Aug 12, 2023
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Outlander Shapeshifters Chapter 4 The Laird
Mrs. Fitz is as good as her word and has her up and dressed early that next morning. Everything has a dream like quality as she helps her up, places a bowl of porridge in her hand ( and isn’t food most welcome) and watches her eat as she sorts out her hair, finally placing it in an up-do. After she eats, the lady helps her out if her stained and torn dress. She stares at the bra and knickers. Crap, neither are worn here!
*They are French, from Paris “ Claire claims and breathes out a sigh of relief when Mrs. Fritz just nods. She shrugs out of them and is shocked when the lady pours cold water over her.
“I ken it be cold, but wakes the skin right up.” She washes her and then starts to layer on all a properly outfitted lass wears in this time. Claire pays close attention knowing she will need to know how the do this. “There ye be, all ready to meet the Laird.”
“Mrs. Fitz, is he a nice man!” a nervous Claire asks.
“He is as he needs to be. Dinna fash lass. He is a fair man. “
She is lead back through the corridors and misses Jamie. His presence is the only thing that feels real. It grounds her. They stop outside a heavy door. Mrs. Fitz knocks and opens it. “Colum Ban Jacob Mackenzie meet Mistress Claire Beauchamp.” Claire courtesies low.
“Thank you Mrs. Fitz.” She nods and shots the door. Claire looks to the Laird and his brother, baldy, no Dougal. “Mistress Beauchamp, you ken my brother Dougal.”
“Yes sir, I do. Nice to meet you again.”
“Aye lass.”
“Come in and have a seat. We need to talk.” She does on shaky legs. The Laird’s are all twisted and bowed. She feels a strap of pity for him. The pain must be excruciating. She takes a seat at the desk and Colum sits across from her with Dougal standing at his back. “First, welcome to Castle Leoch. You are an honored guest after your care of Jamie.” She nods, her hands tightly fisted in her lap. “Dougal says Murtagh found you wondering about the wood in naught bar your shift?” Of cot, that is what it would look like to them.
“Yes. I was traveling with my lady’s maid and we were set upon by bandits. They attracted us both. Drug Mary away and ripped my clothes off. I feared being bothered with so I hit the man on the head with a branch and ran away. To leave Mary was difficult but the urge of self preservation runs deep. I can only pray she is alright.” Her eyes drop and a tear runs down her face. Colum pressed a handkerchief in her hand. “thank you.”
“We are sorry for your troubles Mistress. Men will be sent to look for these bandits and your Mary.” She nods, her head still down. She knows naught will be found but it might buy her some time.
“Thank you.”
*I must ask though, why were you traveling without a male escort.”
“My last male relative, my Uncle Lamb,” here she doesn’t need to manufacture a tale, or not much of one, nor the tears that come with it. Her dear Uncle Lamb, lost in the waning days of the war. Her darling who had raised her after her parents deaths. “He passed just a few months ago. He had been my guardian since my parents passed on when I was but five.” Tears dip steadily down. “I was heading into Scotland to seek employment. I am a grand healer.”
“I see. So you are. Condolences on your losses. No husband?”
“No. Uncle Lamb wished me to marry for love.”
“What has love to do with marriage.” From Dougal who had married a cousin to produce heirs. She, unfortunately only gave him daughter’s. They and their mam stay in the coast. His only male issue, he can’t claim.
“You may work as a healer here. Just a few things. As you know are clans secret, I need you to keep our confidence “
“Of course.”
“One whisper, in the wrong ear, will bring the hunters down on us. Or, more precisely them, as haven’t shifted since the accident that lead to this. I will see my clan protected.”
“I will do nothing to harm them. You honor me by offering me employment. I promise to keep your secret.”
“I believe you. The other thing is, for your and our safety, you may not leave the confines of the castle. Not without an escort.”
“Sounds reasonable. After my experience, I have no issue with that.”
“Excellent. I will see you have as you need and coin. The current chamber suits?”
“It does.”
“Grand. We had a healer her around a year ago before he was carried away by a fever. I will arrange for you to be shown, what he called, his surgery. I am sure you will put it to good use.”
“I am sure that will work out perfectly.”
The men stand and Claire joins them. *Thank you Mistress for your care if my people.”
“Thank you for the opportunity.” She courtesies again and leaves them. Now to find Jamie.
Mummy & Her Chicks
Innes smooths down the front of his sharply creased plaid work shirt, straightens the ID at the end of the lanyard around his neck, levels his glasses, and steals a look at his reflection in the glass beside the door. With a bit of frown, he straightens a few errant bits of his recently-trimmed fringe.
There.
Fig. 1. View from the MacIver home farm, Isle of Harris.
Both his natural bits and his glamor look neat and professional, if he does say so himself. And so he does say as he gives himself a hearty mental pat on the back.
From Innes’ padded right shoulder, Punky runs a red paw tipped with golden yellow claws over his scaly head and collar of short spikes. The little dragon, looking like a housecat-sized version of the great beasts of myth, cheeps a question in his bird-like voice.
“Aye, you are indeed the most handsome bloke in the whole of Glasgow.”
Punky sits up straight, posture perfect, spreads his wings, and gives them a brief rattle.
Innes chuckles. “Now that we’re properly chuffed, it’s time to get to work.”
Punky stomp-stomp-claps his forepaws as he tucks his leathery wings down to his back.
“That’s the spirit! Now: the job!” Innes raps his most professional rap on the black-painted door and waits.
That door—set into the front of an imposing red brick house on a rather posh street in a very nice section of south Glasgow, one of those houses that has big gardens front and rear shaded by mature trees, the sort of house Innes and Punky could never afford in even their wildest dreams—swings open on a sparkling, red-haired person in their mid-twenties.
