"Queering the Air" on 3CR recently aired an insightful episode with our lovely guest, the gorgeous Kavitha Sivasamy, a beautiful yet powerful lawyer with a big heart who advocates for the LGBTIQA+ and CALD communities.

Kavitha is a proud transgender woman of colour of Sri Lankan Tamil descent. She had been working as a lawyer for five years and in the legal sector for nearly nine years, with extensive experience in the community and not-for-profit sectors. Her work focused particularly on family violence, refugee law, asylum seeker experiences, LGBTIQA+ justice (especially the rights and freedoms of trans and gender-diverse people), and trauma-informed communication.

We spoke with Kavitha up close and personal, delving into her life, her journey as a transwoman of colour and the impact of her work. In this special episode, we also discussed the significance of the 16 Days of Activism, in line with the global campaign to say no to gender-based violence. Kavitha shared her insights on how gender violence intersects with the experiences of trans and gender-diverse people, as well as how she continues to advocate for a safer, more inclusive society.

Kavitha had recently moved to Melbourne from Canberra to launch and run a new program called Justice Q at the South-East Monash Legal Service (SMLS). Justice Q provides free legal advice and assistance to LGBTIQA+ people, with a special focus on the Casey, Cardinia, and Greater Dandenong regions, as well as the southeast corridor of Greater Metropolitan Melbourne. Prior to this, Kavitha had worked at Legal Aid ACT, Canberra Community Law, Slater and Gordon, Maurice Blackburn Lawyers, and Playfair Visa and Migration Services, in addition to volunteering at numerous community legal centres while completing her studies at the University of Sydney.

Outside of work, Kavitha loved spending time with her puppy and friends. She was also passionate about artistic and creative pursuits, having been a performer in Canberra before moving to Naarm. Earlier this year, she played a lead role in Bring It On: The Musical with the Canberra Philharmonic Society. 

Resources:

101 on 16 Days of Activism (Quick guide to the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence | Respect Victoria)

Healthy Relationship: https://www.transfemme.com.au/

Song aired on today's podcast:

Music by Madonna

Enjay Enjaami by Dhee ft Arivu and Santhosh Narayan

Greedy by Tate McRae