Hello everyone and welcome back to Queer Conversations. My name is Phi. I use she/her pronouns and I’m
the Lead Resident Artist in our Living Arts
program based here on Kaurna land. Today I have the lovely Ellie
with us to talk about Wear It Purple Day. Hi Ellie. Hi Phi Would you like to introduce yourself? Hi guys, I’m Ellie,
I use she/they pronouns, and I have been involved with Life
Without Barriers for almost ten years. One of the main things I’ve been involved
with is the Living Arts program. And I have done
so many wonderful things with so many different artists
through Living Arts. The program and the social groups
have really helped me to develop into who I am as a person
and being able to express myself freely. I was the peer facilitator
with Living Arts for the Create Foundation Voices in Action conference
at the Adelaide Showgrounds. And what is that conference all about? Just for those that don’t
know. It’s about letting young people from all around Australia who’ve had a foster care experience
from ages 12 to 25 interact with each other
and to let their voices be heard by people in positions of power
and policymakers who can listen to the young people
and what they’re saying they need for them in the future to start making changes. Could you tell us a little bit
about your journey to understanding your identity,
how you identify now, and what things might have helped
you along the way? So my queer identity has changed
dramatically over the years. I was about 15 or 16
when I first identified. I thought I was lesbian and then I thought I was bisexual, and then I discovered
what pansexuality was, and then I worked out I was asexual but I’m still panromantic. So while you may not necessarily
have that sexual attraction or desire, that sexual relationship
with someone, you can find yourself romantically
attracted to folks of any gender? Yes. What was your experience as that 15-year-old Ellie thinking,
oh I think I'm a lesbian. What was your experience with your carer? And we can name her
if you want. She called it a phase. Well, she wasn’t wrong, but she does accept me for who I am. Yeah, and it wasn’t like, oh, it’s just a phase, you’ll get over it. It was like you’re exploring. I don’t think that’s you. Like, I think she knew you before
I knew that I wouldn’t want that sort of relationship with someone because I’m
not the most touchy-feely person. One of my favourite TV shows
growing up was Buffy the Vampire Slayer. And the relationships in that show had multiple representations. Yeah, good representation in that show. And I think that’s an interesting thing
because since you were a kid, since I was a kid,
we've had different representation make its way into mainstream media. That was one of the biggest
representations of mainstream media when I was growing up. But now there’s so much and it’s amazing. What challenges
do you see for young people today? Being accepted by people around them. What would you say to a young person
knowing that they're on their own rainbow journey, if you can see that
they're not in the most safe or affirming placement, environment, school,
whatever that might be? What would you say to them
to encourage them to stay true? I know this is just like everyone says this, and there’s… it’s so cliché, but it does get better. When I was 16, I was in a dark space and I couldn’t
see myself anywhere in 5 years, 10 years. It’s been 12 years since I was 16. And I am here today. And I’m so glad. And I’m
advocating for young people and trying to advocate for young people
and change in the foster care system. And just to be who you are. That’s beautiful. So me being she/they it's really really new like this year new. So it is something that I am trying
and seeing if it fits me. Yeah. I think that’s another thing. Going back to that
whole “it’s just a phase.” I think for young people
we need to give them the opportunity to explore who they are
and trial new things. It could be a new way they dress, it could be new pronouns,
it could be a new hair colour. Could be a new hair color. It's like when you let, young child
start walking. You let them fall over and stumble
and try and make try and let them do it themselves.
But you still support them. So the best thing we can do
is actually just show up and listen, and accept them however they want
to identify, and walk alongside them. Yes.