The Unsuitable - LGBTQ Stories

Last episode we chatted with Rae Hill who shared their life story and their marriage to our very own Aussie born Dibs. Dibs and I first met back in 2018, when Dibs came to get a suit made from Shane Ave. After a few conversations around their life and their transition it would be Dibs whose story would be the first to be shared on The Unsuitable. Check it out Series 1 Ep 1. Dibs has lived abroad in Montreal, Canada for the past 3 years and is back on Aussie soil for an extended holiday. We couldn’t miss the opportunity to have Dibs back on our podcast to share what they have been up to the past few years and share with us how they met and eventually married the wonderful Rae Hill. For Support Black Dog Institute Beyond Blue Reach Out Follow The Unsuitable on Facebook Instagram Visit the team at Shane Ave for all your suiting needs Shane Ave

Today's guest has an interesting story that saw her leave her homeland in France in search of a better life down under. Arriving on Australian shores in 2012 as a newly married couple, Lucie and her husband settled into Australian life and went through the motions of having a child and securing permanent residency. In 2017, 5 years after landing in Australia, Lucie subconsciously started thinking more about herself and how unhappy she really was. Some self exploration which included cutting her hair short led her down a path that, at the age of 32 she accepted she was gay. She describes it as a light bulb moment that just felt right and liberating. Sadly, this led to a breakdown in her family relationships and today Lucie has no contact with her immediate family. Lucie will share with us the trials and tribulations she has experienced as a result of her coming out. Get in touch with Lucie on Instagram: @lucieptyltd For Support Black Dog Institute Beyond Blue Reach Out Follow The Unsuitable on Facebook Instagram Visit the team at Shane Ave for all your suiting needs Shane Ave

Born to a Buddhist mum and an atheist dad, todays guest was raised in a small family with 60’s hippy parents in Victoria Canada. Rae lived in Central America for a number of years as a young adult which they describe as a very catholic and conservative culture. Having a life long love for fashion they would start their own brand called Origami Customs which is a podcast story of its own and we will explore it more in depth during our chat. Rae identifies as queer non binary and began their own transitioning four years ago. An in depth discussion around non binary transgender. For Support Black Dog Institute Beyond Blue Reach Out Follow The Unsuitable on Facebook Instagram Visit the team at Shane Ave for all your suiting needs Shane Ave

We often hear stories of guests struggles through life not knowing where they fit in terms of their identity but todays guest has a different story to share. In her mid 50’s, Alice found herself in a relationship with a transman and although that relationship didn’t last, Alice knew beyond a measure of doubt that she would never be in a hetro relationship again. Fast forward to today, Alice recently married her soul mate Jen, who was our guest in episode 4, and who she had secretly been admiring from afar for a number of years. As an Applied Mindfulness Coach and Facilitator, Alice will share with us her journey through life and the importance of engaged mindfulness, which I am sure we can all do with. Check out Alice’s podcast Smart Sassy Seniors, that she co-hosts with her wife, Jen. For Support Black Dog Institute Beyond Blue Reach Out Follow The Unsuitable on Facebook Instagram Visit the team at Shane Ave for all your suiting needs Shane Ave

Natasha studied at university with the aim of becoming a designer for Disney and whilst doing so worked in retail environments where she developed a passion for suiting. Fast forward a few years and Natasha is a much sought after custom suit designer who works for an awesome company in Toronto called Got Style. Growing up in Toronto Canada, Natasha shares with us the difficulties she faces working in a male dominated industry where she was often not taken seriously and questioned if she is trying to be a man because she enjoys wearing suits. Natasha also shares with us how she found the love of her life Amelia, and how they are navigating a long-distance relationship between Canada and Sweden. For anyone living in the US and needing a custom-made suit make sure you hit up Natasha! Link here! For Support Black Dog Institute Beyond Blue Reach Out Follow The Unsuitable on Facebook Instagram Visit the team at Shane Ave for all your suiting needs Shane Ave

Growing up in the housing area of the western suburbs of Brisbane in the 60’s, Jen spent a large portion of her youth trying to be the peacemaker in a family that was filled with physical violence at the hands of her dad. Always the tomboy, Jen tapped into what she describes as the “masculine side” in order to combat the physical violence at home. At 17 Jen decided to join the Army as a means of escaping from the family situation and in doing so, found a career path that she loved and could see herself progressing in for many years to come. Sadly, this all came to an abrupt end when the powers to be in the Army harassed her to the point of no return. As a result, Jen never did pursue a career in the Army however this did not define her and she went on to live a full and eventful life in Naturopathy that saw her traveling the world as a speaker and author. Jen is an avid podcaster and shares many helpful tips on how to live a healthier life via her podcast, Healthy Life Hacks. Link can be found below in the show notes. Click here to check out Jen's podcast! For Support Black Dog Institute Beyond Blue Reach Out Follow The Unsuitable on Facebook Instagram Visit the team at Shane Ave for all your suiting needs Shane Ave

