Maria Pallotta-Chiarolli - Living and Loving in Diversity: An anthology of Australian multicultural queer adventures

Wakefield Press

Wakefield Press

16 Rose Street

Mile End

South Australia 5031

www.wakefieldpress.com.au

First published 2018

This edition published 2018

Copyright Australian LGBTIQ Multicultural Council, 2018

Individual pieces are copyright to the author.

All rights reserved. This book is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the

purposes of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under the

Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced without written permission.

Enquiries should be addressed to the publisher.

Enquiries regarding individual pieces should be addressed to the author.

Black and white photos and images prepared by Rob Chiarolli,

www.photosthattell.com.

Some photos and images may lack clarity due to the quality of the originals.

Edited by Margot Lloyd, Wakefield Press

ISBN 978 1 74305 608 0

My heart is moved by all I cannot save:

so much has been destroyed

I have to cast my lot with those

who age after age, perversely,

with no extraordinary power,

reconstitute the world.

Adrienne Rich

We dedicate this book to our multicultural multifaith (MCMF) queer elders and pioneers in Australias queer history.

So many have been lost in history; so many like Eugenia Falleni, an Italian transman who endured incarceration, medical injury and maltreatment. So many like Margie Fischer, Happy Ho, Ana Kokkinos, Joan Nestle, Paul Van Reyk and William Yang, who create(d) cultural spaces and carve(d) out personal lives and communities of belonging.

We also dedicate this book to Rochelle Miller and Bridget Dunn, AGMC founding members who have now passed.

Finally, we dedicate this book to the MCMF queers of the future, however you will be labelled then, or maybe there will be no need for labels; whatever the AGMC will have evolved into, or maybe there will be no need for an AGMC

First, we thank our captain, Cinzia Ambrosio. Without her, there would be no AGMC. Cinzia, you put into motion something larger than any of us could have imagined back in 2004. And, like many visionaries and creators, once you knew the compass was set and the AGMC was gaining momentum that would not be stopped, you left us to it. You sailed off into the horizon to pursue other passions and directions, as well as to deal with lifes storms, such as the passing of your beloved partner, Bridget. We cannot count how many people, families, organisations have benefitted from your vision.

We wish to thank all our contributors. Some of you have patiently journeyed with us since the idea for this book was first conceived. Some of you have jumped on board this moving bookship with such encouraging enthusiasm.

We wish to thank the Victorian Department of Premier and Cabinet for its LGBTI Multicultural Grant that made this project possible. The AGMC is truly fortunate to be based in Victoria, the Equality State, where Minister Martin Foley (Equality Branch) and Minister Robin Scott (Multicultural Affairs and Social Cohesion), together with Commissioner for Gender and Sexuality Ro Allen, and Commisioner for Multiculturalism Helen Kapalos, advocate and enable truly inclusive policies, programs and support services.

We also wish to thank the dynamic Shoshana Silverman, Senior Policy Officer (MASC), who, together with Fiona Crosthwaite, administers grants and creates supportive forums and events, all with a deft, delicate and understanding touch that truly encourages and enables. Maria thanks Shoshana for her patience at the helm as the unexpected turbulences of life, death, illness got in the way of docking deadlines. Those warming cups of green tea and the chats about our fur-babies and fur-geriatrics comforted and encouraged.

At this point, Maria tears up and says thanxxxxxxxxxxxxxx to the AGMC. She says:

I have loved every moment at sea with you as the token academic, token straightie, the ally, the ditz with dyscalcula, the you dont look like/speak like/dress like a Dr Maria Pallotta-Chiarolli. You are family, you are a home in a world of heteronorms, gendernorms, academia-norms that Im apparently supposed to fit seamlessly into. May my privileges continue to be erased as we continue to navigate our way through tough, tender and tranquil waters.

Our thanks also to our publisher, Michael Bollen of Wakefield Press. From publishing Marias AIDS biography Someone You Know in 1991 to Dino Hodges Colouring the Rainbow: Blak Queer and Trans perspectives to now this book, we appreciate and applaud Wakefield Presss support of intersectionality and multiple marginalities. We also thank Margot Lloyd for her gracious and sensitive editing, Clinton Ellicott for his careful typesetting through numerous edits, and Rachel Harris for a wonderful cover.

Our thanks to Maryann McIntyre who gave her time and professional editorial eye to this book, and played bad sea-cop when having to cut words, reconfigure sentences and ask the tough questions.

Our thanks to Rob Chiarolli for his sensitive and careful work on the precious personal photos and significant images, sometimes time-worn, that arrived with the written pieces, making black and white convey the rainbow.

Finally, we wish to thank and acknowledge the many writers, artists, activists and social leaders who were unable to be part of this project. And, with awkward mortification, we offer our deepest apologies if we were unable to include you, did not manage to contact you despite our attempts, or somehow horribly missed you. Please jump on board at our website book link www.forum.agmc.org.au and add your works, your name, social media links, contact details, etc.., as this is a space for all multicultural multifaith queers to connect, be visible, and be contacted.

Thank you for all you have done and been, do and are, and will do and be: Anthony Callea, Tom Cho, Maria Dimopoulos, Mo Elleissy, Margot Fink, Sophie Ismael, MoJo Juju, Maria Katsonis, Kochava Sam Lilit, Erik Ly, Wayne Martino, Raina Peterson, Magda Szubanski and Penny Wong.

This is just the beginning of the journey

Wominjeka yearmann koondee biik Wurundjeri balluk

Welcome to the land of the Wurundjeri people

Our language is the Woiworrung language

The Wurundjeri are known as the Manna Gum People. This book has been largely put together on our land and it is our custom to invite people to share in a welcome ceremony.

As contributors and readers of this book, imagine manna gum leaves being offered to you. Take a leaf from this book as you take the leaves of memories, experiences, pleasures and pains. You are welcome to everything from the tops of the trees to the roots of the earth. It means we become linked symbolically and that you join with us to honour the spirits of our ancestors who have nurtured this very land for many, many thousands of years.