In this episode:
- Josh Cavallo alleges homophobia at Adelaide United — and questions whether he should have stayed in the closet.
- QTrans demands a public forum with Queensland’s Health Minister ahead of the gender-affirming care ban anniversary.
- Andrew Scott cast as Ian Charleson in new film about the actor’s final, extraordinary Hamlet.
- Midsumma Festival opens this weekend — plus Victoria’s Pride Street Party headliners announced
Transcript
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Hi, I’m Louise Poole, and this is the Rainbow Briefing for Tuesday the 13th of January. Your daily LGBTQIA+ news catchup. Recorded and produced on Yugambeh and Yuggera land. Sovereignty was never ceded.
Australian footballer Josh Cavallo has alleged that homophobia at Adelaide United is the real reason he left the A-League club. Cavallo made history in 2021 — the first male player in any top-tier league worldwide to come out while still playing. In an Instagram post overnight, he said his departure last May had nothing to do with football — that he was sidelined for politics, not injuries, and that teammates mocked a photo of him and his partner in a group chat. He wrote that decisions were made not because of his talent, but because of who he chose to love. For the first time, he said, he actually questioned whether he should have kept his sexuality a secret. Adelaide United has categorically rejected the allegations. The timing is notable — Adelaide’s annual Pride Cup match is this Saturday. Cavallo is now playing in England. He says moving to the UK has helped him breathe again.
Queensland trans advocacy group QTrans is demanding a public meeting with Health Minister Tim Nicholls. As we approach the first anniversary of the Queensland government’s ban on gender-affirming care for new patients under 18, QTrans says the minister needs to face the young people his policy affects. President Brianna Hammond says young trans Queenslanders are feeling alienated and want their voices heard. In a letter to the minister, QTrans said he cannot hide from decision-making and accountability. The organisation is calling for a public forum on a Saturday between mid-February and March — no preconditions, just direct conversation. This comes as the LGBTI Legal Service prepares for a court challenge to the ban, with a hearing expected next month.
Irish actor Andrew Scott — you know him from Fleabag and All of Us Strangers — has been cast in Elsinore, a new film about gay British actor Ian Charleson. Charleson starred in Chariots of Fire and gave a legendary performance as Hamlet in 1990 while living with AIDS. He died two months later, at 40. At a time when fear and secrecy ruled, Charleson asked that his cause of death be made public — becoming one of the first British celebrities to have their death openly attributed to AIDS. Scott will portray Charleson preparing for that final, extraordinary performance.
Midsumma Festival officially opens this weekend with the Midsumma Carnival at Alexandra Gardens. Melbourne’s premier queer arts festival runs through to February 8th, featuring over 180 events across three weeks.
And if you’re planning ahead, headliners have been announced for Victoria’s Pride Street Party on February 8th. First Nations Wiradyuri and Filipinx artist Mo’Ju will lead the lineup, joined by Thandi Phoenix, Umbra Moon, Kevin Silvester, and Armana Khan. More than 50,000 people are expected to fill Gertrude and Smith Streets in Fitzroy for the free all-day celebration.
That’s the Rainbow Briefing for Tuesday 13th 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:
Josh Cavallo alleges homophobia at Adelaide United — Former A-League player Josh Cavallo, the first male player to come out while playing in a top-tier league, has alleged homophobia at Adelaide United was the real reason he left the club, claiming teammates mocked a photo of him and his partner.
QTrans demands public forum with Queensland Health Minister — Queensland trans advocacy group QTrans is calling for a public meeting with Health Minister Tim Nicholls as the first anniversary of the state’s ban on gender-affirming care for new patients under 18 approaches. A court challenge to the ban is expected next month.
Andrew Scott cast as gay actor Ian Charleson — Irish actor Andrew Scott has been cast in Elsinore, a film about gay British actor Ian Charleson, who gave a legendary performance as Hamlet in 1990 while living with AIDS and died two months later at 40.
Midsumma Festival opens this weekend — Melbourne’s premier LGBTQIA+ arts festival Midsumma opens with Carnival at Alexandra Gardens. Victoria’s Pride Street Party on February 8th has announced headliners including First Nations Wiradyuri and Filipinx artist Mo’Ju.