Queer Books

Bookaholics Anonymous - stop scrolling and start reading Calling all book lovers and enthusiasts to a new monthly pub book club at Iddy Bar in St Kilda at 7.30pm sharp on Monday 4 May. Hosted by author Annie Lawson, we will chat about our favourite books of all time this month. What - Bookaholics Anonymous Where - Iddy Biddy Bar When - 7.30pm, Monday 13 April How often - Monthly Who - Anyone who wants to stop scrolling and start reading Format - Find out Monday

Join Queer Meditation Melbourne for an evening of self-exploration and mindfulness in a safe and inclusive space. Start the event with a guided meditation session focused on promoting wellness, positive thinking, and spiritual growth. Connect with like-minded individuals from the LGBT community and enjoy meaningful conversations that nurture self-empowerment and consciousness. After the meditation practice, we will engage in social activities, promoting healthy living and dining out experiences. This event is designed for gay men and gay and lesbian friends who are looking to nurture their spiritual journey while building connections within the community. Come together to foster a sense of belonging and support each other in a space that celebrates diversity and self-care.

Calling all \*\*female-identifying, non-binary and gender diverse \*\* filmmakers, actors, and film enthusiasts! Join us at **5pm** **Monday May 4 (the first Monday of every month)** in the Emporium food court (located behind Grill’d Burger Restaurant) for a chance to build relationships in the film community. **From 7pm onwards, we will continue the evening with drinks and/or a meal at The Lions Hotel - Melbourne Central.** This event is an expansion of the very successful **Movie Mutuals Wednesday Night Networking group** which has grown remarkably, with a weekly turnout of over 50 participants, blending newcomers with regulars to create a vibrant, diverse community. Whether you’re a writer, actor, animator, or independent filmmaker, come share your experiences, discuss current projects, or chat about favourite films. This event fosters connections among like-minded women, non-binary and gender diverse people, encourages friendships, and opens doors for collaboration. **RSVP** to help us gauge attendance. You will become part of a growing network of film professionals and enthusiasts. **What to Expect:** *There’s no set theme, workshop, or speaker. It’s a relaxed gathering where filmmakers, actors, and creatives can connect, discuss projects, share needs, and learn from each other. Beyond this networking event, we also host weekly Wednesday night meetups, exclusive events such as table reads, cinematography workshops with Panasonic, member screenings, and more.* \*Note: Our community emphasizes collaboration, friendship, and goodwill rather than promotional activities. If you wish to promote a workshop, course, screening, or similar event, please contact the organizers first. Promotional privileges are generally reserved for trusted, long-standing members.

