Isaac Humphries says he is sad that his retirement from the Adelaide 36ers leaves basketball without an active openly gay player. The former National Basketball League co-captain retired because of a continuing knee injury and now holds a non-playing role with the club. Humphries said he was the only openly gay active player in the world during his playing career. He said he wanted to help others after coming out publicly in 2022, and described receiving messages from young people he had helped.
Tasmania's Conversion Practices Prohibition Bill 2026 is due to be debated in parliament from Wednesday. The Greens bill would ban conduct aimed at changing, suppressing or eradicating a person's sexual orientation or gender identity. Consent would not be a defence under the bill. Labor has said it will support the bill, and the Tasmanian Liberals will allow a conscience vote. The bill needs 18 votes to pass. Equality Tasmania's petition closes on Monday, October 26.
The program for the 36th Melbourne Queer Film Festival has been released, and several sessions are already close to selling out. The festival runs from November 13 to 23 and takes the theme Into the Light. Major screenings will be held at The Capitol, with sessions also at ACMI, Cinema Nova and new venue partner Chinatown Cinema. Opening night film KICK follows American runner Nikki Hiltz, while the centrepiece Time Warp features a drag theatre company staging a shadow cast of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
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Adelaide Film Festival and Feast Festival have condemned a homophobic attack on a patron after a queer film screening. The man was verbally abused and then physically assaulted while waiting for transport home in Adelaide's CBD last weekend. He suffered broken bones and was hospitalised. SA Police say investigations to identify those responsible are ongoing. South Australian ministers also condemned the attack, with Attorney-General Kyam Maher saying there is no place for homophobic abuse in the state.
Tasmania's parliament is set to debate a Greens bill that would ban conversion practices, which aim to change, suppress or eradicate a person's sexual or gender identity. Labor supports the bill, and Liberal MPs have been given a conscience vote. The bill would make intentional conversion practices that cause injury an offence, with the anti-discrimination commissioner overseeing reports. Tasmania is among the last jurisdictions where the practices remain legal, and the bill needs 18 votes to pass the lower house.
LGBTQ+ publication Star Observer is reportedly undergoing a formal restructure to negotiate with creditors and avoid liquidation, according to ASIC and Mumbrella. Its publisher, Out Publications, appointed a small business restructuring practitioner in October, and the publication will continue to operate. QNews says it is independently operated and has no connection to Out Publications or the restructure. Reports had wrongly linked it to the publisher, which holds several other business names but not QNews.
Charles Darwin University is highlighting LGBTQIA+ histories and inclusion initiatives during LGBTQIA+ History Month. In September, the CDU Student Council ran Sexual and Gender Diversity Training covering histories, pronouns and allyship. Students are encouraged to connect with the CDU Queer Network through the council. They can also request free Pride pins, badges and flags through the council's Minus18 Action Pride Pack, with collection available at the Danala, Casuarina or Sydney campuses. The university says everyone should feel welcome, respected and connected at university.
The Western Australian government will introduce legislation to protect LGBTQIA+ students and teachers from discrimination, harassment and vilification in religious schools. Premier Roger Cook and Attorney-General Tony Buti announced the Equal Opportunity Bill 2026, which they describe as the most significant reform of the state's anti-discrimination framework in almost half a century. Under the bill, religious schools could no longer sack teachers or expel students because of their sexuality. Religious institutions would still be allowed to discriminate based on religion. Advocacy groups welcomed the announcement.
Western Australia will propose new laws to prevent religious schools from firing teachers or expelling students based on their sexuality or disability. The changes will allow discrimination only on religious grounds. Attorney General Tony Buti said the bill is the biggest overhaul of the state's anti-discrimination laws in over 40 years. It also aims to protect homeless people, those exposed to domestic violence, pregnant or breastfeeding individuals, and union members.
The 36th Melbourne Queer Film Festival will screen 53 sessions of LGBTQIA+ features, documentaries and short films when it runs from 13 to 22 November 2026. Festival Director Louise Lever said the theme, Into the Light, celebrates the diversity of queer stories. Opening night features KICK, directed by Julia Schwalb, about American runner Nikki Hiltz. The centrepiece is Time Warp, a documentary about a drag troupe in Wyoming staging a shadow cast of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The festival closes with Big Girls Don't Cry, directed by Paloma Schneideman.
