Speak out
We know that standing up and speaking out against injustices can be a daunting.
In this series we talk to people who courageously share their personal experiences with racism, discrimination, harassment, bullying and gendered violence; sharing how they have been impacted and what they’ve learnt from it.
We hope these stories will help the UNSW community to understand how we can better support our classmates, colleagues, friends and fellow community members by being an active bystander and safely providing support to those being impacted.
Episode 4: Intersex Awareness Day
In this Intersex Awareness Day edition of Speak Out, we spoke with intersex advocates Alissia Marsh and Gabriel Filpi.
Alissia Marsh is a comedian, lesbian and intersex advocate. She is a champion for body positivity and has some rather remarkable body quirks that she uncovers during her sets. Marsh has performed across Australia, and has become a regular host and headline act at popular venues including the Comedy Lounge, Fremantle Comedy Factor, Laugh Resort and Lazy Susan’s Comedy Den.
Gabriel Filpi is a queer, intersex and transgender person speaking from his lived, professional and academic experiences. He works at Sexual Health and Family Planning ACT (SHFPACT) as the Project Officer for the ACT Safe and Inclusive Schools (SAIS) Initiative and as a Health Educator. He also works with intersex and transgender communities through his work at A Gender Agenda as the Intersex Project Coordinator and as a Peer Support Worker. Gabriel also sits on the ACT LGBTIQ+ Ministerial Advisory Council and LGBTIQA+ Health Australia's Trans and Gender Diverse reference group.
They were joined by Professor Lucas Lixinski (UNSW LGBTIQ+ Champion) and Angela Griffin, EDI & Projects Coordinator, Arc @ UNSW.
Episode 3: Tarang Chawla
Tarang Chawla is a writer, speaker, MC, anti-violence campaigner and mental health advocate, Young Australian of the Year Finalist and was named Pro Bono Australia Top 25 Most Influential People Working For Social Change list.
In 2015, Tarang channelled his family’s tragedy into action and founded Not One More Niki, an anti-domestic violence initiative named in honour of his sister, Nikita.
Episode 2: Nicole Lee
Nicole Lee is a family violence survivor and passionate advocator.
After suffering a decade of abuse at the hands of her former husband, Nicole now uses her lived-experience of family violence to speak out for those who don’t yet have a voice.
Episode 1: Khadija Gbla
Differences in culture and background are simply that – differences. Not better or worse, simply different.
Khadija Gbla is a cultural consultant and peer educator with unmatched ability to bridge the difference. Khadija provides advocacy, training, speaking on domestic and family violence, sexual health, racism, human rights, mental health, migrants and refugees and cultural diversity.
Share your story
We believe small things can make big differences. And, your stories can have lasting impacts on others to be better, kinder humans. Whether you are actively involved in equity, diversity and inclusion or have a personal story about your lived experience that you are willing to share as part of this series, we want to hear from you!
