Australia’s First Deaf Queer Festival

Melbourne will this weekend play host to Australia’s first Deaf Queer Festival. Described by the organisers as “A weekend packed with accessible celebration, expression and empowerment for our community”, the festival will run from 2 - 4 May at the Victorian Pride Centre.

Over three days, the Deaf Queer Festival will host an array of activities, talks, workshops and more, with a highlight of the program tipped to be the comedy duo Deafies in Drag, who will be doing their first ever performance in Australia.

Workshops will cover topics like Deaf Queer identity, self-expression through performance, and the power of storytelling, while panel talks and open forums will provide opportunities for community conversations and a space to share lived experiences. Saturday hosts a creative celebration of self through costume, dance and performance with the Mask Night, while on Sunday there will be a family barbecue and Deaf Market.

All events will have Auslan interpreters or be delivered by deaf presenters in Auslan.

You can read more here and check out the Deaf Queer Festival website here.