Innes double-takes them and squeaks (most unprofessionally; he cringes internally), “Cherish?”
She blinks blue eyes at him a moment, her brow furrowed as she searches her memory. “Innes? The same little Innes from Paisley I used to babysit?”
He smiles across the now-vanished height difference. “Not quite so little now, yeah?”
“Oh my god! It is you! C’mere!” Cherish lifts him clear off his feet and hugs the air from his lungs.
Punky squawks nervously, digging in his claws to keep his perch; to be perfectly frank, Innes squawks, too.
Cherish sets him down and pushes him away, but keeps hold of his shoulders as she drags her eyes from his toes to his crown. “You’ve sure grown up handsome!”
“It’s been twelve years, yeah?” Innes shifts his feet in their heavy work boots, cheeks warming, and strokes along Punky’s neck to calm them both.
“Good lord, it’s been that long?”
“It has.”
Cherish smacks her forehead with her open palm. “Where’re my manners? Come in, come in!” She waves him into the close with both hands.
Innes hops over the threshold and resettles the bright new wicker capture basket over his arm on landing.
“You went and did it, huh?” grins Cherish.
Innes tilts his head. “Did what?”
“Got yourself a breathing dragon. Became a proper MacIver like I said you should.”
“Oh, that. Aye, that I did.” He grins. “That’d be why I’m here, after all.”
“Lucky for us! Follow me to the trouble!” Cherish twirls to march deeper into the house.
“Lead on, ma’am.”
Cherish snaps one-hundred-eighty degrees around and Innes barely avoids crashing full-frontal into her.
Punky digs his claws into Innes’ shoulder and squawks afresh.
“Ugh! Don’t you dare call me that!” Cherish scolds.
Innes takes another step back and gestures for calm. “It’s polite?”
“No no no! You always call a woman ‘miss’ until she corrects you. Flatters her ego.”
Innes files that away. “I’ll be sure to do that from now on.”
“Good.” Cherish softens and smirks a tad. “Take it you haven’t been a working man long?”
“I’ve been an apprentice for a couple years, but this’s my first call flying solo, actually.”
“And you drew our house?”
Innes glances about the tastefully decorated foyer. “Certainly looks that way.”
Cherish smacks his arm, totally playful. “This is so awesome! Little Innes is all grown up and has a dragon familiar!” Cherish skips up a flight of carpeted stairs past a window glimmering with colorful stained glass as Innes pursues. “What’s your pretty friend’s name? He’s a lesser Hebridean, yeah?” she asks.
The dragon puffs up, sings a bouncy little tune.
“This’s Punky. He’s technically my partner, not a familiar, and yes, he’s a lesser Hebridean, but he thinks he’s actually Freddie Mercury.”
“He’s got a lovely voice, but can he play the piano?”
Innes looks to Punky.
Punky looks to Innes and gives his best shrug: a brief, fluttery flex of his wings.
“We’ll have to find out after we take care of whatever I’m here for.”
“That’d be in here.” Cherish steps from a long hallway into an expansive bedroom decorated in soothing greens and blues, complete with a giant bed and what looks like a working fireplace.
Faint scraping and cheeping reaches Innes through the masonry. He steps closer to it and prompts, “They’re in the chimney?”
Cherish crosses her arms and frowns at the fireplace. “They’re in the chimney and they’re raising a ruckus all day, which keeps my da awake. He’s slowly going mad with lack of sleep.”
“That’s not ideal.” Innes scratches the back of his head, poking Cherish’s childhood descriptions of her father back into the depths of his memory. “You … you think it’s dragons instead of birds because …?”
“Because I saw one of the little scaly bleeders crawling into there from the roof. With what looked like a mouthful of sparrow.”
“That’s likely a dragon.”
“You think?”
Innes shrugs. “It could be a very confused and unhealthy squirrel.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“Not at all. You didn’t meet Chompers, the Terror of Harris.” Innes shakes head as he fits the red and blue lenses of the x-ray specs over his glasses.
“You’ll have to tell me about that someday,” Cherish laughs.
“If I ever have another free moment. The boss’s promising to run me ragged.”
Cherish pulls an exaggerated pout. “I haven’t seen you for yonks and here you are promising to disappear again.”
“I, I never disappeared. Went from Paisley to Mount Floridon and Loch Tay, then Harris, and now here with a job to do. Always been in the directory.”
Cherish beams reassurance like sunshine. “I mean I let us fall out of touch, but we’re living in the same city again and we absolutely have to catch up, aye?”
“Aye,” says Innes, smiling relief. He takes a deep breath and turns his attention to the brickwork.
The magic bound to the x-ray specs reduces the structure of fireplace, chimney, and wall to a greenish mist, revealing three fingerling dragon chicks curled up under the wing of an adult the size of a crow nestled in the throat of the flue.
“And the verdict is?” prompts Cherish.
“There’s a nest of boomers, complete with mum, in there.”
“Great. Scaly pigeons.”
“Don’t hate on them too much, yeah? I wouldn’t have this dream job without their special sort of nuisance.”
Cherish snorts a laugh. “You know why they call them ‘boomers,’ right?”
“I’ve heard a few versions of the tale. What’s yours?”
“Because the damned things always come back like bloody boomerangs.”
“That’s a new one on me.”
“You’re joking.”
“Nope. Been running in different sorts of circles, apparently.” Innes returns the colored specs to their case on his toolbelt and pulls on his dragon-skin gloves, then crouches, eases Punky to the floor—”Down you go, buddy.”—and folds the fire screen aside. After a bit of twisting, he gets his top half into the fireplace, his spine braced against the back wall.
“What do you see?”
“Absolutely nothing. It’s black as midnight in here.”
