Finding a community where you feel understood can make a big difference. But people with more than one identity can sometimes face barriers in every community they belong to.
Trans and gender-diverse deafblind people face many barriers. Information and trans-inclusive services may not be available in accessible formats. Communication support can be difficult to arrange.
Queer events are often held at night in dark, crowded or noisy venues, and deafblind people may not have the support they need to attend. This can leave people excluded from both disability spaces and LGBTQIA+ spaces.
Michelle is a deafblind trans person and one of the leaders of QAT: Queer Auslan Together. Steve is a queer deafblind man and an experienced Auslan teacher. We are thrilled to have Steve join the team and support this project!
QAT aims to build a bridge between communities. It creates a welcoming place where LGBTQIA+ deafblind people and allies can meet, share experiences, learn tactile Auslan and develop more accessible ways to communicate.
In the video below, Michelle and Steve introduce themselves and their roles in QAT. They also demonstrate some queer and trans Auslan vocabulary. This online activity can keep you connected until the next in-person event.
Watch Michelle and Steve sign and note any unfamiliar vocab. Do you notice anything different about their signing styles? Michelle has learned Auslan as a totally blind person, and Steve is a low-vision signer. You can also see regional differences, as Michelle is from Victoria and uses the southern dialect of Auslan, and Steve is from Sydney and uses the northern dialect.
In-person QAT activities are planned later in 2026. Please contact DBV if you are interested in attending, supporting the project or learning more about accessible queer community events.
Video transcript
Michelle: Hello, welcome to our little video for Q.A.T. I’d like to introduce Steve Ripley. He’s a very well-known character. Go ahead, Steve.
Steve: Hello. My name’s Steve Ripley. This is my name sign. I’m working with DBV – Deafblind Victoria. And I’m working with you, Michelle, and I love it! I’m a Deafblind person. I’m queer. I’m an Auslan user. Auslan is my primary language. And I’m working with Michelle on the QAT project. Michelle, would you like to say a little bit about what QAT means?
Michelle: Sure, QAT stands for Queer Auslan Together. It doesn’t matter if you’re deafblind or hearing and sighted, or whatever identity you have: gay, lesbian, bisexual. Regardless of whether you’re hearing or deaf or blind or sighted, all are welcome to this group!
The reason why we started QAT is, I’m a transgender person myself. And as a deafblind person, it can be isolating. There are barriers – so many barriers to accessing the community. It can feel quite lonely.
The aim of QAT is to provide a welcoming space for people to gather and meet, learn from each other, practice Auslan, tactile signing, different kinds of deafblind communication. Steve, did you want to add anything?
Steve: That’s awesome, Michelle. I’m excited about this because I have had challenges meeting people and socialising in the queer community, because I also experience communication barriers. So, to overcome that difficulty, it’d be great to have a group where we can sign and practice Auslan.
QAT can be an awesome, safe space for that, where learners can come together with signers. You can join with me and Michelle, if you’re watching this. Get in touch and we will tell you where and when it’ll be.
Michelle: Yes, please do come! We will let you know the date and time. Just come for a coffee, a chat, some signing, hang out with Michelle and Steve from Sydney. I’d be really happy to see you. Look forward to it. Please get in touch by email to me: michelle.stevens@deafblindvictoria.com. Love to see you there. Steve, any final words?
Steve: Awesome, Michelle. Yeah, if you do want to come or might be interested, let us know whether you would prefer a Wednesday evening or a Saturday during the day. Look forward to seeing you soon! Bye-bye.
Michelle: Bye-bye.
