Events

Go red and let’s end HIV this World AIDS Day!

Get involved with ACON’s Red Ribbon Appeal and help fund efforts to tackle HIV stigma, prevent new HIV transmissions and support people living with HIV.

💋 Go red on World AIDS Day (1 December)
❤ Raise funds for HIV education, advocacy, care and support
💯 Be part of the Red Ribbon movement

Sign up today and make an impact!

 

Playful Pleasure

Are you looking to increase your ‘playfulness’ or ‘pleasure’ in the bedroom? – but aren’t sure where to start? 

Introducing ‘Playful Pleasure’

‘Playful pleasure’ is a ConversAsians event like no other!

Hosted by ACON’s peer facilitators in partnership with the expert team of ‘Pleasure Chest’ based in Haymarket.

‘Playful pleasure’ is a free experience designed by and for Asian gay, bi+ and queer guys who are interested in connecting and sharing in an evening of fun, laughs and a little bit of learning… 😈

The next session will be held on 25 November, 2024.

Click here to read more and to register.

Trans Day of Remembrance – Vigil & Memorial Workshop | Wednesday 20 November 2024

Every year, Transgender Day of Remembrance/Resistance honours the memory of trans people who have lost their lives through transphobic violence & discrimination. We light a candle, we say their names, we honour and remember them.

Join us this year on Gadigal to commemorate our community through a vigil and memorial workshop; drawing inspiration from those we have lost and those who still guide us today. This is a family-friendly event, curated by The Gender Centre and ACON, with generous support from City of Sydney, SWOP, Twenty10, Trans Pride Australia and the Inner City Legal Centre. The day will include speeches from trans and gender diverse activists and an optional memorial activity.

Attendees can participate in the vigil or the memorial workshop, facilitated by writer Dylin Hardcastle (they/them). The memorial workshop will include prompts for people to respond with poems, art, writing. Attendees choose to submit these to a memorial book that will be donated to the City of Sydney, or simply take them home. The night will overall provide an opportunity for trans people, their friends & family, to connect with one another, honour those who have passed away and pay tribute to the ongoing strength of the trans community.

Trans Day of Remembrance | Vigil & Memorial Workshop
6pm – 8:30pm AEDT
East Sydney Community & Arts Centre
A free event – Register here!

World AIDS Day 2024 | Sunday 1 December 2024

ACON, Positive Life NSW and the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation invite you to join community members, allies, friends and family as we commemorate World AIDS Day 2024.
Join us to remember those we have lost from HIV/AIDS and show support for all those who live with HIV. The event includes special guest speakers, entertainment and light refreshments.
From 6pm, Sunday 1 December 2024
Location: Sydney Dance Company, 15 Hickson Road, Wharf 4/5, Dawes Point.
This event is free, please register here.

MARDI GRAS FAIR DAY | Sunday 16 February 2025

Mardi Gras Fair Day is a fabulous family community day in the park, where everyone’s invited! Visit the ACON village at Mardi Gras Fair Day in Victoria Park, where we’ll provide vital health and wellbeing information, resources and support. ACON will be located near the Cleveland Street and City Road entrance.

Drop in and find out more about sexual health, hear from our Peer Education team, learn about cancer screening and prevention for LGBTQ+ people, get more information about ACON’s counselling and community care services, get harm reduction information and resources, meet our Women’s Health Project team, discover our Pride Inclusion Programs, and connect with ACON’s work across Western Sydney, rural and regional New South Wales.

At ACON’s village at Fair Day, look out for our GBQ+ Community Periodic Survey. Comprehensive surveys like these are vital to understand the health of our communities and help us enormously to address LGBTQ+ health needs. Please help us by taking a few moments to complete the questionnaire.

Mardi Gras Fair Day is scheduled for Victoria Park on Sunday 16 February 2025. Visit the Mardi Gras festival website for updates.

MARKS PARK SUNRISE | Saturday 22 February 2025

Join us as we remember the past, reflect on the present and look to the future.

During the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival, we gather at sunrise to commemorate those in our communities we’ve lost, celebrate the progress we’ve made toward a stronger society, and re-commit to ending bigotry and prejudice in all its forms.

All are welcome to join and reflect with us at the Rise Memorial in Marks Park. Officially opened in 2021, the memorial is dedicated to the victims and survivors of homophobic and transphobic violence. The space is founded on the principles of remembrance, diversity, inclusion, justice and acceptance.

This is a free event, presented by Bronte Surf Club, ACON, Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and Waverley Council.

After the sunrise, all attendees are invited to join us nearby at the Tamarama Surf Life Saving Club’s newly renovated Clubhouse.

Marks Park Sunrise
6:15am – 7am, Saturday 22 February 2025
Meet at the Rise Memorial, Marks Park, Tamarama
For more information visit bondimemorial.com.au.


Regular Events

Bingay | ACON Fundraiser

 

ABOUT BINGAY

Bingay is gay bingo which means there’s classic disco tunes, weird rules and penalties, outrageous antics, hilarious repartee, deliciously lewd bingo calls, and prizes that range from the silly and camp to great theatre tickets and restaurant vouchers.

Bingay hostess Charisma Belle oversees the madcap proceedings and Bingay’s long time barrel babe Naomi Palmer spins the balls and sings up a storm.

Bingay takes over the upstairs bar of The Beresford Darlinghurst on the second Thursday of every month, with each monthly event having a fabulously flamboyant theme.

Bingay’s balls first dropped in 1999, making it one of Sydney’s longest running LGBTQ community events + it raises money for our HIV and LGBTQ health services.

So whether you’re a regular or a novice, or a local or visitor to Sydney, if you’re up for a wonderfully camp mid-week entertainment experience, then you can’t go wrong with Bingay.

For more information and bookings, visit the Bingay website here

Disability Justice Social Group

Disability Justice Social Group is ACON’s online social group for LGBTQ+ people with disability in NSW who are over 18 years old.

This is a space to share experiences, build community connections, and discover LGBTQ+ inclusive events, programs and services for people with disability.

Happens every second Wednesday 6pm-7pm, online via Zoom.

Upcoming meetups are on 16 October, 30 October, 13 November and 27 November 2024.

For more information email disability@acon.org.au or register at www.acon.org.au/disability_social.

Nothing But LOVE

Don’t miss the next episode of Nothing but LOVE!

Each episode we chat with LGBTQ community heroes, activists, icons, performers, creatives, business owner and much more.

We will pull back the covers on some of their life experiences, reveal powerful and funny stories, discover what makes them who they are and celebrate their contributions to our rainbow communities.
Our next guest is David Polson AM, community member and lifelong HIV Activist. In 1984, David was one of the first 400 people diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in Australia.

Date: Tuesday 20 August 2024
Time: 6.30pm to 7.15pm

Proudly presented by ACON’s LOVE Project and supported by the NSW Government. Hosted by Russ Gluyas.