“Need a torch?”
“Naw. I can make my own. Let there be light!”
The tight space fills with a sourceless golden glow.
“You must save a fortune on batteries.”
Innes hums agreement as he scopes the situation. The spot he’s in is barely wider than his shoulders, coated with soot, and sealed at the top by a hinged metal plate.
“So how do we get them out?” Cherish leaves the barest beat. “Is it magic? Please say it’s magic.”
“I’m actually thinking more along the lines of opening the damper a tad and scooping them out.”
“Aww ….”
“This job isn’t always the stuff of legends.”
“Says the man making like Santa Claus.”
“Fitting, seeing as I’m about to deliver you some presents.”
Cherish laughs again.
“Would you be so kind as to open my basket, nudge it closer, and work the damper? Open it maybe halfway?”
“Got it!”
A bit of scuffing and something bumps Innes’ foot.
“Ready?” calls Cherish.
“Ready!”
A metallic grinding, some scraping, and somethings soft and scaly bounce off Innes’ nose—
“What the—” Innes sneezes himself down hard onto the grate.
—and emit tiny chick-cheeps from his lap, along with pricking his thighs with needle claws.
Innes spits feathers, says—
Leathery wings batter his face and chest, then retreat and—
A yank at his belt, then—
Cherish squeals, then laughs.
—Punky shrieks his absolute indignation.
—an adult boomer peeps an interrogative at a relative distance.
—nothing, but coughs out even more feathers and spits into the ashes. He cradles the baby boomers close to prevent escape and uses his free hand to scrape yet another pillow’s worth of feathers from behind his glasses.
“Are you all right?” giggles Cherish.
“I’m a bit down in the mouth—”
Cherish groans.
“—but unharmed. Never heard of a dragon hoarding feathers like this, though.”
“It’s not hoarding. She wanted her chicks warm and cozy. Isn’t that right, mummy?”
Another questioning chirp arrives in answer.
Innes nestles the chicks in his basket, then wiggles his way out of the fireplace to stand on the hearth. He pushes up his glasses, clears his eyes with his cuff, and blinks. “You caught her?”
“Yep!” Cherish holds up the utterly confused adult female boomer trapped in her hands, lightly iridescent gray-blue wings pinned and legs and tail dangling immobile. “Snagged her right out of the air! Even little Freddie missed her!”
Innes smiles down at Punky. “Next time I’ll let you off your lead first.”
Punky sniffs approval, but some sulk remains in his posture.
“I’ll take her off your hands.” Innes opens his.
“Here you go.”
Innes takes a solid hold of the now rather miffed dragon—who looks overall like a cross between Punky and a small iguana—pours her into the basket with her chicks, and locks the lid behind her. “Suppose … suppose I’ll have to give you a discount for that.”
Cherish pouts, hands on hips. “I wasn’t already getting one?”
Punky leaps onto Innes’ shoulder, shakes his wings into alignment, then drapes himself around Innes’ neck.
“The discount’s for family only.” Innes straightens up with basket in hand.
“I’m almost family?”
“You babysat me twelve years—”
“The fuck’s all the noise?” growls the person who slumps against the doorframe, the one who resembles Cherish in age and face and coloration enough to be her sibling. They haven’t gotten sleep or sun in much too long, if their surprising dead pale skin and the dark half-moons under their eyes are any indication.
“Hi, Da! Did we wake you?” asks Cherish, absolutely chipper.
Mr. Lennon glares perfect exasperation at her. “I’m fucking sleepwalking, of course. And sleep-talking.” He looks to Innes, blinks a couple of times and says, “You catch them, MacIver?”
“I caught the mum!” sings Cherish, peering around Innes, “and he got the three itty-bitty babies!”
Mr. Lennon grunts and shuffles into the room. “No. You’re not keeping them.”
“But, Da!”
“No. Dragons.”
“They’ll actually be happier on the outskirts than in the city like this,” adds Innes.
Cherish gives him a dark look. “Whose side are you on?”
“That’d be the dragon’s side, where he should be and stay,” says Mr. Lennon. “Now, Mr. MacIver, do everyone a favor and take those little noisemakers away so I can get some bloody fucking sleep already.”
“But, the mess?” Innes gestures to the feathers, soot, and ashes dotted across what looks like an antique rug. “I’m to—”
Mr. Lennon waves dismissal, then herds Cherish and Innes into the hall. “I’ll have the cleaners see to it when they’re in tomorrow.”
“Oh. Thank you, sir.”
Mr. Lennon inclines his head and slams the bedroom door in their faces.
Innes and Punky blink rapidly.
A deadbolt clunks home.
“He is such a grump,” sighs Cherish.
Innes gathers his scattered wits while waves a hand over his clothes, evaporating the smudges and down they’ve collected. “How long’s it been since he’s had proper sleep?”
“Maybe a week.”
“Poor soul, no wonder he’s a tad short on patience.”
“That’s no excuse for that kind of rudeness.”
“Perhaps, but it’s as near to one as I can think of.”
Cherish huffs. “Can you stay for a cuppa?”
“Unfortunately not. I have to drop this lot off at headquarters, then be on to my next call.”
“Aww ….”
“There’s no rest for the wicked.” Innes gives her a winning smile.
“You? Wicked? Puh-lease.”
“I’m only starting out. Give it time.”
“Never! You’re one of the good guys!”
Innes laughs along. “Guilty, I suppose.”
++++++++++
Image credit: Chris Downer. Urgha: view along the Laxdale Lochs. Image file (.jpg). 15 August 2012. CC BY-SA 2.0. https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3283041
Victoria Police release person of interest photos in homophobic vandalism
New Post has been published on https://qnews.com.au/victoria-police-release-person-of-interest-photos-in-homophobic-vandalism/
Victoria Police release person of interest photos in homophobic vandalism
Victoria Police have released images of the perpetrators of homophobic vandalism at Melbourne gay pub and hotel, The Laird.