**POINT COOK CUBAN SALSA & BACHATA** **DANCE CLASSES 2026** **🎉 - NOW OPEN -** **EVERY MONDAY** *(except on Public Holidays we are closed)* *\* No experience necessary* *\* No partner required* \* No dance experience necessary *\* Open to all adult ages* At: **POINT COOK COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTRE** 1-21 Cheetham Street Point Cook \* Same building as the Point Cook Library Building \* We are in Main Room 1 - opposite the Reception Desk as you walk in. **2026 MONDAY - POINT COOK** **CUBAN SALSA, BACHATA** **& RUEDA DE CASINO** **PROGRAM:** **6.30PM** **BACHATA** (Main class) \* Absolute Beginner to Improver level \* No dance experience or partner required \- All welcome **7.30PM - 8.45PM** **BEGINNER CUBAN SALSA** **\- INTRODUCTION TO SALSA BASICS** An extra 15 minutes have been added to assist new beginners with a slower, easy to follow breakdown of the main basics steps \- Beginners of all levels should attend this class This leads into the main **CUBAN SALSA BEGINNER** lesson. *\* Total Beginner Salsa class time: 1 hour & 30 minutes* **8.45PM - 9.45PM** **CUBAN SALSA & RUEDA INTERMEDIATE** (Main class) \* Beginners who are confident with their steps and turns can do this class. (Cuban Salsa/Rueda De Casino) **COST:** \* CASUAL/DROP-IN RATE: $20 for any 1 main class \* DO 2 CLASSES on the night: $30 \* DO ALL 3 CLASSES ON THE NIGHT - Only $35 **PAYMENT OPTIONS:** *\** **CASH** *is the preferred payment on the night and* *recommended for students to avoid paying the* *extra eftpos surcharge fees.* ***\* EFTPOS*** *facility with Mastercard or Visa credit card available* \- Please note: There is a 1\.9% surcharge when using Mastercard or Visa cards\. \* Please note: We do not accept American Express & Diner cards. **BOTTLED WATER & HAND TOWEL:** \* We recommend students bring a bottle of water and a hand towel as some nights are quite hot and some lessons can be abit of a workout! ((-: **CENTRE PROTOCOLS:** \* Masks are recommended \* If feeling unwell or have any flu like symptoms, please do not attend any classes \* If you are a close contact, as a precautionary measure, we ask you not to attend any classes until after 7 days of negative results \* We recommend sanitizing hands frequently **What To Wear:** \* Best shoes - low or flat shoes with smooth sole shoes, such as leather sole shoes. \* Avoid runners or sneakers as these are made to grip the floor and can impede your movement and turns. \* Clothing - comfortable, casual clothing is fine **MEDICAL:** Please consult your doctor before taking any classes if you have breathing problems, heart conditions, knee, back or shoulder injuries or are taking prescribed medication that may effect your health **PRIVATE LESSONS:** We offer private lessons on a one-to-one basis at our private studio setup in Werribee. Available for one to one or with your dance partner or for small private groups at a time that suits you. Large private groups or functions, we can come to you or your event. Private salsa lessons are a great way to fast track and accelerate your salsa dancing skills by focusing on your salsa dancing in more detail with individual attention.

I am thrilled to share that our next topic is **“Love Languages and Feeling Good!”** **⁣** The five Love Languages is a fantastic book outlining five ways to express and experience love. Gary Chapman refers to them as the “love languages”. ⁣ In this session, we will discuss the different love languages, what they each are, and how we can use this information to help us grow and build more authentic and meaningful relationships. ⁣ Ladies, come join us for our live event, connect with other like-minded souls and gain tools to help you to thrive. ⁣ Sending love and look forward to seeing you there. ⁣ Deb x ⁣ **PS Invite your friends and share this uplifting experience together.**

## 🎲 **Fortnightly Monday Community Nights** **Facilitated by Sasa Lestrange** 🕕 Starts 6PM \| 🎟️ $5 Entry \| 🔒 15 Spaces Only ### **The Quick Details** Come as you are, bring what you love. Whether you’re sketching, crafting, chatting, or diving into a YouTube watch party over the projector, this is your space to relax and connect. Bring your own arts and crafts, share your favourite tunes, or just hang out with good people. Got a TTRPG group? You’re welcome to play here. Looking for one? Use our Discord to find fellow adventurers and storytellers. This is a chill, welcoming evening for creatives, gamers, and anyone who wants to spend time in good company. No pressure, no prep — just good vibes and shared space. ## 🌟 **Why Join** * Make new friends or bring your own crew * Get out of the house and into the community * Perfect for newcomers to Melbourne or anyone wanting to build good habits * Enjoy a relaxed, inclusive atmosphere ## 👋 **Facilitator** Your host, **Sasa of EGAD**, will welcome you, introduce you to the space, and help get the group started — often with a game or by interest. ## 🍴 **Food & Drink** Snacks and drinks are available on the ground floor. You can also BYO, or join the **6:30 PM Schnitz order** for dinner. ## ♿ **Accessibility** The event space is up one flight of stairs, and bathrooms are not wheelchair‑friendly. Lighting is bright white overhead unless the group opts to dim for projector use. ## ⏰ **Timing** You don’t need to be on time — just note that if you’re joining for games, you might wait for a table to free up. ## 💡 **Suggestions** Got an idea for an activity or theme? Absolutely share it! The group votes on what to do each night. Let’s kick off the week with fun, creativity, and connection. This event is

