Blooming With Pride: Stories from our LGBTQIA+ Community

[Light, low key piano music plays in the background throughout]

A female named Debbie walks into a dimly lit set, which features a garland of white flowers on the floor. She is wearing a cream suit, with mid length sandy brown hair. Flowers are being projected onto the set.

AUDIO: “I had a massive crush on Steffi Graf and Chris Evert Lloyd. At that time I didn't quite understand what that was.”

TEXT ON SCREEN: Optus presents Blooming with Pride

Behind Debbie is a white screen, where a projector is projecting a colour photo from Debbie’s childhood. This is a photo of her and her 2 brothers on a small carousel. The photo has been enhanced and brought to life with subtle movement. Debbie has a copy of the photo in her hand, and describes the moment:

AUDIO: “I can remember that day I was with my brothers who I adore. We're just all so happy together. I'd be sort of disappointed that I couldn't just be the same, because it looked so much more fun.”

Debbie then shuffles the first photo in her hand, and reveals a second photo. This photo is of Debbie in her late teens, sitting on a tennis umpires chair, wearing sunglasses. The photo has been enhanced and brought to life with subtle movement. Debbie continues to describe this moment:

AUDIO: “This was the time that I started to really explore who I was. You know, I was 18, and the expectation would be that I would have boyfriends. I knew I couldn't pretend to live up to social norms. The fear of losing my family is terrifying. I made myself do something about it. I spoke to my brothers. ‘They just went ‘Oh, thank God Deb’. ‘That's okay. We love you.’”

Debbie then shuffles the photo in her hand to reveal a final photo. This is a more recent photo of Debbie and her wife, at a friend’s wedding. They are smiling at each other lovingly. Debbie is wearing a long dress, and her wife a suit. The photo has been enhanced and brought to life with subtle movement. Debbie continues to describe this final photo:

AUDIO: “This is my wife, Fiona and I. That's what free looks like. I had all these lessons learned, and I finally just let all that go. And I met her.

I'd say to younger Deb that the smile you have today in this picture was the smile that you had when you were six. So you did it. You got there.”

The content finishes with a projection of flowers blooming on the set, and over Debbie.

TEXT ON SCREEN: Pride Blooms from Yes

[Light, low key piano music plays in the background throughout]

A male named Matt is standing a dimly lit set, which features a garland of white flowers on the floor. He is wearing a white overshirt over a white tee, and trousers. Matt wears glasses and has short brown hair. A projector is projecting images of flowers opening over him, and the set.

AUDIO: “We were the first gay marriage that all of our friends that ever went to.”

TEXT ON SCREEN: Optus presents Blooming with Pride

Behind Matt is a white screen, where a projector screen is projecting a colour photo from Matt’s childhood. This is a photo of him and her 3 family members outside, smiling at the camera. The photo has been enhanced and brought to life with subtle movement. Matt has a copy of the photo in his hand, and describes the moment:

AUDIO: “This moment really represents happiness and childhood freedom. My mother said she knew that I was gay from about the age of five. You know, there's certain ways that you feel different. You learn from a young age to hide parts of that and try and fit in as much as you can.”

The projector then starts to show another colour photo from Matt – this one is Matt as a teenager in a tuxedo, playing an electric guitar on a stage. The photo has been enhanced and brought to life with subtle movement. Matt has a copy of the photo in his hand, and describes the moment:

AUDIO: “Here I was probably about 16 school formal. Hence the tux. Yeah. Music for me. I think, was that kind of expression. That was my outlet at school. Outside of school. I was in a couple of musical productions on stage, which I didn't really tell many people about because it was a very different vibe to being in a rock band. I think growing up where I did at the time, I hid that part of myself to make sure that I was safe.”

The projector then starts to show a final colour photo from Matt – this one shows Matt and his partner, both in suits, celebrating an occasion with balloons and glasses of champagne. The photo has been enhanced and brought to life with subtle movement. Matt has a copy of the photo in his hand, and describes the moment:

AUDIO: “Love means truly being yourself, but also bringing somebody else into that and respecting every part of them as well. And building a life around that.”

Matt turns around and acknowledges the moving projection.

AUDIO: “Wow. We thought this is a moment that we would probably never have. I was very fortunate that Gary is British. The British consulate hired out their ballroom every Friday to do same sex weddings. From the moment I was able to marry Gary, I felt so proud saying husband and not mentioned that as often as I can still.”

