This article was originally published by QNews. You can find the original article here.
The inaugural Gender Revel Gala was a hit on Friday night, celebrating and affirming Victoria’s TGD community.
As part of Trans Month, Transgender Victoria kicked things off with a Gender Revel Gala. The evening celebrated Victoria’s trans, gender diverse and nonbinary communities.
Commissioner for LGBTQIA+ communities Joe Ball told the crowd, “Everywhere I go, I tell people that I am proudly transgender.
“It is absolutely wonderful to be transgender, and I do it because visibility matters. It matters to each other and in the fight for human rights.
“To all trans and gender diverse people who are here, I know that it’s not always easy to be you.”
“Some days it is hard, but I encourage you to take a little bit of tonight. Take many moments tonight right into your heart.
“And use that to carry you through the hard days until we meet again. Because this is absolutely beautiful. And you are where you need to be.”
And the winners are…
The Trans Visibility Awards recognised the remarkable contributions of transgender, gender diverse and non-binary individuals.
“I’ve never met a trans person who has gotten enough credit for the hard work they do,” MC Anna Piper Scott said.
Influencer of the Year Award recognises an individual who makes a positive contribution to social narratives.
The winner was JOY Media’s Jocelyn Bishop who not only volunteers as a radio presenter but also as a peer support worker.
The Regional Star of the Year award recognized someone living regionally and having an impact on their community.
This went to Jay Kulbardi, a force of creativity and advocacy in the Ballarat Region.
Jay’s artwork has graced multiple galleries, murals and resources created in collaboration with Rainbow Mob.
Creative of the Year was awarded to Kitty Obsidian, who was performing in Brisbane.
A powerful voice within the trans, disabled and neurodivergent communities, Kitty uses their art to showcase marginalised communities.
Changemaker of the Year was awarded to the founder of Euphoria Social, T Edgell Hall.
T fosters community well-being through workshops, events, and unwavering support.
Advocate and communicator Juniper Mullen was awarded Unsung Hero of the Year.
Juniper’s commitment to social change is evident in projects like Transsexual Podcast and the creation of the Inclusive Practitioners List.
Finally, the Trans Person of the Year was awarded to Kitty Obsidian.
Kitty fiercely advocates for safer and more accessible spaces within the creative industry.
You can read our feature about disability and drag with Kitty here.
A night for celebration and affirmation
The Rainbow Community Angels and Dykes on Bikes flagged the entrance of the Gala so that attendees could feel affirmed and safe.
It was a beautiful night where all who attended shined for all their worth.
With a dress code of ‘whatever affirms you’, the fashion was certainly on show with the glam put into glamour.
The evening kicked off with the debut performance by House of Furia.
They not only had the room cheering as they performed, but also made a runway for those in attendance to strut their stuff.
With performances from Rosie Rai, Mama Alto, Maddy Weeks, Robert Baxter and also DJ Gay Dad the night was fantastic.
Transgender Victoria created a powerful, special and affirming space that allowed our trans, gender diverse and nonbinary community to not only be seen but celebrated.
That is what Trans Month is all about.
With the theme Our Strength, Our Joy, Ourselves, the Gender Revel Gala was not only the perfect way to create space for those who don’t get it enough.
As a cis person, it was a privilege to attend and share in the gender euphoria the evening brought.
No matter where you are on your journey, the beauty and power of living your authentic life is heaven to behold.
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