Sunshine Coast tattoo artist Mady Peters has designed the Gold Coast Suns' Pride Round guernsey for their AFLW side. The design includes a rainbow football boot, a carabiner and a dolphin holding a non-binary flag. Players Lily Mithen and Katie Lynch worked with Peters on the design, which they said reflects their playful personalities. AFL Players Association head Julia Chiera said more work was needed to improve inclusion in the men's game. The Suns will wear the guernsey for a final time against Adelaide on Saturday.
The Parramatta Pride Picnic celebrated its 17th anniversary as a free LGBTQIA+ community event, offering all-day entertainment and various activations. Attendees enjoyed market stalls and engaged with community and corporate partners. The event, captured in photos by Harlem Starlet, continues to foster inclusivity and celebration. For more LGBTIQA+ news and stories, visit qnews.com.au. The event underscores the ongoing support and vibrancy of the queer community in Australia.
Sydney's LGBTQIA+ Small Business Fair, Buy Rainbow, returns this Saturday, October 17, from 10am to 4pm at Rydges World Square in the CBD. Entry is free. The event moved from Paddington Town Hall due to renovations and is held during NSW Small Business Month. Organisers say the fair will feature dozens of stalls, live T-shirt printing, artisan products and a pop-up bar. Pride Business Association president Jarrod Lomas says the fair aims to turn community pride into economic support, and the event is open to everyone.
Canberra's SpringOUT Pride Festival returns for its 27th year with its largest program yet, now running five weeks. A portrait of drag performer Courtney Act unveils at the National Portrait Gallery on 23 October. The free Fair Day at Glebe Park starts on 31 October and includes more than 80 stalls, food trucks and two dedicated quiet spaces. Festival Director Danny Corvini says the theme this year is Be Yourself. SpringOUT runs from 23 October to 1 December 2026.
The Digital Duty of Care bill, introduced in Federal Parliament, aims to enhance online safety by making platforms legally responsible for preventing harm. It includes measures like a 12-month transition period, opt-out algorithms, and expanded powers for the eSafety Commissioner. However, concerns have been raised about potential government overreach and the impact on marginalised communities, particularly the LGBTQIA+ community, who may face increased content suppression and account removals. The Greens are pushing for stronger penalties and a private right of action for those harmed by platforms, while the Coalition opposes the bill entirely.
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A record 147 LGBTQIA+ not-for-profits and projects are taking part in GiveOUT Day, returning this Thursday, October 15. The campaign asks supporters to donate, host a fundraiser or share a love note for a cause. Organisers say LGBTQIA+ groups receive five cents of every $100 donated in Australia. Under the Give option, eligible donations will be doubled through funding partners, subject to limits. In 2025, the day raised more than $635,000 for 134 causes. Donations go directly to the organisations, with Rainbow Giving Australia covering running costs.
Today, October 11, marks National Coming Out Day, which was first established in 1988 to challenge prejudice through visibility. The day was created by Robert Eichberg and activist Jean O'Leary, who believed that being seen could be politically powerful. Coming out looks different today, with legal gains for LGBTQIA+ Australians, but the writer says disclosure can still carry serious risks. The piece points to rising anti-LGBTIQA+ hate crimes in Victoria and anti-trans rhetoric and laws in parts of Australia, arguing that coming out remains a form of advocacy.
The Coastal Twist LGBTQIA+ Arts and Culture Festival has recorded 40 per cent growth in participation this year. The festival runs from Sunday, September 27, to Sunday, October 4, and is expected to bring thousands of people together.
Virgin Australia has put seats on sale for its 2027 Pride Flights, which will carry passengers from Melbourne and Brisbane to Sydney on Friday, March 5, 2027. The flights mark the seventh year of the event, which is designed to kick off Sydney's gay and lesbian festival. One-way economy fares start at $289 and include departure gate parties, bottomless beverages and drag and DJ entertainment. Two further events are scheduled for Saturday, March 6, at Darlinghurst's Kinselas venue and at The Bero, with bookings now open.
Photos from the 2026 Coastal Twist Festival have been published. The festival runs for eight days and nights on the Central Coast in New South Wales. It features LGBTQIA+ arts, culture, performance, conversation and connection. Organisers describe it as one of the region's most loved cultural events, with a strong sense of community spirit. The photos were taken by DEANation Photography, Harlem Starlett and @relapsestudio.co.
