Trans Day of Rest

Being trans is bloody wonderful. Being trans in the world can be bloody exhausting.

Trans Day of Rest was initially conceptualised as a joke. It came out of a conversation among a group of Trans people talking about the days currently given to us: Trans Day of Visibility and Trans Day of Remembrance. While everyone agreed that of course days for mourning and visibility are vital, it would be really nice if we also had a day for trans people to just lay down and do nothing. You know, for balance.

Ultimately, that's what Trans Day of Rest is. 

Trans Day of Rest (the event) will happen from 10am-8pm on Saturday 22nd June 2024 in Brunswick, Naarm.
The aim of the event is to create a space for trans people to come and just... be. There will be some installations, activations, workshops, activities, and performances over the course of the day and night, but the main aim is to create a space that's just for trans people, that's  relaxing and restful to exist in. 

Who can attend?

Trans* people, and their carers/support people/parents/kids**.

*When we say trans, we mean it in the broadest possible sense and there will be no-one checking to make sure anyone's "trans enough". It's just assumed that if you're attending, you exist somewhere in the vast galaxy of transness and gender nonconformity. (If you're not exactly sure how you identify, but feel like being trans-assumed in an all-trans space would be a nice time, this galaxy includes you too).

**Ticketing for Trans Day of Rest is divided into three sessions so that we can manage how many people are in the space throughout the day. Please note sessions 1 (Dawn) and 2 (Day) are all ages, but session 3 (Dusk) is 18+ only. 

What's going to happen throughout the day? 

Rest means different things to different people - restoration, reflection, connection... We've tried to incorporate spaces and activities to fulfil all of these, but sometimes what's most relaxing is just the complete absence of demands, so there's also a whole lot of non-programmed time where you can come and just be! We'll send you an email with a more detailed run-down closer to the event itself for anyone who likes to know exactly what they'll be walking into, but as a brief overview think beanbags, hand massages, craft spaces, guided rituals, nice cuppas, and story-time for grown ups.

COVID-19 Safety - PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE BOOKING!

To keep our community safe, we're taking a layered approach to COVID safety. Trans people have been shown to be at a higher risk of long-term complications from COVID - we're taking this seriously in advance, so that we can relax more on the day.

1. Clean Air - we have multiple air purifiers in the space ensuring a regular turnover of clean air in all spaces. The space is well ventilated indoors (and will be confirmed live with a CO2 monitor), and also has an outdoor area available.

2. Masks - This is a mask mandatory event and everyone who is able needs to wear a high quality mask or respirator (N95 or similar). We'll have N95s on hand if you need one! Obviously you can take off your mask to eat and drink, but we highly encourage you to do this outdoors or in less crowded areas, and to mask up again immediately after. Let's all look out for one another!

3. Testing - All attendees are required to do a rapid test on the day (June 22) and proof of a negative test is required for entry (a photo on your phone is fine). If tests are unavailable to you, we'll have some on hand but please try to let us know in advance. 

4. Let's look out for one another - have a think about the risk level of the spaces you're attending in the week leading up to Trans Day of Rest, and consider popping on a mask in those spaces too! Please don't turn up if you have symptoms or if you've been around someone testing positive, even if you're testing negative. There will be other events.

5. Ongoing care - please let us know if you develop symptoms or test positive in the week following Trans Day of Rest, so that we can inform other attendees. There's no shame in a positive result, only in hiding one. 

ACCESSIBILITY:

Trans Day of Rest will take place on the ground floor of a studio space with two entrances - there are four steps at the front door, and one small step at the back door, covered by a ramp. The space has a gender neutral, wheelchair accessible bathroom with grab rails.

Doorways to each of the rooms in the space are 80cm, 79cm and 76cm wide. For clarity, there are some models of motorised wheelchairs that this might not be wide enough to move through comfortably.  We're really sorry to any mates this will exclude - we've been working with the venue to try to get the doors widened ahead of the event but due to unexpected worker illness it's unlikely to be finished in time. The narrowest point of corridor is 1m wide. 

Various forms of seating will be available, including lounges, hard plastic chairs (with backs), stools, floor cushions, and beanbags.

The venue is accessible via public transport using the 1 and 6 trams, and the 506 bus.

Written instructions will be available for activities and our team of volunteers will be available to assist if you have any questions. 

A walk-through of the venue and activity schedule will be sent through the week of the event when the location is announced.

Can I help out somehow?

Thanks for offering!  If you'd like to volunteer some time on the day, you can sign up to do that HERE. If you're an artist, massage therapist, or another kind of facilitator and have an idea for a contribution, please send an email to hellothemmefatale@gmail.com and we can chat about what's possible. 

You can also help by making a donation! You can do this via the "get tickets" page (you don't have to book tickets to donate).

This event takes place on the stolen lands of the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nations. We pay our respects to Wurundjeri Elders past and present and acknowledge that sovereignty of these lands has never been ceded, and no treaty has been signed. We acknowledge the tens of thousands of years of ongoing Indigenous history, including rich traditions of gender expressions outside of colonial understanding. Always was, always will be Aboriginal Land.

10% of any profit made from this event will go to Pay the Rent.