From Laughter to Lasting Change: Lithgow Q&A and Workshop

A Road Trip to Regional NSW

My wife Danica and I were in the car driving the 2 hours and 20 minutes to get to Lithgow. It felt like we’d only been on the road for half an hour and we saw kangaroos in a field next to the road - an exciting novelty for Sydneysiders - especially one originally from England!

Warm Welcome at LINC Hall

Arriving at LINC Community Hall we were greeted with the friendliest faces - Ally, Bec and Emma - the team creating an afternoon and evening for local trans and LGBTQ+ people and allies for IDAHOBIT Day. The space was decked out with rainbow and trans flags, bunting, tinsel, beanbags, snacks, and tea. By 2pm, people arrived from Bathurst, Mount Vic and surrounds to attend one of the few LGBTQIA+ events in the region. We shared introductions, told our stories and made connections. There were pledges of new friendship and solidarity.

One young person who had never met a trans person said out loud for the first time ‘I just dream of being a woman.’ A trans boy said, ‘what would your name be if you could change it?’ With permission, we called her by her chosen name for the rest of the afternoon. We watched her go from withdrawn to beaming, talking about flowers blooming in her chest when being affectionately called ‘Girl.’

At the end of the Q&A we felt like family. We felt like we had all been part of a sacred conversation that actually made a real difference to people.

Trans Comedy Night in Lithgow

At 4pm it was time to set up for the Lithgow Queer Comedy Night with fellow comedian Drew Bowie (she/her). Cheese platters, mood lighting, and 30 seats — or so we thought!

By 6pm, the hall was buzzing. Straight allies, trans and queer locals, grandparents of trans kids, couples from the Blue Mountains, Lithgow Council members — and many new friends from the Q&A. The crowd kept growing until all 50 seats were filled.

Impact Beyond the Stage

Afterwards I spoke to a trans man who told me he had lived in Lithgow for a few years, was stealth out of safety and had not met a single trans person whilst living there. He was overjoyed to have last-minute heard about the night from a mutual friend in Sydney and for once, not feel like he needed to hide.

I’ve lead enough trans and non-binary workshops now to know that these spaces change people - they have people thrive in the listening of others. And I know that it made a difference to the people we met that day - because they told me. But I wasn’t expecting how much it changed me. I learned just how different being trans is in Lithgow, compared to Sydney just 2 hours and 20 minutes away. And that’s why I’m doing this regional trans comedy tour. Bringing laughter, connection, and visibility to communities that need it most.

📅 See my upcoming tour dates here.