Investigators from Victoria Police have released images of the individuals considered “persons of interest” in the homophobic graffiti at The Laird two weeks ago.
The safe space for cis and trans men in Abbotsford had ‘FAG’ spray painted on the doors.
As well as an image of Ned Kelly with guns stating ‘Ned hates Fags’ along the building on Henry Street.
“Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding offensive graffiti in Abbotsford on 6 July 2025,” a Victorian Police spokesperson told QNews.
“It is believed the male offenders attended a commercial premises along Gipps St.”
“And a retail outlet along Hoddle St in the early hours of Sunday 6 July,
“Marking offensive graffiti depicting ‘Ned Kelly’ and the ‘Sonnenrad’ logo.
“Police believe both incidents are related.
“Investigators have released an image of several males who may be able to assist with enquiries.
“Anyone with information is urged to contact Collingwood Police Station on (03) 8413 1700,
“Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at crimestoppersvic.com.au”
The figures’ faces are obscured in the photos.
The Laird was notified of the homophobic graffiti by Neighbours.
It was covered up with rainbow flags immediately and removed before they opened for afternoon drinks.
Image: Supplied
Victoria is experiencing a wave of homophobic crimes.
MP for Richmond Gabriella De Vietri took to Instagram after the vandalism, calling out mounting homophobic attacks facing our communities.
“It’s really disturbing to see this kind of aggression towards our queer community.” De Vietri said.
“The sad truth is that this is not isolated.”
“Victoria has been experiencing a wave of violent homophobic crimes that are just not being talked about.
“The most disturbing of these have been when perpetrators use online platforms like Grindr and Snapchat to lure gay and bisexual men into situations that have led to assaults, home invasions and robberies.”
Victoria Police confirmed more than 30 arrests as part of an investigation into a series of attacks on men who have sex with men using dating apps.
The alleged offenders are primarily young males aged between 13 and 20.
Last month, a community forum by Thorne Harbour at The Laird highlighted that many incidents go unreported to authorities.
“I believe what is being reported to us is a small number of what is happening.” Victoria Police LGBTIQA+ Community Portfolio Manager Jeremy Oliver said.
“I know there are people in the community who, for a whole bunch of different reasons, don’t feel comfortable reporting this.
“I do encourage you to come to the police or speak to an LGBTQ+ liaison officer.
“Even if you just want to tell somebody and talk about your options without having to make a formal report and investigation.
“It’s important that we know the breadth of the issue, because what we know is just a small amount.”
Labor Member for Melbourne, Sarah Witty, spoke on JOY 94.9 after the vandalism.
“The way the community responded to these attacks, covering the vandalism, was wonderful.”Witty said.
“We need to report any kind of hate speech to the police.”
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‘These are not isolated incidents.’
This weekend, mainstream Victorian press picked up the story.
12 days after the details were reported by LGBTQ+ media.
Articles in The Saturday Paper and The Age highlighted the growing hate attacks towards our communities across the state.
Minister for Equality Vicki Ward told The Age that “any violence targeting LGBTIQA+ communities is abhorrent and unacceptable.
“These are not isolated incidents, and we take them very seriously.”
“We’ve passed stronger anti-vilification laws, including specifically protecting the LGBTIQA+ community.
“We’ve banned the public display of the Nazi symbol and introduced new ‘post and boast’ laws to criminalise violent, hate-driven crimes being glorified online.”
Commissioner Ball told The Age, “The rise in hateful conduct requires a multipronged government response.”
Welcoming discussions with Premier Jacinta Allan about expanding the new anti-hate taskforce beyond antisemitism to include attacks on the queer community.
“We know already there are far more instances where gay men have been bashed than have been reported, and that’s because people are quite afraid [to go to police],” Ball said.
Co-owner of The Laird Brett Lasham told The Age he wasn’t intimidated by acts like this.
“I’d love to sit at a table with one of these people [and ask] what is it that made you want to do that?”
Anyone with information is urged to contact Collingwood Police Station on (03) 8413 1700.
Or you can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
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For the latest LGBTIQA+ Sister Girl and Brother Boy news, entertainment, and community stories in Australia, visit qnews.com.au. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
Winners of the 2025 Men on Men Art Exhibition
New Post has been published on https://qnews.com.au/winners-of-the-2025-men-on-men-art-exhibition/
Winners of the 2025 Men on Men Art Exhibition
What do a giant charcoal phallus, Lego poppers, and a faceless figure have in common? They are all winning artworks of the Laird’s 2025 Men on Men Art Exhibition.
The annual Men on Men Art Exhibition and Competition saw over 100 artworks come through the doors of the Laird this year.
Transforming the gay pub and hotel into a gallery, the exhibition gave male and male-identifying artists from all cultures and backgrounds an opportunity to express themselves through their art.
Highlights of the exhibition included a jockstrap lamp, a paper doll recreation of Laird Leatherman 2024 Jay Robinson, and more.
More than an exhibition, Men on Men is also a competition with one artwork receiving a grand prize of a $500 Dean’s Art voucher and an exhibition at The Laird during Midsumma 2026.
Attendees to the exhibition’s gender-inclusive open day get to vote for the People’s Choice Prize.
The artist receives $250 Dean’s Art voucher and an exhibition at The Laird during Midsumma 2026.
One outstanding photo entry wins the Steve Scalone Photography Prize, honouring the late artist Steve Scalone, who won Men on Men in 2012.
The winner receives a $350 Framed By You voucher, thanks to Roderick Sharpe.
