Jenni (she/her) is a bus driver who has lived on Yorta Yorta country for most of her life and identifies as being bisexual, but a little more on the lesbian side of the spectrum.
In this episode, Jenni discusses her journey of coming out later in life after choosing to follow heteronormative standards as a young person to protect her own safety. Unfortunately, Jenni had several gay friends that died by suicide and she shares how this affected her life and decisions. She also speaks about how Out in the Open Festival has helped her to find her pride and community for over a decade. Jenni shares her anticlimactic experience of coming out to her sons and how she has always been proud of them, but now they get to be proud of their mum too.
Trigger Warnings: Suicide, abuse, homophobia, derogatory language
If this content may be triggering for you, then please seek support from a loved one or one of the helplines at the bottom of this description.
This podcast is released every Tuesday and Friday and could not have been possible without the support of our local community partners, Midsumma and the Fairer Victoria portfolio of the Victorian State Government.
Episode Credits
Wayfinder, Interviewer & Editing : Helene Thomas
Episode Introduction: Deb Chumbley
Pridefinder Midsumma Team
Ashlee Hints: Community Engagement Manager
Bec Cooen: Project and Program Manager – Victoria's Pride
Danae Reid: Regional Community Engagement Coordinator
Felicity McIntosh: Marketing & Communications Manager
Martin Broadley: Programming Administrator
Want to know more about Pridefinder?
www.midsumma.org.au/victorias-pride/pridefinder-podcast/
Want to know more about Helene Thomas & The Wayfinder?
Want to be a part of the Pridefinder Podcast?
We hope to continue collecting stories from regional LGBTQIA+ folk as part of the Pridefinder project each year.
If you’d like to have the Pridefinder visit your community, then please email engagement.coord@midsumma.org.au to register your interest!
Music Credits
Intro/Outro “10c Coffee” by Clamshell
“Plum Blossom” by Kokura Station
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