The content finishes with a projection of flowers blooming over the set, over Matt and the screen.

Text on Screen: Pride Blooms from Yes

[Light, low key piano music plays in the background throughout]

A female named Kim walks into a dimly lit set, which features a garland of white flowers on the floor. She is wearing a white t-shirt, with short back hair. There are projections of flowers over the set, and on the white screen behind Kim.

AUDIO: “A lot has changed. I grew into a person I, at the time didn't even know could exist.”

TEXT ON SCREEN: Optus presents Blooming with Pride

The projector then starts to show colour photos from Kim’s childhood as a young girl. This is a photo of her and 2 other children eating dinner. The photo has been enhanced and brought to life with subtle movement. Kim has a copy of the photo in her hand, and describes the moment:

AUDIO: “This moment for me represents a simpler time. I see a version of myself that didn't know she'd be struggling with all of these questions, and this sense of alienation. When I realised that I was queer, I spent so long negotiating with myself, I would sit in front of the mirror and whisper to myself. ‘This is just a phase.’”

The projector then starts to show another colour photo from Kim – this one is Kim in her late teens during university. It features two female friends, all of them smiling, hugging and having a great time. The photo has been enhanced and brought to life with subtle movement. Kim has a copy of the photo in her hand, and describes the moment:

AUDIO: “I think being rejected by those around me was my biggest fear. For the longest time. The friendships that I made during university, and the love that I felt and gave, was like a huge sigh of relief. This moment makes me feel loved.”

Kim then shuffles to a final photo in her hand. The projector shows the image: it’s of Kim on top of a mountain, in activewear, looking chuffed and smiling at her achievement of reaching the top. The photo has been enhanced and brought to life with subtle movement. Kim describes the moment:

AUDIO: “I remember at the time of taking it I thought, this is life. This is what it feels like to live without being scared. I don't think you are the love that you receive throughout your life. But the love that you give out into the world. At the end of the day, love is what matters.”

The content finishes with a projection of flowers blooming over the set, over Kim and the screen.

TEXT ON SCREEN: Pride Blooms from Yes

[Light, low key piano music plays in the background throughout]

A male named Nate walks into a dimly lit set, which features a garland of white flowers on the floor. He is wearing a sandy linen short sleeved top, with long white linen trousers. He has brown hair parted through the middle, and a brown moustache. Flowers are being projected onto the set, over Nate and the flowers.

AUDIO: “I think I'm just as fabulous as I was then. Unfortunately, it went away for a little while, but I think I've got it back.”

TEXT ON SCREEN: Optus presents Blooming with Pride

The projector the starts to show a colour photo from Nate – this one is from his early childhood, wearing a dress and a broadbrimmed hat with a bow. The photo has been enhanced and brought to life with subtle movement, which shows Nate spinning. Nate has a copy of the photo in his hand, and describes the moment:

AUDIO: “When I was younger, I didn't really see people like me. There was a contestant that went on X Factor, and he was very openly gay and openly fabulous. I thought, that's what I want to be. If I'd seen that when I was a lot younger at this age, perhaps I think I would have kept that spark.”

Nate then shuffles to another photo in his hand. The projector then starts to show this colour photo – this one is a photo of Washington Square Park, in New York City, lit up at dark over Christmas. The photo has been enhanced and brought to life with subtle movement. Nate describes the photo:

AUDIO: I've been waiting to get to New York.

I'd just turned 18. And my younger brother, Daniel, he took his own life, and I think I was lost. I had to just have some time to grieve and really process what had happened. What New York represents to me is a place to just escape and be myself. Seeing people that were like me was really the moment where I was like, maybe I can live how I want to live.”

The projector then starts to show a final colour photo from Nate – this one shows Nate and his friend Debbie, smiling and about to march in the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade. They are both wearing white shirts and have large feathers behind them as a part of their costumes. The photo has been enhanced and brought to life with subtle movement. Nate has a copy of the photo in his hand, and describes the moment:

AUDIO: This moment I was feeling elated is probably a good word. It was right before we were about to march. This is me. I can now just go out there and be exactly who I am. I carry my brother with me everywhere I go, and I'm always reminded of how much he would love where I am now. It's taken me a long time.

Now I'm really proud of how authentic I live my life.

The content finishes with a projection of flowers blooming over the set, over Nate and the screen.

TEXT ON SCREEN: Pride Blooms from Yes