QNews sat down with the winners of this year’s Men on Men exhibition to find out what the honour of winning and their artworks mean to them.
A Place to Rest by Jason Treanor.
Winning the Grand Prize of the 2025 Men on Men Exhibition was ‘A Place to Rest’ by Jason Treanor
The oversized charcoal and pencil drawings explored themes of desire, masculinity, intimacy, eroticism and sensuality.
As artist Jason Treanor presented scaled-up sensual charcoal and pencil drawing of a groin and penis.
“I have always loved the simplicity of black and white for its elegance and honesty,” Treanor told QNews.
“There’s a sensuality in transferring charcoal to paper.”
“It’s a tactile experience that feels authentic, as it’s essentially burnt wood on dried wood pulp.
“I aim to transform fleeting moments of desire from social media into substantial art.
“By creating large-scale charcoal drawings, I want to evoke appreciation rather than mere attraction.
“This art invites viewers to engage with their own feelings of intimacy and masculinity.”
The detail on the drawing was so precise that the Producer of the exhibition, Brett Lasham, thought it was AI art at first.
“In a world increasingly dominated by digital imagery and AI, I prioritise traditional methods to reclaim authenticity.”
“My creative process involves extracting erotic male images from social media,
“Adjusting them in Lightroom and using the results as the basis for my drawings.
“The goal is not to replicate but to reinterpret these images, adding depth and intimacy.”
They say size isn’t everything, but this giant phallus certainly grabbed everyone’s attention when they saw it,
“I prefer working in oversized formats,” Treanor said.
“This approach requires broader strokes and the discipline to layer charcoal over time, creating depth.
“The physical experience of viewing the work from afar, then moving closer to appreciate the details, enhances the connection between the viewer and the piece.”
Image by Dean Arcuri
Creating this artwork was a way to reconnect.
Jason returned to Melbourne from Switzerland and used the Men on Men Exhibition as a way to “prepare for re-engaging with Melbourne’s culture and community.”
“I began this piece intending to exhibit in the competition, allowing it to serve as a vehicle for my reflections on the future.”
Pushing myself to complete my work for the Men on Men exhibition was fulfilling, and I felt proud to enter alongside such talented artists.”
“Winning was unexpected and humbling, especially during a challenging year filled with personal upheaval, including my husband’s cancer diagnosis and my own.
“This recognition represented resilience and a deep connection to community.”
For Jason, creating this artwork was about more than an exhibition or competition.
“This win transcends a mere competition,” he said, “It symbolises the significance of community and self-belief during difficult times.”
“The Laird has always been a steadfast community icon for me, embodying acceptance and support,
“And my experience underscores the importance of nurturing these bonds as I continue my artistic journey.”
Image : Supplied
Absence of Identity by Jamie Regan
For Jamie Regan, winning the Steve Scalone Photography Prize for his artwork meant a lot.
This was the first time he had ever entered a photography exhibition.
“To win felt like a validation of the effort I have put into creating photographs over the past 16 years.” he told QNews.
During his late teens, Jamie spent a year studying photography at a technical college and evolved through experimentation.
He has consistently remained rooted in a minimalist style focused on the subject being photographed.
Entering a self-portrait in the competition, where he is not facing the camera.
“I was encouraged by my partner to enter the Men on Men Exhibition after we saw it last year,” he said.
“This piece is part of an ongoing series where my face is obscured from view.”
“The series emerged from a period of introspection, reflecting on my younger self and my tendency to avoid being seen by others.
“The shooting process was straightforward. I set up a background and positioned a single light.
“Using a shutter release attached to the camera, I captured the shot within about 15 minutes.
“My approach is typically fast-paced as I visualise the photograph in my mind before taking it.”
For Jamie, the Men on Men Exhibition matters because of the unique impact it has.
“An exhibition like Men on Men matters because it provides a dedicated space to celebrate queer expression through art,” he said.
“For me, it’s important that spaces like this exist as they foster visibility and community,
“Allowing diverse voices and stories to be shared in a meaningful way.”
Image: Supplied
Popper Art by Sam Hardy
A previous winner of the Men on Men Exhibition, artist Sam Hardy was chuffed to take People’s Choice this year.
His artwork was a giant RUSH popper bottle made out of LEGO.
And was a full circle moment with his art process starting by entering the Men on Men Exhibition in 2019.
“That year I created LEGO interpretations of The Laird,” he told QNews, “In which the scene depicting the beer garden won.”
“My work has slowly grown from there.”
“The core inspiration initially drew from when I was very new to the scene and working myself out,
“So I saw them as observational works; my interpretation from being a fly on the wall.
“As I’ve become more comfortable with myself, the works have changed to reflect new experiences.
“My general themes have been putting a camp spin on what we might see as masc stereotypes and instil it with some humour or a quirky take.
“It is still something I’m exploring.”
Picking Lego as a medium because he is terrible at drawing, for Sam, winning People’s Choice was a special moment.
“There are so many amazing works I see every year, which are incredible,” he said.
“So, this was a nice surprise.”
“This means a bit to me as it’s been a rough year with Tacit galleries, who were representing me, closing after 25 years.
“So this is a nice little warm and fuzzy morale boost.
“Entering Men on Men is a nice way to experiment a bit.
“And it’s also great to come back to where it all started.”
Image by Dean Arcuri
Once you pop…
Hardy’s Lego Popper Bottle was an homage to Andy Warhol’s soup can.
“It’s also celebrating queer iconography while being a nod to hedonistic fun nights.” he said.
“This work is actually made up of the disassembled pieces of Hankie’s works that I made last year.
“The look came about from working out what to do with all these extra pieces, and that led to the background made up of picking random pieces.
