Your daily LGBTQIA+ news podcast for Australia. Rainbow Briefing brings you the queer news that matters, Monday to Friday.
In today’s episode:
- Malcolm Turnbull calls on Albanese to acknowledge the changed world under Trump — and what that means for LGBTQIA+ Australians
- Justin Mark crowned Mr VicBears 2026 at Melbourne’s Laird Hotel
- Super Bowl Fifty-Nine shapes up as one of the queerest on record — Bad Bunny reportedly planning to honour queer community with dress
- Bridgerton Season 4 Part 1 drops tomorrow on Netflix — with queer storylines building
- Queer Screen announces 139 films for the 33rd Mardi Gras Film Festival
Transcript:
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Hi, I’m Louise Poole, and this is the Rainbow Briefing for Wednesday the 29th of January.
Your daily LGBTQIA+ news catchup.
Recorded and produced on Yugambeh and Yuggera land.
Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says Australia needs to stop pretending nothing has changed under Donald Trump.
He’s calling on Anthony Albanese to give a speech — like Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney did at Davos — acknowledging the world order has fundamentally shifted.
Turnbull says Australians want their leaders to explain how we deal with this new reality.
For LGBTQIA+ Australians, here’s what that reality looks like.
The Trump administration has ordered US embassies worldwide to report on countries that allow gender-affirming care for minors.
They’re calling it “chemical and surgical mutilation of children.”
At the same time, they’re deleting the section of US human rights reports that documents abuses against LGBTQI+ people.
Persecution of our community won’t be called out anymore.
But providing healthcare to trans young people? That’s now framed as a human rights violation.
The Council for Global Equality calls it an anti-rights framework designed to legitimise attacks on our communities.
This isn’t abstract for Australia.
Queensland’s ban on gender-affirming care echoed laws first rolled out in US states.
Last week, federal parliament passed hate speech laws that explicitly leave LGBTQIA+ Australians out.
Turnbull wants honesty about the changed world.
For our community, the question is: will that honesty include us?
Melbourne’s bear community has a new titleholder.
Justin Mark — known on stage as Holi Dae Knight — was crowned Mr VicBears 2026 at the Laird Hotel last Thursday.
The competition was part of BearFest, which runs through Midsumma until February 1st.
Justin will go on to compete for Mr Australasia Bear later this year.
Congratulations to Justin and to the VicBears community for another successful year.
Super Bowl Fifty-Nine is shaping up to be one of the queerest on record.
Headliner Bad Bunny is reportedly planning to wear a dress during his halftime performance — to honour the queer community.
A stylist involved in costume fittings told Radar Online it’s “a political thunderbolt disguised as couture.”
This after MAGA critics — including Trump — attacked the decision to give the show to the Puerto Rican artist.
And the rest of the lineup leans queer too.
Brandi Carlile — out lesbian and Grammy winner — is singing America the Beautiful.
Green Day are performing, with Billie Joe Armstrong who’s been openly bisexual since 1995.
Super Bowl Fifty-Nine — Monday February 10th, Australian time.
Bridgerton returns tomorrow with Season 4 Part 1 on Netflix.
This season follows Benedict Bridgerton and his love interest Sophie Baek.
But the queer storylines are building.
Benedict’s fluid sexuality has been hinted at throughout the series — this season may explore it further.
And Seasons 5 and 6 are already confirmed, including Francesca’s story.
Book readers know that means her relationship with a woman.
Bridgerton Season 4 Part 1 — streaming on Netflix from tomorrow.
Queer Screen has announced the programme for the 33rd Mardi Gras Film Festival.
139 films from 38 countries — running February 12th to 26th in Sydney.
Highlights include Jimpa — directed by Sophie Hyde, starring Olivia Colman and John Lithgow.
Kristen Stewart’s directorial debut The Chronology of Water.
And She’s the He — a comedy about a retired trans athlete who coaches a women’s football team.
Queer Screen Mardi Gras Film Festival — February 12th to 26th in Sydney.
That’s the Rainbow Briefing for Wednesday the 29th of January.
This is independent queer community media, and your support is crucial to its success.
Share the bulletin, tell your community, and if you’ve got news to share, head to rainbowbriefing.com.au.
Key stories in this briefing:
Malcolm Turnbull calls for honesty on Australia’s changed world — Former PM Malcolm Turnbull is calling on the government to acknowledge the shift under Trump. The Trump administration has ordered US embassies to report on countries allowing gender-affirming care for minors and deleted the section of US human rights reports documenting abuses against LGBTQIA+ people.
Justin Mark crowned Mr VicBears 2026 — Justin Mark, also known as drag queen Holi Dae Knight, was crowned Mr VicBears 2026 at the Laird Hotel. He will represent VicBears at events throughout the year and compete for Mr Australasia Bear.
Bad Bunny reportedly planning to wear a dress at Super Bowl halftime — Bad Bunny is reportedly planning to wear a dress during his Super Bowl halftime performance to honour the queer community. Other performers include out lesbian Brandi Carlile and openly bisexual Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong.
Bridgerton Season 4 drops on Netflix — Bridgerton returns with Season 4 focusing on Benedict Bridgerton, whose fluid sexuality has been hinted at throughout the series. Seasons 5 and 6 are confirmed, including Francesca’s storyline which involves a relationship with a woman.
Mardi Gras Film Festival program announced — Queer Screen’s 33rd Mardi Gras Film Festival features 139 films from 38 countries, running February 12–26 in Sydney. Highlights include Sophie Hyde’s Jimpa and Kristen Stewart’s directorial debut The Chronology of Water.