giving support witho...

Jenni (she/her) is a bus driver who has lived on Yorta Yorta country for most of her life and identifies as being bisexual, but a little more on the lesbian side of the spectrum. In this episode, Jenni discusses her journey of coming out later in life after choosing to follow heteronormative standards as a young person to protect her own safety. Unfortunately, Jenni had several gay friends that di...

Leigh (he/him) is a gay man who has lived in Shepparton his whole life. In this episode, Leigh shares his story of coming out in the 70s and 80s and some of the backlash and hardships he then faced, including a sexual assault. Leigh discusses the difficult relationship that he had with his father and how this lead to him changing his name. Although he has faced many difficulties in his life, Leigh...

Drew (she/her) is a newly out queer person who is excited to be making the transition from 'super ally' to 'baby queer'. In this episode, Drew shares her experience of growing up in Shepparton and the ways that she has had to push back against shame and stigma with people who don't see the beauty in her town like she does. Drew is an incredible advocate and has been working with queer youth for se...

Claire (she/they) is a transgender person who works as an oral health therapist in Wangaratta.​ In this episode, Claire discusses her journey that has brought her to beginning her transition around a year ago. She speaks about how the support of her wife helped her to make the discovery and what it was like to engage with the health services in Wangaratta. Claire was also a part of the My Self: Po...

Kian (he/him) is a trans, gender fluid male who moved to Wangaratta around 3 years ago.​ In this episode, Kian discusses how he has found community within Wangaratta, particularly at LINE (LGBTQIA+ in the North East). He shares that as a country boy, he found the city to be overwhelming, so having a safe space in a smaller town to connect is really important. Kian also uses an electric wheelchair...

Elena (she/they) is a gender queer person who lives in Wangaratta and works as a paramedic.​ In this episode, Elena discusses what it was like for her growing up in Wangaratta and the way that a lot of her friendship group was kept in the closet due to bullying in high school. She then discusses some of the work she's been involved with at LINE Wangaratta and the way that she can see the next gene...

Pipa (they/them) & Rowan (she/they/he) are both young people who live in Wangaratta.​ Pipa & Rowan both share some of their experiences and insights about being queer in a regional town. They are both quite softly spoken, but speak with a gentle wisdom about how they'd like things to continue to improve for young people in north-east Victoria. They share with us what they think are their o...

Steph (they/them) is a 52 year old ambulance worker who lives just outside of Myrtleford.​ In this episode, Steph shares with us what their experience has been like as a part of the 'My Self: Portrait Series' at LINE Wangaratta. They speak to the importance of having safe spaces, especially for shyer queer folk like themselves. Steph reflects on their life long journey towards pride and the way th...

Ceinwen (they/them) is an Art Therapist that has been living in Wangaratta for around 6 years.​ In this episode, Ceinwein speaks to the common experience of growing up regionally and then moving to the city as soon as possible to find community. They share their journey of moving back to Wangaratta and now building a community for young LGBTQIA+ people there. Ceinwen was the facilitator of the My...

Al (they/them) is a non-binary person who is the president and founder of LINE Wangaratta.​ In this episode, Al discusses their journey of moving to Wangaratta with their family and after becoming a single parent, struggling to find community. They have then built LINE (LGBTQIA+ in the North East) Wangaratta from the ground up and speak about the importance of giving people a safe space to explore...

Kellie (she/her/they) is a 58 year old who identifies as nothing but a creative. ​ In this episode, Kellie discusses her work as the Artistic Director of Off The Leash, an independent theatre company that champions new Australian work. She speaks about the importance of bringing relevant art and stories, particularly to regional audiences and the ways that this can gently change some of the social...

Nathan (he/him) is a gay man who grew up in the Latrobe Valley and now lives in Warragul after 6 years of being a flight attendant. ​ In this episode, Nathan discusses what is was like for him growing up Gippsland, his love for travel and the power of choosing to blend in. Nathan is now married to his partner, Ian, who is currently working in Singapore, and together they are expecting two children...

Charli (they/them) is a 17 year old queer and non-binary person who lives with chronic illness. ​ Charli is an artist and, in this episode, they discuss their first exhibition which has been shown at the West Gippsland Arts Centre. They talk us through each of the 5 artworks they have created and the important life event or emotional state that it represents. Charli speaks from their experience of...