“Round tiles were chosen because they are easier to lever off with a screwdriver than square ones.
“One theme all my works touch on is a sense of nostalgia as I’m reusing things everyone played with at some point in their lives,
“But now have reconfigured them to reflect adult perspectives.
Like many others, Sam’s work is a regular fixture as part of the Men on Men Exhibition.
And just like Sam has, it is a great opportunity for community members to explore through art at any level.
“Men on Men matters as it’s a great space for artists to explore and develop their talents,” Sam said.
” There are not many unique spaces for the LGBTIQ+ art community to be let loose in,”
“And it’s important there’s a space for people to be able to express their artistic expressions on LGBTIQ+ life.
“This space is great for developing your craft.
“As you have completely new artists next to internationally renowned ones, which has been very beneficial in forming networks.”
The Men on Men Art Exhibition and Competition will return in 2026.
Find out more information here.
Source: artofsamhardy.
For the latest LGBTIQA+ Sister Girl and Brother Boy news, entertainment, and community stories in Australia, visit qnews.com.au. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
Over 100 artworks on display at Lairds Men on Men Art Exhibition
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Over 100 artworks on display at Lairds Men on Men Art Exhibition
The Laird’s annual Men on Men Art Exhibition and Competition kicks off Saturday with a gender inclusive open day, and over 100 artworks on display.
The Men on Men Art Exhibition and Competition is an annual opportunity for the Laird’s artistic community to get its art on.
The iconic gay pub transforms with male and male-identifying artists from all cultures and backgrounds expressing themselves through an array of styles.
Each year, a variety of works from paintings, stencils, sculptures, street art, drawings, photography, ceramics, needlecraft craft and more are created.
The day the works are dropped off is a favourite for the co-owner of The Laird and producer of the exhibition, Brett Lasham.
Because he never quite knows what he is going to get.
And he loves seeing the finished products people bring, ready to display as part of the exhibition.
“It’s always great seeing the artist walk in with their artworks,” Brett said,
“Over the drop off day, the front bar gets filled with so many different types of works from photography and paintings to abstract, creative works.”
“I love being able to see artists who have grown with us each year.
“They may have done their first painting or photographic work nervously bringing it in, and when they come back, they really level up their craft.
“Seeing their work organically grow and progress is great, and then to see the response when people want to buy the work on the Open Day is so exciting.”
It’s a long day for Brett with over 100 artworks being dropped off ready for the Men on Men Art Exhibition. Photo by Dean Arcuri
Artworks in all shapes and sizes.
This year, more than 100 works will be on display from the Men on Men Exhibition Open Day this Saturday.
And they aren’t all small, with this year’s entrants taking the opportunity to go big with their artistic expression.
Damien has spent most of today starting to hang some of the larger works around the pub.
“We have heaps of really big artworks this year,” Damien told us.
“And this year I am noticing a lot of different techniques and styles in the works.”
“I find it quite astounding to look at them all,” he said.
For Damien, trying to figure out where to place the large artworks around the pub can be a bit of a headache.
Because he wants each work to be shown off to the best of its ability.
“I’m swearing all day trying to get the positioning just right,” he laughed,
“But it’s exciting to see all the different works come together.”
Over the years, the Men on Men artworks have evolved from works about guys on guys to a deeper artistic expression.
From Saturday afternoon, the works are not only available to view at the Laird’s Gender Inclusive open day, but also to purchase.
With all the profits going directly to the artist.
Damien is hanging artwork up at the Laird. Photo by Dean Arcuri
It takes a lot to transform a pub into a gallery.
The diversity of artworks that people enter always takes Brett by surprise.
“This year, we have an amazing charcoal artwork that I couldn’t believe was done by hand when it was brought in.”
“I assumed it was a photograph because of all of the detail,” Brett said.
“It’s the kind of work a gallery wouldn’t exhibit, so when I realised how much work it had taken them to draw the detail, I was so impressed.
“You realise that some of them have spent months creating a particular artwork just for the Men on Men Exhibition.
“We also have a great ceramic work this year that, when displayed, is more funny than kinky, and that diversity is great.
“I don’t want to give anything away so that people can take the works in fully on the open day on Saturday.”
Preparations for Saturday’s Open Day have been underway for weeks, it’s not easy turning the pub into an exhibition space.
“We are running around for days getting every detail right, because the pub’s not a gallery and there are so many spaces and we want to get the artwork lit and focused right,” Brett said.
“It’s not just about complimenting the art, because this artwork also complements the pub.”
“Before we open the doors, I’m nervous for the artists.
“They’ve put so much work in and have such pride in what they have done.
“Sure, once we open the doors, the staff all get on with doing their job, but we all get a chance to exhale as people look at the art.”
Photo by Dean Arcuri
Not just an exhibition, it’s also a competition.
The winner of the Men on Men exhibition receives a $500 Dean’s Art voucher and an exhibition at The Laird during Midsumma in 2026.
“Winning the Men on Men Competition was an incredibly surreal and humbling experience.” 2024 Men on Men winner, The Third Officer said,
“I had never entered an art competition or submitted a print of my photos before, so I am incredibly grateful to everyone who enjoyed and supported my work.”
“As an artist, your art is always an extension of yourself.
“There’s always a lot of thought and emotion involved when you put your work out to the world.
“I’m so glad I was able to push past my nerves and drop my work that day.
“This decision has allowed me to learn more about myself and share experiences with the incredible people in the community.
“I will always be grateful to The Laird for the honour and for consistently providing a platform for artists in the community to showcase their work.”
On Saturday, you have the opportunity to vote for the People’s Choice Prize.
One artwork will win a $250 Dean’s Art voucher and an exhibition at The Laird during Midsumma next year.