Join your fellow LGBTQIA+ folks for a social evening of board games at Marché Board Games Cafe. We have access to the games library at the cafe. If you have a game that you want to share, please feel free to bring it along. We play all sorts of games - card games, party games, strategy games - and we're happy to teach new players. Groups for games usually form between 6:30-6:45, so it's important to try arrive on time to ensure you're allocated to a game/group. Anyone arriving late may have to wait for a game if all groups have started. The cafe has drinks and food available. Check out their menu here: https://mbgcafe.com.au/menu.pdf We only accept payment at the time of booking to reserve your spot. This means you will need to pay the booking amount via PayPal at the time of booking to confirm your spot. If you can't make it to the event, please ensure you get in touch by messaging the event hosts or emailing rainbowbg.melbourne@gmail.com at least one day before the event, and we can reverse your payment via PayPal. The cafe does NOT have a liquor licence. Consuming alcohol on the premises is illegal, and will result in any members being banned from future events. See you on Thursday!

**Tickets (SOLD OUT):** [https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/lesbian-speed-dating-tickets-1985428353652](https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/lesbian-speed-dating-tickets-1985428353652) With dating apps linked to stress, anxiety, poor body image, and low self-esteem, it's no wonder more and more people are looking to make connections in the real world - that's where we come in! If you're a lesbian looking to meet some new people, whether it's for romantic or social connections, this could be the opportunity you're looking for. This is for lesbian women of all ages (18+). The event will be organised by a mental health professional, and aims to provide a safe place for everyone; bullying, harassment and discrimination will not be tolerated. Your host, Jenny, is very eager to help you connect in a structured but relaxed setting. This is our first event just for women, so please show your support! **How It Works** \- Two experienced hosts will provide structure\, and will be available for queries throughout the event \- Attendees are divided into two groups and cycle through 10 minute dates at random \- Some short breaks are provided in between batches of dates to give people the chance to mingle and reset \- We don't do scorecards; attendees are encouraged to create their own opportunities \- A list of prompt questions will be available to keep the conversation flowing If you have any questions, accessibility concerns, or are experiencing financial hardship, please reach out to us to discuss!

Join Rainbow Social for a day of walking, talking and lunch, grab your coffee on the way to the lakes before hand. FREE to attend. Meeting on corner of Muray RD and Gaffney St inside the lakes area. I'll be there in rainbow to meet and greet you. Meeting at 10:45am and starting walking around 11:15am. Please do NOT be late, hungover (smell of alcohol) and have bad BO. The walk will be roughly 90 mins, 45 mins there and back (unsure where we are walking to but following the trail), stop for lunch, (30-40mins) before making our way back Coburg Lakes, arriving back about 2pm. What to bring: \- Your cute dog \- Water \- BYO lunch or we will start along the way to get something \- Good shoes to walk \- Sunscreen if sunny Communication: \- I send email via Try Booking\, do check your spam for any updates \- I'll send my number the day prior if you need to contact me directly This is a stress free, relaxed and friendly event to get your chatting and meeting like minded people by mixing up throughout event. Check public transport options to arrive at Coburg Lakes no latter then 11:00am ready for a prompt start. Do update RSVP or all platforms. Tell yor friends to join, more the merrier. See you May 10th at Coburg Lakes for a walk and talk

