Coming Out (A second time)..

There is always a worry in my mind when I start a new job - should I mention my Drag performance career, or keep it under wraps?

What has worked for me for a while is to wait for those "probation" periods (usually 3 months) on new jobs to end, then reveal myself as the queen I am! I do this so that I can't just be dimissed from my job because some guy/girl in management doesn't want a drag queen working in the company..

Well our Prime Miniature, Mr Howard, is very happy he can change that option with his new IR laws - taking away our rights as workers to challenge unfair dimissals.. Fortunately for me, I work in a large company (remember the IR over 100 employees rule?), so the process of unfair dismissal is harder as it can still be challenged.. (If I'm wrong please tell me!)

All this aside, it's not like I change jobs often, but it's issues like this that you have to consider. Sometimes you get everyone's nose out of joint revealing your a drag queen - let alone gay, but on most occassions, my experience is that most people in the end are supportive and even want to come to my shows!

Anyways, today, as many people at work asked how I enjoyed Mardi Gras, I showed them pictures of me in drag, from my website, blog and mobile phone.

As always, people were taken back at first, but this time I was lucky that they were all encouraging and positive as we talked more about it. So in the end it was a good second "coming out" experience! (Or is it the third, fourth, fifth...?)

It got me thinking, obviously not all "coming out" experiences are positive, and some people lose their family and even a place to live. Twenty10, is a support organisation for young gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people in NSW who are expereincing this very difficulty. They do this by working with these young people in dealing with acceptance issues, as well as providing support services to help them gain independence.

Twenty10 is a very worthwhile cause, and one that I have not been involved with yet. I required the services of a similar (but smaller) group in Perth (WA) when coming out at high school called "BreakAway", and found it invaluable. I never really had a chance to pay back that organisation now that I live in Sydney, but I'm sure the fact I can help raise funds for troubled gay youths where-ever they are is good karma returned...

I'm writing a email to the fundraising manager at Twenty10, to see how I can help. A raffle, advertising on the mic, bucket collection.. Just happy to see what I can do..

Will keep you posted on what develops...

In the meantime, checkout their website here and think about what you can do for them! Their "Support Us" page has many ideas if you get stumped!