Alex identifies as a lesbian and has a wonderful relationship with her partner Jackie. Alex attended an all girls Catholic School run by Opus Dei. Alex enjoyed school and her faith, so much, that she made the decision at 16 to become a numerary. This is where things went sour for Alex. Made to wear a cilice (metal spiked chain) for an hour a day around her leg as a form of self harm and referred to as mortification of the flesh, sleep on a blanket for a mattress, sleep without a pillow, take cold showers and regularly use a flagellum (small whip) on oneself is all part of the corporal mortification that is expected of all numeraries within Opus Dei. Alex became close to an older numerary who would often invite Alex into her bed especially during a time when Alex was suffering deep depression and mental health problems as a result of living in the Opus Dei homes and working toward becoming a numerary. Alex had always considered herself heterosexual as homosexuality was a sin and not something she would have ever considered, however all that changed when she left the Opus Dei sect in Sydney and headed to Spain where she discovered amongst other things, AFL and teams filled with lesbian women. Tune in as Alex shares her fascinating story that will have you captivated and shock you all at the same time. For Support Black Dog Institute Beyond Blue Reach Out Follow The Unsuitable on Facebook Instagram Visit the team at Shane Ave for all your suiting needs Shane Ave

Originally from Glasgow Scotland, Sam is a transgender guy who has had to overcome some massive hurdles in his journey to understanding gender and what it meant for him. Sam abused alcohol and substances as a means of masking the confusion and pain that he felt from being “different”. Sam talks about his childhood bullies and how they impacted his life, the dark days of his teenage years and his diagnosis of ADHD as an adult and how he lives with his diagnosis whilst also being completely sober. No doubt many will resonate with Sam’s story and we trust that his raw and honest encounter will help many who are on a similar journey. For Support Black Dog Institute Beyond Blue Reach Out Follow The Unsuitable on Facebook Instagram Visit the team at Shane Ave for all your suiting needs Shane Ave

Zac Callaghan spent their entire life living between two identities. Born female, Zac struggled with body dysphoria and their identity for almost 50 years. Top surgery in Australia is not covered by medicare and starts at around $12k, so having this surgery and starting the transitioning process was never an option. When their beloved dog took ill it took a whopping 14K to save him. This led Zac to revaluing their own health and life and making the decision that if they could spend $14k to save their dog then they could spend $12k to save themselves and finally live their best life. Zac shows us that its never too late to live your authentic self! Book your tickets to see Zac show Queer as Flux at the Sydney Opera House 3 nights only 24th, 25th and 26th November 2022. For Support Black Dog Institute Beyond Blue Reach Out Follow The Unsuitable on Facebook Instagram Visit the team at Shane Ave for all your suiting needs Shane Ave

Izzy grew up in Adelaide and lived a normal life that saw her start playing soccer at age 6 when her mum knew the energetic Izzy needed a sport to exert her energy. Life was spent playing soccer, boating in summer and skiing in winter. Izzy developed a relationship with an older woman when she was in Yr 12 and kept it very much in the closet. When it idd eventually come out, as expected, her parents were not too thrilled. They were not as concerned about the relationship as they were about the fact Izzy felt she had to hide it from them. An opportunity to move to Tennessee on a soccer scholarship was too good to refuse which saw Izzy spend 4 years abroad. This time away allowed Izzy to be open about her identity and live her life authentically. Izzy is back on Aussie soil now and plays professional soccer back in Adelaide, although her relationship stood the test of time whilst abroad it did eventually breakdown on her return. Izzy is in a wonderful new relationship and living life to the fullest. Join us for this light hearted chat with Izzy Hodgson. https://au.reachout.com/articles/lgbtqi-support-services Follow The Unsuitable on Facebook Instagram Visit the team at Shane Ave for all your suiting needs Shane Ave

Alli and Ebony have a story that has tested their relationship and saw them come out stronger than ever with a passion to help others going through mental health challenges. Alli identifies as gay and Ebony identifies as bi sexual. In this episode we will hear both their coming out stories and how that impacted their lives as well as the turbulent time they had when Ebony had some serious struggles with her mental health. This is a story of love and courage that has resulted in Alli and Ebony starting a charity called The Good Fight. The Good Fight. The Good Fight mission is to have a society where mental health is no longer stigmatised. By launching a clothing brand that sparks conversation, and having the profits donated to funding vital research, the goal is to one day rid the world of mental health conditions. By wearing the apparel it shows that you are a supporter of people who suffer mental health conditions and are there for someone to talk to when they are in need... and sometimes, that is just enough to save a life. https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/ https://www.beyondblue.org.au/ Check out the girls charity and support them in "The Good Fight" https://www.thegoodfight.com.au/ ttps://au.reachout.com/articles/lgbtqi-support-services Follow The Unsuitable on Facebook Instagram Visit the team at Shane Ave for all your suiting needs Shane Ave

