I have not known miscarriage or baby loss. But this image, of a mother waking up to exile from her child, her entire body flung, is deeply familiar and deeply consoling.

I’m repeatedly coming out as disabled so those around me know why I’m behaving a little differently, or why I’m not helping with the chairs.

In rural places, safe spaces for queer people look different to those located in metropolitan areas.

I grew up as two things: a closeted queer and a closeted Justin Bieber fan. Just like any other girl in my year seven English class, I was writing ‘JB’ over and over again in my notebooks with big love hearts.  I couldn’t care less if Justin Bieber had a girlfriend, or if the paparazzi …

Coming out here was tough, but that only tells half the struggles I’d faced as a queer woman in the American West.

So many older LGBTIQ+ people have experienced trauma and discrimination, so it’s essential we create welcoming spaces to stay connected.

As 2022 comes to a close, we can’t help but get reflective and sentimental – cue the smiling single tear emoji – about all the wonderful articles we’ve edited this year.

Of course, someday I’d love to stand up in front of a crowd and introduce myself as a lesbian.

If I had been forced to stay at my Christian school, I would have lived in secrecy, staying quiet during class discussions debating my life.

Sometimes Mum asks why I don’t move back home. It’s because I’m queer. If the homophobia felt below the surface, so did the support.

I had not wanted tattoos until I came out, which is to say, until I started telling people that I was dating a woman.

I don’t need labels to remind me of that, or to tell others who I am. Don’t stick one on me. It will slide right off.

Queer spaces are necessary globally, not just in Tasmania. Loud, proud, beautiful queer spaces.

As we celebrate our newly launched DISABILITIES issue, we’re also taking the opportunity to look back on all of the brilliant pieces we’ve published this year. This was my first year as Archer Magazine’s Deputy Online Editor. As a long-time Archer volunteer and hanger-arounder of founder Amy Middleton, I was absolutely thrilled to come aboard. …

Content note: This article discusses domestic violence, assault, homophobia and suicide.   I met him in a gay bar about three months after my separation. I remember him standing there in a tuxedo and our eyes meeting. He came over to me, we chatted for about four hours, and then he left. It would be …

Play a high-G note on a piano and take a look around the room; you’ll see who the former emos are almost immediately. My Chemical Romance defined ‘emo’ as we know it. Prior to their astronomic rise in popularity, emo was loosely applied to almost any music that played on commercial radio or sat under …

“How do you have anything in common with younger people anyway?” I vividly remember a friend asking me this question with a tone of obvious disapproval.  Instantly, I felt ashamed. At 28 years old, I could see why they questioned it. According to society, you should aim to date someone one to three years either …

Content warning: This article discusses transmisogyny and eating disorders.    “If you can see it, you can be it.” It’s a beautiful phrase, expressing how strong role models can be vital for the confidence and self-esteem of people from diverse backgrounds. We all love seeing people who look like us being strong and successful in …

In early June, I was preparing myself for the rainbow marketing and pink washing that comes with the celebration of Pride Month each year.  During this month, brands and organisations often come up with new logos and various types of rainbow branding. They host talks, plan shows, and make a sudden effort to ensure conversations …

The following is an excerpt from Girl, Transcending: Becoming the woman I was born to be by AJ Clementine. When people ask how I came out to my parents, I tell them I didn’t have to. It was always known that I was a girl – it’s just that none of us knew how to put …

Content warning: this article discusses depression.    In 2015, I forgot who I was. Like a reverse Wizard of Oz, the world suddenly went from vibrant colour to black and white. I felt as though there was a storm cloud behind my shoulder. Joy was being sucked out of my every move.  Depression wasn’t a …

My hairdresser says there’s a different kind of freedom from living out of home, and I finally understand what he means. Since moving out, I’ve recognised a part of my identity that’s come as a surprise for me. Even though I’ve been attending queer book events at the library, and have two copies of Guidebook …