Celebrating humanity:

It is Midsumma madness in Melbourne at the moment and since the 23rd January the annual LGBTQIA+ Festival has been in full swing (https://www.midsumma.org.au/about/about-midsumma/ ). ?This event, much loved by the community is 22 days of “an explosion of queer events that center around hidden and mainstream queer culture, involving local, interstate, and international artists”. ?Over the past few weeks I’ve been fortunate to attend a few shows that have particularly focussed on the Arts. I’m so proud to live in a city that outwardly shapes queer art and culture and there is no doubt in my mind that these festivals impact the broader community who can regardless of their gender or sexuality engage with different stories. Stories that permeate through our society and make up the rich and diverse humanity that we are. Stories which help us all appreciate that difference is to be understood, acknowledged, supported and celebrated.

I’d particularly like to call out David Hunt. I’d suggest that David is a bit of a local hero and through COVID provided a digital platform for Artists to showcase their creativity. You can connect via https://www.facebook.com/thearthuntermelbourne/ ?or just go straight to his TV channel https://www.thearthunter.tv/. ?After 30 or so artist/arts interviews (highly recommend that you listen to them) David hosted two live salon shows in the Alex Theatre in St Kilda as part of the Midsumma Festival.

As an audience member I was delighted, engaged and just plain old pleased to be out and about again participating in the world. A very mixed audience celebrated all that we are. Diverse in our outlook and makeup. Just happy to be together. It was fabulous! I laughed, appreciated and came away with renewed faith in our humanity and the dignity afforded by and to all. And, why wouldn’t this be the case?

This all speaks to our humanness and the grittiness of that. ?We have greater responsibility to understand, acknowledge, support and celebrate everyone so we can truly create an inclusive society where respect is key to who we all are.?

Belinda