An outstanding photo entry will win the Steve Scalone Photography Prize, honouring the late artist Steve Scalone, who won Men on Men in 2012.
The winner will receive a $350 Framed By You voucher, thanks to Roderick Sharpe.
Roderick is a Laird regular and long-time buyer of entries from Men on Men and other exhibitions held at The Laird.
Winners announced during the Mr Australasia Bear Competition during VicBears’ Southern HiBearnation next month.
Previous winning Men on Men artworks by Steve Scallone, The Third Officer, Harry J Dee, Sam Hardy & Steve Edwards
There’s no other day quite like the Open Day.
From 2 pm this Saturday, the Laird opens its doors for a gender-inclusive open day where all are welcome to see the artworks.
Laird Leatherman 2025 BB will be hosting a BBQ, raising funds for his chosen charity, Switchboard Victoria, with plenty of works on display to enjoy.
“One of my favourite things on the Open day, an hour after we’ve opened the doors and hysteria has calmed down with people wanting to buy works, is to walk around the beer garden and take it all in,” Brett said.
“Guys and girls are there with their friends and chosen family, talking about the work they liked.”
“Running back to see if the artwork they liked has been sold.
“And just taking it all in.
“With BB adding in a BBQ this year, it will just make the day more special.
“I can’t wait to see what everyone thinks of all of the artworks this year.”
Check out all the artworks this Saturday from 2 pm at the Laird’s gender inclusive Open Day for the Men on Men Exhibition and Competition.
The Men on Men Exhibition and Competition is presented by The Laird and DEANation, sponsored by Deans Art and Bummer and supported by VicBears.
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Get your artwork in for the 2025 Men on Men Art Exhibition
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Get your artwork in for the 2025 Men on Men Art Exhibition
There’s still time for you to put in an artwork and enter The Laird’s Men on Men Art Exhibition and Competition for 2025.
The Laird’s annual Men on Men Art Exhibition and Competition returns for another year.
And there is still time for you to put together some artistic work if you would like to be involved.
Submissions include painting, stencil, sculpture, street art, etching, drawing, photography, digital, mixed media, ceramics, needlecraft craft and more.
It’s an opportunity for male and male-identifying artists from all cultures, backgrounds and histories to express themselves no matter their ability.
With less than a week to go before artwork drop off at The Laird in Abbotsford, co-owner Brett Lasham can’t wait to see what this year’s works will be.
“Each year, I love when all the submissions are brought into the pub,” Brett said,
“It’s one thing when we see pictures of people’s work via the online application, but a whole new ball game when we see the art up close.”
Over the years, the exhibition has evolved from works exploring masculinity to something more.
“The theme of Men on Men has evolved, not unlike the legal exemption we have here at the Laird, being a space for cis and trans men who identify as men,” Brett said,
“Looking back on it, we didn’t know as much about what was appropriate with the theme being a celebration of masculinity.”
“We dropped that a few years before we started to embrace trans men who came to the Laird as well and got the legal exemption to recognise that also.”
Picture by Dean Arcuri
But what is art?
“I love the way it’s evolved, because this isn’t about a picture of a landscape or a painting of a fruit bowl,” Brett said.
“Since we took over the pub, the artworks have continued to evolve from works about guys who were into guys in the community to expression that speaks to something more.”
“We end up with some amazing and unexpected artworks each year.”
In recent years, the definition of what those artworks are has grown.
“Next year, I need to add some information about clay and 3D artworks, which have grown in creativity.” Brett laughed.
“Last year, someone did a miniature scale model of a local cruising area, it blew us away because it was this tiny recreation of something we all knew.”
“One person is doing a. sculpture as part of this year’s exhibition that I am really excited to see.”
Photo by Dean Arcuri
Don’t wait till the last minute.
The response to artwork applications this year has been great, with the artwork drop-off on Wednesday, 28th May.
Brett wants to encourage artists to be sure to fill in the online application and not wait till their work is complete.
“We started using the online application during COVID so we could plan how the works would be displayed in the pub,” Brett said.
“That way, we can plan for the size of some artworks and details like that in advance.
“I say it every year, but I can’t stress this enough: don’t leave the application till the last minute.
“The photo you submit with your application can be a work in progress.
All the artworks are on display at The Laird from Saturday, 31st May until the 29th June.
Kicking off with a gender inclusive open day where all the works are premiered.
“The open day gets bigger and bigger every year,” Brett said,
“And this year, Laird Leatherman 2025 BB will be hosting a BBQ raising funds for his charity.”
“It’s a busy and exciting day that we always look forward to, especially seeing people’s reaction to all the different art.
More than an exhibition.
But the works aren’t just for sale, with all the profits going directly to the artist, there’s also a competition.
The winner of Men on Men receives a $500 Dean’s Art voucher and an exhibition at The Laird during Midsumma the following year.
On the open day, the public votes for the People’s Choice Prize, winning a $250 Dean’s Art voucher and an exhibition at The Laird during Midsumma the following year.
An outstanding photo entry will win the Steve Scalone Photography Prize, created in 2024.
This year, it also comes with a $350 Framed By You voucher, thanks to Roderick Sharpe.
Roderick is a Laird regular and long-time buyer of entries from Men on Men and other exhibitions held at The Laird.
All prize winners are announced during the Mr Australasia Bear Competition during VicBears’ Southern HiBearnation.
Click here to find out all the details and get your artwork entries in.
For the latest LGBTIQA+ Sister Girl and Brother Boy news, entertainment, community stories in Australia, visit qnews.com.au. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
Yarra LGBTQ+ spaces 3CR & Laird get heritage protection
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Yarra LGBTQ+ spaces 3CR & Laird get heritage protection
A City of Yarra’s study into LGBTQIA+ heritage has led to formal protection through new heritage orders for 3CR and the Laird.
