For over four ridiculous decades, Mark Trevorrow has been making audiences laugh, sing and swoon through his fabulous, iconic alter ego — the ever-charismatic Bob Downe.
In this very 1980s fluro feature interview, Mark reflects on Bob’s glitter-dusted history, queer comedy in Australia and the joy of camp that refuses to fade.
From the early days of Oxford Street cabaret in Sydney to the big stage around the world, Bob Downe remains a beacon of humour, heart and unapologetic queer fabulousness. Get ready for sequins, sincerity and a few cheeky surprises — because Bob’s still got it and Mar…
Same-sex marriage has been protected in USA by The US Supreme Court. The US Supreme Court has rejected a petition by Kim Davis, the former Kentucky county clerk who refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, to revisit the landmark ruling on marriage equality.
Canberra’s drag king scene has a glittering gem in Megan Munro — better known as their alter ego, Sparklemuffin. A drag performer, artist and producer, Megan is the creative force behind The Queer Variety Show, which has an inclusive format that centres on disabled LGBTIQA+ performers and proves that accessibility and great entertainment can go hand in hand.
Launched in 2022, The Queer Variety Show was born from Megan’s own experiences of feeling excluded from queer and mainstream events due to inaccessibility. Determined to change that, they built a space where every performer and audience…
Welcome to our special CBR Pride edition of FUSE Magazine, with our covers featuring 80s spandex model and comedian Bob Downe and drag King Sparklemuffin. This issue includes the SpringOUT Festival Guide.
The LGBTIQ.DIRECTORY, now in public for over 17 years, was created with help from the community in response to the identification that LGBTIQ+ people in Canberra and surrounding regions need a central place to find support, community and business pathways.
Over the years, the Matildas have emerged as a significant source of national pride in Australia. Their remarkable performance in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup not only captivated the nation but also set viewership records.
For more than five decades, William Yang has captured the intimate, joyful, and sometimes painful realities of queer life. Rising to prominence in the 1970s and ’80s, his candid portraits of Sydney’s gay community became iconic records of identity and resilience. During the AIDS crisis, his photographs bore witness to both devastation and love, creating an invaluable archive of lives too often erased.
Elon Musk continues his aggressive anti-trans social media campaign, urging his 227 million followers on X to cancel their Netflix subscriptions, claiming the streaming service was promoting a “transgender woke agenda” through children’s content.
Founded in 1982 by Les McDonald and Wayne Harrison, the Darlo Bookshop began on Crown Street and found a home on Oxford Street in 1984 — right at the heart of Sydney’s LGBTQ+ precinct. Over more than four decades, The Bookshop grew beyond retail, serving as a sanctuary during the AIDS crisis, a hub for author events, and an anchor for generations seeking community, affirmation, or simply the right book at the right time.
