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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.
Madison Whitmond
Chair
Madison is a proud trans woman dedicated to uplifting queer creatives, with lifelong experience and passion in the literary space.
The Board
Steff Fenton
Deputy Chair
Steff is a pastor, author and speaker who happens to be transgender. Their mission is to flip the man-made script to reveal God’s loving truth about LGBTIQA+ people.
Reimena Yee
Secretary
Born in Malaysian and living in Melbourne, Reimena is a graphic novelist & illustrator, and the curator behind the Comics Devices Library.
Em Barton Grace
Treasurer
Em is studying a Master of Social Policy at the Uni Melb. Their background is in local and state government and the youth and queer sectors.
Marcel Liemant
Board Member
Marcel is an Indie Fantasy Author based in Naarm. They write queer-centered magical adventures that explore the power of trans embodiment, the tricks of fate & queer love.
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.
Hazel Li
Board Member
Finance professional shifting towards the community services sector. Passionate about housing justice and a voracious reader of literature, sociology, and political economy.
Michaël Monty
Board Member
Active in Melbourne’s LGBTIQ community since the 1980s, Michaël Monty is a passionate advocate, multidisciplinary scholar, and a published poet.
Orlando Silver
Board Member
Orlando is a nonbinary, transmasc queer writer, NIDA-trained playwright, and the Director of Incision Press, known for transmasc erotica.
Linnea Burdon-Smith
Board Member
Linnea (“Nay”) is a Naarm‑
based writer. Their non‑fiction centres on social justice themes, while their fiction incorporates elements of escapism.
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.
The Team
Em Barton Grace
Access & Inclusion
Em is a Bachelor of Arts/Science graduate with a background in local government and the youth and queer sectors. Outside of work, you'll find them reading or horse riding.
Sally Grage-Moore
Volunteer Coordinator
Sally Grage-Moore is a dancer, choreographer and writer, currently studying writing at RMIT. She is passionate about all things literary and amplifying queer voices.
Sarah Giles
Social Media Team
Sarah Giles is a writer, PhD candidate, and a sessional academic who teaches creative writing courses.
Jessica Fanwong
Social Media Team
Jessica is a Naarm/Melbourne based writer, theatre-maker and creator, currently studying a Master of Arts and Cultural Management at The University of Melbourne.
Maddi Johnstone
Communications Team
Maddi is an aspiring queer storyteller from Melbourne. If they're not entrenched in their latest sapphic tragedy, find them playing guitar (or searching for their pick).
Rory Jones
Communications Team
Rory is a Melb based marketing and events professional with a regional Victorian background, focused on accessible communication and practical support for community events.
Hazel Li
Grants Assistant
Hazel has a passion for fiction writing from women writers and non-fictions on social policy.
Kate Hall
Grants Assistant
Kate is the award-winning author of From Darkness, a romance set in the Otways and the Classical Underworld.
Nat Poon
Community Events Team
Nat is an queer non-binary artist born in Naarm with a Chinese background. Though based in illustration, they have always had a passion for literature.
Taya Van Beuge
Community Events Team
An experienced community event facilitator, having worked in public libraries and art spaces. She has a passion for promoting queer fiction and reader development.
Jilian
Community Partnerships
Jilian is a queer, Malaysian reader and writer from the western suburbs, invested in improving her community.
Caity
Community Partnerships
Environmental science teacher by day, and queer reader by night! Caity is passionate about building queer (literary) community, and loves animals, colourful bookshelves and her wife!
Dylan Holdsworth
Writers Group Manager
Dylan, a Gippsland-based academic and writer, explores disability in media, queer identity, and nature through research and creative work.
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Bumpy Favell
Orbost
Writers Group Facilitator
Bumpy’s output has been a mash-up of songwriting, poetry, drag cabaret and scriptwriting, alongside their writing/editing business
Linnea Burdon-Smith
Moonee Ponds
Writers Group Facilitator
Linnea (“Nay”) is a Naarm‑
based writer. Their non‑fiction centres on social justice themes, while their fiction incorporates elements of escapism.
Tara Eldrett
Cranbourne
Writers Group Facilitator
I am a local aspiring author who facilitates the Cranbourne Writers Group on a monthly basis
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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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