Dunmore Lang College came together this August to celebrate our LGBTQIA+ community, allyship and the courage it takes to embrace who we are at the annual Queer & Allies Dinner.
The evening brought students and guests together over a two-course dinner, entertainment and an open Q&A with three inspiring panelists. This year’s event centred around the theme “Colours of Courage” — recognising that finding, expressing and embracing our identities can take courage, and that supportive communities can make that journey a little easier.
A key part of the evening was the opportunity to support Minus18, an Australian charity working to improve the lives of LGBTQIA+ young people. Students were invited to purchase Minus18 pride pins, with donations going towards supporting LGBTQIA+ youth across Australia.
Stories of identity, resilience and belonging:
The evening’s panel brought together three very different perspectives on identity, resilience and belonging.
Angel Ambas-Scutts, a Filipino-Australian DLC student, shared her personal journey towards embracing both her sexual and cultural identities. After years of suppressing parts of herself, Angel spoke about reaching a point where she felt secure in who she was and able to embrace the different parts of her identity. For Angel, this year’s Colours of Courage theme resonated deeply, reflecting the courage it can take to discover yourself, move beyond labels and ultimately become comfortable in your own identity.
Charlie Fontaine, a Psychology Lecturer at Macquarie University, brought an academic perspective to the conversation. With a research background spanning adolescent mental health, resilience and LGBTQI+ experiences, Charlie has explored resilience factors for bullied LGBTQI adolescents and the experiences that can shape young people’s wellbeing. Their current research examines the role of environment and evolutionary theory in modern dating behaviours.
Bren Donnellan, a writer, researcher and curator, brought a personal and professional perspective shaped by her experience as a transgender woman, as well as her work connecting and engaging with community. Having worked across Museums and Galleries NSW, Qtopia and ACON, Bren spoke to the importance of visibility, representation, community and creating spaces where people can feel seen and accepted.
The combination of Angel’s experience as a DLC student, Charlie’s research into LGBTQI+ experiences and Bren’s perspective as a transgender woman created a rich and varied conversation. Together, the panel encouraged students to reflect on identity, relationships, representation and the different experiences that shape who we become.
An evening of pride and celebration
The evening wasn’t just about conversation. Students enjoyed a pasta dinner, followed by rainbow cake and rainbow ice cream, with entertainment from DLC student Daniel Pegg on saxophone.
Following Daniel’s performance, students were invited to submit their own questions to Angel, Charlie and Bren for an open Q&A session. The format gave students the chance to shape the conversation and ask about the issues and experiences that mattered to them.
Creating a community where everyone belongs
At its heart, the Queer & Allies Q&A Dinner was a celebration of community.
From wearing purple and showing support for LGBTQIA+ young people, to sharing food, listening to personal stories and creating space for honest conversations, the evening demonstrated the importance of having spaces where students can feel comfortable being themselves.
The event was also a reminder that allyship is active. Whether through donating to organisations such as Minus18, listening to others’ experiences, asking questions or simply creating an environment where everyone feels welcome, every member of a community has a role to play.
Thank you to everyone who wore purple, joined us for the evening, contributed to the conversation and helped make the 2026 Queer & Allies Dinner such a meaningful celebration of pride, courage and belonging.