Growing up in Brisbane with a twin sister, Georgina was a happy, sporty active kid. Then at age 10, the unthinkable happened and Georgina had to not only figure out her individual identity but somehow figure out how she was going to live out hers. completely bald. Georgina suffered from Alopecia at age 10 and within 6 months all her hair had fallen out. Playing numerous sports and being an active kid meant a wig was out of the question but what followed was years of bullying and torment that resulted in a lifetime of PTSD. Georgina identifies as Lesbian and works as a Cardiac Physiologist and is blessed to work in an environment where she is judged on her clinical ability and not her looks or identity. Georgina shares from the heart, her life story and how the obstacles she has faced as a bald gay woman have helped to shape her into the person she is today. Sit back and enjoy this heartwarming episode! https://aaaf.org.au/ Australian Alopecia Foundation ttps://au.reachout.com/articles/lgbtqi-support-services Follow The Unsuitable on Facebook Instagram Visit the team at Shane Ave for all your suiting needs Shane Ave

Antonio Mantonio is the Drag King performer name of Olivia Hopkins. Olivia spent her high school years in a super conservative school which she found extremely difficult particularly when most days were filled with bullying in one way or another. Olivia shares with us the trauma associated with the bullying and how she went on to bring Antonio to fruition. Olivia identifies as bisexual cis -female while Antonio identifies as a heterosexual male. A successful high school tutor and performer Olivia hopes to one day write a novel about her experiences

Tash grew up a tomboy and over the years they have grown and evolved to gain an understanding into what that really meant for them. Tash is a high school teacher and an advocate for safe spaces in schools. Tash was instrumental in creating a safe space group called All Sorts at the high school they work at. This group allows students to have a safe space to go to talk or just hang out with supportive and like minded students. During the plebiscite Tash was subjected to online abuse from a small group of students who suggested they should 'kill themselves." Students in the group were also ridiculed, spat on and insulted throughout that time. Tash believes the kids in that group helped them through that period and became their drive to push for equality and understanding of gender diversity. Tash shares their story of growing up, coming out and their push for better understanding and acceptance in todays youth.

Growing up in India and born into a strong Christian faith meant Nerissa had to spend the first 22 years of her life suppressing any feelings that would allow her to identify as gay. A move to Sydney at age 22 bought more to Nerissa's life than she had ever imagined. It took a further 8 years before Nerissa was comfortable in her own skin. Nerissa shares the highs and lows in this awesome episode. Follow The Unsuitable on Facebook Instagram Visit the team at Shane Ave for all your suiting needs Shane Ave

Sarah Tiong is an accomplished Lawyer however her passion for food and cooking led her to apply for a spot on Masterchef and she hasn't looked back. Sarah is a passionate ally for the LGBTIQ community and shares with us her conflicts growing up in a Chinese/Malaysian family where the cultural expectations didn't fit her expressions of herself. Experiencing some degree of discrimination in society for her sense of dress, Sarah relates to and has enormous empathy for those in the LGBTIQ community

Growing up in the 70's and 80's usually meant you married in your early 20's, had kids bought a house and supposedly lived happily ever after! Thats exactly what Kylie did except the happily ever after never came. Kylie spent most of her life in a state of depression and after 21 years of marriage and 4 kids in the mix she came to the realisation that happily ever after in a hetro normative marriage was never going to happen as she longed to be in the arms of a woman Kylie shares what life was like during those years and how she overcame depression and left her marriage to start all over again

Deb welcomes everyone back! We have had a bit of a break whilst we navigated our way through the current situation. We are pleased to say we are excited to be starting Season 4. We will be bi weekly for the time being with a view to going back to our weekly episodes in the coming months.

Nik Kacy was born in Hong Kong and grew up in New York before heading to LA for college. Nik is the founder of NikKacy Footwear and we had the pleasure of accessorizing some of our designs at the dapperq show with Nik Kacy footwear and accessories. Nik has an interesting story that will pull at your heart strings as they share their struggles to live in a body that didn’t belong to the real Nik Kacy. Nik knew at around 8/9 years of age that they were born into the wrong body, and they longed to be able to live life as a boy. Suffering childhood depression and wishing they had never been born, Nik struggled for many years. After 3 non fatal attempts at suicide, Nik knew they had to make some changes. They share the life changing moment they made the decision to live and not simply exist and how it set them on a journey to make a positive impact on the lgbtiq community.

Pepa Randall is a semi professional athlete. When she isn't taking to the field with GWS Giants, she can be found tending to the grounds at GIANTS Stadium as a Greenkeeper. Pepa grew up in Melbourne and had what she describes a privileged childhood. Spending the first 18 yrs of life in a heteronormative environment, Pepa never considered herself gay. In fact she feels she may have at some stages been judgemental and homophobic herself. Having played many different sports growing up, it wasn't until she joined a womens AFL team that she found herself amongst a group of people that she connected with and felt right at home. Being around women who identified as gay helped Pepa to come to terms with her own identity. Pepa shares her story from childhood to playing in the AFLW with GWS Giants. Pepa is honest and transparent about the challenges that come with playing sport at this level. Mental health and depression can affect any one of us and Pepa openly share show she got through a bout of depression and what she does to monitor and stay as mentally healthy as she can. Pepa relocated to follow her dreams of playing in the AFLW and enjoys life in Sydney with her partner Pip. Enjoy this episode with the charismatic and down to earth Pepa Randall. ttps://au.reachout.com/articles/lgbtqi-support-services Follow The Unsuitable on Facebook Instagram Visit the team at Shane Ave for all your suiting needs Shane Ave AFLW Giants