Accessible Trams on Sydney Rd, Western Sahara decolonisation, RAFFWU walk-off, and supporting Autistic Trans youth

Monday Breakfast

Welcome to another iteration of the Monday Breakfast show. Our first segment is dedicated to Nex Benedict, a 16-year-old non-binary child who died on February 8th following a brutal, transphobic assault in the halls of their own school. In the wake of their death, we as a community and a society must mourn for those lost to transphobic violence across the globe and reflect on how we can protect Queer and Trans youth to ensure they live full lives and become Queer and Trans elders. This is the first part of an interview from 26th of February show in which Rob spoke with Annette Brömdal, co-author of the review titled: ‘Supporting the health and wellbeing of trans autistic school-aged youth: a systematic literature review’. Annette Brömdal is an Associate Professor at the University of Southern Queensland. Their research interests fall within the areas of bodies, gender and sexuality in educational settings and healthcare services, specifically associated with critical trans studies. You can read the review in full here(link is external). This Saturday, the 22nd of June marks one year of inaction by the Victorian Government in making trams running along Sydney Rd, and across all of Naarm, accessible for all. The Sydney Road Accessible Tram Stops Now has been pushing for the 5.5km stretch of tramline to be made accessible before construction of the Sky Rail level crossing removals on the Upfield line begins. Once the construction begins, there will be no accessible public transport at all along the Upfield corridor for at least 18 months. To continue to pressure the Victorian Government, the campaign will rally on the corner of Wilson Av. and Sydney Rd in so-called Brunswick at 11AM. To hear about the upcoming rally and the campaign at-large, Rob spoke with Alicia Liley from the Sydney Road Accessible Tram Stops Now Campaign. We then hear speeches/panel discussions from the Western Sahara decolonisation, resources, and human rights event at Trades Hall on June 12th. The segment features: Mohamed Mayara, journalist, human Rights defender and cofounder of Equipe Media; Dr Randi Irwin, anthropologist and lecturer at University of Newcastle; Marisol Salinas, a Mapuche woman; and Keiran Stewart-Assheton, Traditional Owner from the Wandi-Wandi clan in the Yuin Nation. He is also President of the Black Peoples Union.Lastly we play Annie McLoughlin's interview with Josh Cullinan from the Retail and Fast Food Workers' Union about last week's site walk-off which aired last Wednesday on Stick Together. Songs played: 'You & Me' - Amy Alex'What's Sown Will Be Reaped' - Pikelet'Postcode Anxiety' - Karen Took The Kids'To Have and Have Not' - Rights Tough