The conversation will be moderated by renowned visual artist and six-time Archibald Prize Finalist Kim Leutwyler. It will inform educational materials to be used by Minus18 to help the wider LGBTQIA+ community with coming out. The panellists will share their stories – from coming out in regional towns, to being gender diverse and growing up in the public eye.

Stories will be shared by. . .

MAY-A, a 21-year-old musician from Sydney who will share what it was like to come out with an enormous audience. She was nominated for Breakthrough Artist at the ARIA Awards, has featured on Flume’s ‘Say Nothing’, and recently sold out her headline Australian tour.

Podcast host, comedian and social media superstar Mitchell Coombs. He will divulge what it was like to come out in a regional area of Australia with less LGBTQIA+ resources. Mitchell has played at Melbourne International Comedy Festival and Sydney Comedy Festival.

Rudy-Jean Rigg, a musician, sportsperson, and neurodivergent, non-binary trans content creator. They’re a Minus18 ambassador, and will share their perspectives on LGBTQIA+ history and trans participation in sport.

Sydney-based artist, rapper, creative director and songwriter of Maori (Ngāpuhi/Tainui) and Samoan descent Jamaica Moana. Spiritually entwined with Hokianga and Waikato in the motherland of Aotearoa, while currently walking the land of the Gadigal people of the Eora nation.

Strategic Relationships Lead for Minus18, Adrian Murdoch will join the panel to share their own story.

“Platforming different perspectives in the LGBTQIA+ community is crucial to the mission of Minus18,” Adrian says, “to improve the lives of LGBTQIA+ young people. We’re excited to hear diverse experiences from this discussion and would encourage everyone to join via Minus18’s Facebook Live Stream on National Coming Out Day to show their support, learn from intersecting identities and deepen their understanding of the unique experiences of coming out journeys.”

National Coming Out Day is on 11 October.