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Q-Lit's Story
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Q-Lit celebrates queer voices across Victoria through literature, storytelling, and community. We create spaces for connection, amplify LGBTQIA+ writers, and empower the next generation of storytellers. Q-Lit was founded in 2022 by Kate Hall and Timothy Ryan.
Connect
We build community by bringing LGBTQIA+ writers and allies together through writers groups, festivals, and statewide programming.
Our Focus
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Showcase
We champion queer stories by placing them centre stage through events and festivals, giving visibility to diverse voices.
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Empower
We share skills, provide opportunities, and nurture confidence so LGBTQIA+ writers and storytellers can thrive.
Timothy Ryan
Creative Director
Timothy has 15 years of experience in producing theatre, exhibitions, community events and festivals across Australia with a focus on LGBTQIA+ communities.
Our Team
Michael Earp
Chair
Michael, non-binary writer, editor and owner of The Little Book Room, champions queer storytelling, children’s literature, and community publishing.
Sarah Hart
Co-Chair
Sarah is a Ballarat-based writer, artist, and academic, widely published and exhibited, advocating for queer culture and creative inclusivity.
Bri Hassett
Secretary
Bri, a Gippsland-based English teacher, writer, and union rep, advocates for LGBTQIA+ youth as a proud pan woman.
Madison Whitmond
Treasurer
Madison is a proud trans woman dedicated to uplifting queer creatives, with lifelong experience and passion in the literary space.
Reimena Yee
Board Member
Born in Malaysian and living in Melbourne, Reimena is a graphic novelist & illustrator, and the curator behind the Comics Devices Library.
Kin Francis
Board Member
Kin is a writer and artist exploring queer futurity, disobedience, and community, with work spanning poetry, curation, and DJ’ing.
Dylan Holdsworth
Board Member
Dylan, a Gippsland-based academic and writer, explores disability in media, queer identity, and nature through research and creative work.
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Inclusion, Diversity & Equity
At Q-Lit, we champion an intersectional, trans-inclusive, and queer-affirming approach that promotes accessibility, de-colonising practices, and embracing diversity through non-judgemental spaces, guided by a calling in vs. calling out ethos.
Core Values
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Community & Collaboration
We build Q-Lit’s grassroots community by connecting people to share resources, amplifying marginalised voices, and supporting growth opportunities that empower and promote holistic development.
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Kindness, Compassion & Wellbeing
Q-Lit fosters kindness and compassion by centering queer wellbeing and creating safe spaces where individuals can find hope and belonging.
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Creativity, Joy & Celebration
We celebrate spunky self-expression through play and joyful experiences, embracing the awkward moments that unite us and bring vibrancy to our community.
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Growth & Leadership
Through empowering leadership grounded in courage, Q-Lit nurtures continual learning and fuels both personal and collective growth.
Our 5 Year Plan
Metro festivals offer well attended and easily accessible networking on a national scale.
Looking Ahead
Q-Lit is moving forwards with a trajectory of sustainability and growth, whilst maintaining a financially resilient base and responding to the communities evolving needs.
Yearly Writers Retreats, presented over a long weekend in a regional location, offer relaxed connection on a state level.
Local writing groups offer monthly moments for meaningful connection with writers from the surrounding area.
Connecting Communities
In 2025 we have begun our work to connect communities locally, statewide and nationally, with an aim for sustained and meaningful connections.
The online members forum offers year-round connection and conversation for isolated writers and between states.
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Supporting Writers and Storytellers Across Australia
We’re slowly expanding to yearly festivals in multiple capital cities so that queer writers and readers across Australia can participate where they live. A national footprint reduces travel barriers, elevates local voices (including First Nations and under-represented communities), and deepens partnerships with libraries, venues, and grassroots groups. Staging regular city-based editions also strengthens our writers’ group network, keeps momentum between tours, and builds a shared, year-round platform for showcasing, connecting, and empowering LGBTQIA+ storytellers.
Diverse Offerings
Queer communities have always been at the forefront of creativity and Q-Lit's events will reflect this, evolving to best present how we're sharing and consuming our stories.
Prepare for all new events that encourage playful and sensory filled ways to engage with stories, not only at our festivals but also touring nationally.
Expect traditional literary events at our festivals like panels, in-convo's, and showcases - events that effectively showcase our community.
Empowering Nationally
Q-Lit started with a strong regional focus and we aim to maintain that as we branch out across Australia with a range of touring events and online learning opportunities.
We'll showcase LGBTQIA+ writers in a podcast that will playfully share their work and creative practices.
Q-Lit will offer monthly webinars with professional writers sharing lessons and provoking conversations.
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What will Q-Lit look like in 2030?
Q-Lit is a truly national platform with annual queer literature festivals in Melbourne, Brisbane, Hobart, Adelaide, Perth and Canberra. We'll foster a widespread network of monthly local writers’ groups that tune into shared monthly webinars alongside our member community. Twin winter and summer weekend-long Writers Retreats will bring connection, while year-round touring shows will bring LGBTQIA+ stories to communities. We'll host school workshops for students and teachers and a Storytellers podcast showcasing Australian queer writers.
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