Video Transcription

Taz’s Story – LGBTIQA+ and Aboriginal Communities

I’m Taz Clay. I’m from Townsville. My tribes are Kalkadoon, which is Mount Isa, and Bwgcolman, which is Palm Island. I’m a brotherboy, so that’s an Indigenous female-to-male trans person. When I really started questioning my gender identity, I was feeling depressed and I was thinking that, if I just, I guess, if I end it, then I won’t have to worry about telling people or people confronting me about it. I was using drugs and alcohol, which was affecting my mental health. I was having episodes and ending up in hospital.

After the last time I ended up in hospital, I decided that maybe this isn’t the best idea and something needs to change. I found out that Headspace has counseling sessions offered. I was able to talk to someone about how I was feeling with everything, which was good ’cause it’s important to get the stuff in your head out. It helped me to see that it wasn’t just me feeling like this, like that there were other people that I could relate to and that I can share this journey with.

Once your mental health is better, you start feeling better about yourself. You’re stronger with who you are and you just feel like you’re on top of the world. So, if you’re feeling stressed or anxious, you can come down to Headspace and yarn with the mob here and talk about your problems. It’s a safe environment and you don’t have to worry about anyone else knowing what’s going on. You just have a good old yarn and let it all out.

♪ I’ve got a lot going on ♪

Bottling up your emotions and feelings isn’t good for you or your community. Yarn Safe’s important because it shows that there is no shame in talking it out. I proudly identify as a Kalkadoon and Bwgcolman brotherboy, and that will never change. I’m happy with who I am and nothing else really matters.

♪ I got a lot going on ♪
♪ No shame in talking it out ♪
♪ I got a lot going on ♪
♪ No shame in talking it out ♪
♪ I got a lot going on ♪
♪ No shame in talking it out ♪
♪ I got a lot going on ♪
♪ No shame in talking it out ♪

Video by headspace