Join us for a cozy evening of art, stories and connection as we gather for Trans Day of Remembrance. Our Open Mic Night is a space to remember, reflect and celebrate trans lives and creativity. Whether you want to share something of your own or just come along to listen, you’ll be welcomed with warmth and community care.

About the Open Mic Night

We are hosting an open mic night for Trans Day of Remembrance, as a way for the LGBTIQA+ community to come together to remember those we have lost, and to hold fast to our continued resilience and resistance. We hope you can join us for a night of trans joy and connection, with plenty of opportunity to share a creative piece (whether it be poetry, music, an art piece, or something else entirely), or to come along just to listen.

To start the night, our art therapist Leticia from the Mental Health and Wellbeing Local will have a free, optional art activity running throughout the event. Join a studio environment for some creative processing or to take a sensory break. Respond to prompts 'remember, honour, elevate’ and contribute to a collaborative community installation or do you own thing with the materials provided. This activity is designed for you to be able to dip in and out of throughout the night.

If you would like to share anything of your own or on behalf of someone else, you can grab a free ticket to pre-register for the event. Feel free to let us know a bit about what you are thinking of sharing and if there is anything you will need from us in terms of setting things up. If there are any accessibility needs, please let us know as well.

You’re also welcome to bring something on the night, with no registration necessary. If you’re interested in attending, we would encourage you to grab yourself a ticket either way. This isn’t mandated, and you’re welcome to drop in without a ticket. This just lets us have a better idea of how many people might be coming!

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at info_justiceq@smls.com.au

Details

Location: The Walker Street Gallery & Art Centre in Dandenong

Address: 1-9 Walker Street, Dandenong VIC 3175

Date & Time: November 19, 6-8pm; the door opens at 5:30pm

As there are multiple spaces in the gallery, there will be signs directing you to the right one.

Parking:

Available on-site on Mason Street
On Walker Street (fees apply)
At the Walker Street multi-deck car park (fees apply).

Dandenong train station and bus terminal are also located a short walk away.

Accessibility:

Accessible access to the building is along Robinson st.
We will try to have adequate signs for access, but if you have any concerns or would like support on the day, please email us to let us know how we can assist you

Light refreshments provided.

Meet Your Hosts

Kavitha

Hi there, my name is Kavitha (she/her) and I am a proud trans woman of Tamil heritage living on stolen and unceded Bunurong Boon Wurrung Country. During the day, I work as the senior lawyer at Justice Q (SMLS), and in my spare time, you will find me goofing around with friends, cuddling my adorable puppy, running at the gym for no good reason, staring at the ceiling in peace, or dancing my heart away. My many queer and trans children bring me the most joy and hope. I will be facilitating and hosting the night. See you there :)

Ruben
Hello! My name is Ruben (they/them), and I work through Thorne Harbour, out at the Dandenong Local as an LGBTIQA+ specialist peer worker. I am neurodivergent queer person who wears my mental health experiences openly, with a passion for activism and social justice. I love using creativity as a form of self-expression, and spend my days hanging out with my loved ones and my dog, playing video games and watching horror.

Charlie
Heya, my name is Charlie (she/they), and I am with Thorne Harbour Health working as a LGBTIQA+ specialist counsellor at the Dandenong Local. Being a queer person of colour and working within systems of harm, I believe the only way I can do this work is through an anti-oppressive and anti-colonial lens. I am passionate in community, activism, and advocacy. My ideal Sunday involves being cozy on the couch, with a cup of hot tea in one hand and a book, probably poetry, in the other.

Fiona
Hi hi, my name is Fiona (she/her) and I work as a social worker for Justice Q, a service providing free legal assistance for and by LGBTQIA+ people in the southeast. I love the southeast, and I love that we can hold cozy events like this for people out here. I'm a granddaughter, aunty and occasional uncle, and look forward to sharing space with you all.

Leticia
Kia ora, I'm Leticia (she/they) a neurodivergent artist and creative arts therapist from Aotearoa, New Zealand. I'm AuDHD and have lived experience of ‘big feelings,’ death choirs, gender fluidity, body dysphoria and being a pākeha presenting māori. I'm passionate about supporting people to access the arts as a resource for wellbeing, identity affirming spaces and community building.

Organisers

This Trans Day of Remembrance Open Mic Night is a collaboration between the Dandenong Mental Health Local, Justice Q, and the Greater Dandenong City Council. The event will be facilitated by Ruben (they/them), Charlie (she/they), and Fiona (she/her), with an art activity run through the night by Leticia (she/they). Check out the bios above for a short introduction of who we are, and what we do.

Contact the host of Trans Day of Remembrance Open Mic Night