A world-leading City of Yarra study into the history of the LGBTQ community was unanimously approved by council last week.
The study identified 91 different places of significance in the Northside queer district.
Three of these places have met the threshold for protection via new heritage overlays.
They include community radio station 3CR and the Laird Hotel, a safe space for cis and trans men.
As well as the former site of the Star Hotel which ran queer themed events for the Asian and indigenous communities.
The former sites of The Glasshouse Hotel, The Peel and DT’s Hotel were also considered culturally significant from the 91 places documented.
However, they were already heritage-listed for other historical and architectural reasons.
Thanks to Queer-ways, you can retrace the queer history of the City of Yarra here.
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A tangible connection to our history.
3CR‘s ‘Out of the Pan’ host Sally Goldner said that she was “moved by the news for all the venues listed.”
“I burst into tears with pride sitting in a café when I heard the news,” she told QNews.
“Sometimes I feel we lose a lot of our history or reinvent the wheel over time,”
“Young people need to know and understand our past so we can keep moving forward.
“People have fought to get queer visibility on community radio here at 3CR.
“Which has been filled with the voices and memories of queer presenters and shows.
“Recognising spaces like this and giving them that sense of visibility and connection is a great way to honour our history.
3CR is a community radio station that produces radical radio, uplifting diverse and marginalised voices.
“When we lose parts of our history, that can be a very sad thing,” Sally said,
“But to recognise that a physical building creates tangible visibility and connection to our community means so much.
“It’s a sense of connection that we know is so critical to help queer people of all ages feel better.
Knowing the connection to my past and my community, this announcement has made me emotional.”
Out in the Pan celebrated 20 years on 3CR in March.
Recognising and protecting LGBTQIA+ histories.
Yarra City Council is not only leading the way for neighbouring councils, but also around the world in recognising and protecting LGBTIQA+ cultural heritage.
“Yarra has always been a place where the LGBTIQA+ community could gather, whether that’s to organise or whether that’s to celebrate,” Dr Sean Mulcahy, co-lead at Rainbow Local Government, told The Age.
“It’s so wonderful to see work done to capture those particular histories of place.”
“It ensures that LGBTIQA+ heritage is properly recognised and protected in the City of Yarra.”
“My hope is that this sets an example that can be adopted.”
“Because it’s so important to recognise and protect our histories and our stories.”
Rainbow Local Government have said that they will push for neighbouring councils to follow in Yarra’s footsteps with this work.
Under new heritage overlays, the venues are not required to maintain their current functions as LGBTQ spaces.
The protections limit structural changes or demolition, ensuring the preservation of their physical and cultural legacy.
Yarra Council’s resolution extends the precinct boundary for the Heritage Overlay in the Smith Street Precinct to cover the rainbow footpaths at the intersection of Gertrude and Smith Streets.
It also includes a budgetary process for more funding for improved access to the AIDS Memorial Garden at the former Fairfield Infectious Diseases Hospital.
And the LGBTQIA+ heritage study also included a recommendation that Yarra establish an LGBTQ+ cultural precinct.
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We are all part of something bigger.
A safe space for cis and trans men, co-owner of The Laird Hotel, Brett Lasham, welcomed the news of Yarra’s heritage protection.
“Being a part of this kind of history and legacy is not just about one person,” Lasham told QNews,
“There are a lot of people who came before us and make up the community that come to The Laird.”
“To be a part of a council that not only accepts us but champions what we bring to the area in this way is special.
“It’s an important thing, and maybe if something like this had existed in the Southside, things would be different for our communities’ spaces there today.”
Lasham found out about the heritage protection on Friday when The Age journalist Tom Cowie contacted him for comment.
There is a lot of community history and activism that stems from the Laird.
The meeting that formed Victoria’s LGBTIQ+ community-health organisation, Thorne Harbour Health, happened there.
With the ashes of many who passed away from HIV/AIDS scattered around a tree in the beer garden.
Last year, The Laird won the Business of the Year at the Victorian Pride Awards.
“A lot has changed in the Northside over the past 25 years,” Lasham told us,
“Just as there has been a lot of change in our communities.”
“When you look around Yarra, you see a diverse melting pot of the LGBTQIA+ communities.
“The Laird is just one piece of the jigsaw that makes up this framework.
“Being able to continue to be a space for members of the community while seeing other spaces grow and do the same is part of what makes Yarra special.
“Having our small part of this vibrant community recognised means a lot.
“We are all part of something bigger.”
Photo by Dean Arcuri
Part of a massive LGBTQ+ precinct.
Host of 3CR‘s ‘In Ya Face’ James McKenzie, has been a part of the station for a very long time.
Hearing the news of the heritage protection, he reflected on the many queer voices that have made up the station over the years.
“3CR gives a home to the voices and activism our communities have been doing in the area for decades,” he told QNews,
“Collingwood has been 3CR’s home since 1978.”
“In fact in ’78 our first queer show was about activism around community campaigns and law reform.
“Yarra giving that acknowledgement of the home and hub of all of that through the queer community and voices says a lot.
“We are a part of this massive LGBTQIA+ precinct with so much queer history in the area.
“From the former site of Hares and Hyenas on Johnston St, the now gone Club 80, or Sircuit and more.
“This acknowledgment of our history and community in the area is exciting.
“We are all looking forward to seeing more of the details come forward and how this will evolve.”
The installation of plaques for all venues identified by the heritage review is being looked into.
Photo by Dean Arcuri
For the latest LGBTIQA+ Sister Girl and Brother Boy news, entertainment, community stories in Australia, visit qnews.com.au. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