To BOOK you must GET a FREE TICKET from the Nomads website by following: **[https://thq.fyi/se/9d42daea24b7l](https://thq.fyi/se/9d42daea24b7).** Click on **Get Tickets.** **Note:** *An RSVP on Meetup is **NOT** a booking.* Please visit the Nomads website for full and early details of events. Our Annual General Meeting, in conjunction with the regular monthly social night. **GRADE**: Social. **ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION**: Join us in a private room for the AGM followed by dinner in lieu of our regular social gathering. The first part of this night will involve the formal business necessary to satisfy the requirements of our incorporation as an association, including presentation and acceptance of financial and other reports, and the election of office bearers for the next 12 months. An AGM Information Pack will be distributed electronically to all (then) Full Financial Members prior to the meeting. After this, please stay for a meal or for socialising. Drinks can be purchased at the bar (outside of the meeting room). The pre-ordered meals will be served in the private room at 8pm sharp. **Attending online via Zoom**: If you wish, you can attend the AGM online via Zoom. Just select "*Online - via Zoom*" as the "*Attendance Mode*" when you get your ticket. In any case, the Zoom link will be emailed prior to the meeting to everybody who has registered. **BOOKING:** * **BOOKING TO ATTEND**: By Sunday 3rd May. * To BOOK you must GET a FREE TICKET from the Nomads website by following: **[https://thq.fyi/se/9d42daea24b7](https://thq.fyi/se/9d42daea24b7).** Click on **Get Tickets.** **Note:** *An RSVP on Meetup is **NOT** a booking.* * **BOOKING YOUR MEAL**: A link will be provided in an email sent to those who have registered, a little before the event, to enable you to book your meal online. Your meal will be delivered to the room after the AGM. You will also be able to order in person on the night, but your meal then won't arrive at the same time as the others.

Join us for our May Book Club gathering where we will come together to discuss *[Cantoras](https://caroderobertis.com/books/cantoras/)*[ ](https://caroderobertis.com/books/cantoras/)by [Caro de Robertis](https://caroderobertis.com/bio/) in a safe and welcoming environment. Make new friends who share your passion for books and connect with fellow LGBTQ book enthusiasts.

**We are expanding our creative programming opportunities with Queer Quills, a writing and sharing space. Queer Quills features some prompts, supplies and friendly faces to help get some inspiration or feedback for your writing. Hope to see you there!**

**Our May novel is: *The Quiet Librarian* by Allen Eskens** **This month’s book is set in the 20th century and mixes historical fiction with suspense and thriller elements. It also centers on women’s stories and relationships. The novel is 368 pages in print or 8 hours and 12 minutes on audiobook.** Hana Babic is a quiet, middle-aged librarian in Minnesota who wants nothing more than to be left alone. But when a detective arrives with the news that her best friend has been murdered, Hana knows that something evil has come for her, a dark remnant of the past she and her friend had shared. Thirty years before, Hana was someone else: Nura Divjak, a teenager growing up in the mountains of war-torn Bosnia—until Serbian soldiers arrived to slaughter her entire family before her eyes. The events of that day thrust Nura into the war, leading her to join a band of militia fighters, where she became not only a fierce warrior but a legend—the deadly Night Mora. But a shattering final act forced Nura to flee to the United States with a bounty on her head\*\*.\*\*

It's official, submissions for "Resistance, Resilience, Utopia" are are on their way from being independent pieces to becoming the second volume of gINKgo. This year we are going to have a launch party at Birdie Books on May 15th from 6-8pm open to the whole community! Come on over and help us support the creators with food, drinks, art, writing, open mic, music, community activities and more.

WQC has weekly Thursday night social nights at the Westerville Java Central. Come and grab a coffee and connect with the community: low stakes, chill environment, and tasty drinks. No registration is required; come as you are.

This month we’ll be ready Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett. Feel free to come and chat even if you don’t finish the book!

Join us for lunch/tea at Asterisk Supper Club to discuss our May book "Under the Oak Tree" by Suji Kim Lady Maximilian is the daughter of the powerful Duke Croyso, but she is rarely allowed outside her family’s sprawling castle for fear that her stutter will tarnish their noble name. When she is forced to marry Sir Riftan, a lowborn knight caught in one of her father’s schemes, Maxi doesn’t dare hope for happiness, let alone love. Her stumbling communication and his gruff manner sour their relationship before it can begin, and Riftan leaves without a word the morning after their vows are exchanged. Now, three years after their disastrous wedding night, Riftan has returned as a war hero. To Maxi’s surprise, despite rumors that he was offered marriage to Princess Agnes, a beautiful and renowned sorceress, Riftan still wants Maxi for his wife. And when he comes to claim her, his longing becomes a desire that bewilders Maxi, even as she is overcome by the scorching heat that Riftan’s presence ignites within her. As she learns to navigate the intricacies of her new life, Maxi will find herself and her courage, and discover that she is anything but powerless.