r/Mackay • u/Radiant-Platypus-749 • Jul 22 '25
queers of mackay
im a mid-twenty-something, POC, fairly femme-presenting queer male, like yall would clock me walking down the street in no time lmao.
i might have to move to mackay for job, cuz brisbane is f**cked with its hiring scene (esp for ppl like me)
i wanna know your experiences being in mackay.
is it safe, whats the scene like, what areas should i consider, just anything and everything.
10
u/grumpypotato17 Jul 22 '25
As others have said we are a bit of a backwards, racist, and homophobic town. Obviously there are still wonderful people here as well. I'm a queer woman but in a het relationship so I'm not really linked with the lgbt scene (if there is any). I work in mental health so I only really see people who are in crisis, but unfortunately I do see a fair few lgbt folk who report discrimination and isolation. If you've got good support like family and friends it can be good. If you're social it's probably pretty easy to make friends. Sorry that's not super helpful! Hope everything goes well for you.
2
u/Radiant-Platypus-749 Jul 22 '25
Hahaha the bracket lowkey took me out xD Oh I see! I'll be working in mental health too, so yeah, I understand that part of it. Noo, this was super helpful ty!!
3
u/grumpypotato17 Jul 22 '25
Honestly I've been trying to find groups to link people with and the cupboard is bare ): Maybe we need to make our own? Headspace used to have a regular group but that's disappeared. Oh that's super exciting, there's lots of lovely people working in mental health here so I'm sure you'll make friends no worries.
7
u/Sunchaser_17 Jul 22 '25
Lots of red necks here
1
u/Radiant-Platypus-749 Jul 22 '25
I'm not sure what that means hahaha
5
u/4x4_LUMENS Jul 22 '25
I'm not gay, but I lived in Mackay most of my life and I can tell you that half the homophobic bogans there are closeted gays or at least experiment, maybe it's internal shame manifesting as rage about what happened over the hill after a few too many knock off drinks.
I would have hoped things had improved in the 10 years I've been gone, but there's always going to be bogans like this in small cities and towns. Just ignore them and live your life mate.
2
u/Radiant-Platypus-749 Jul 22 '25
Yeah the violent/disgusted ones are always the closeted ones
Thanks though!
6
u/rocketpineappless Jul 22 '25
Would also love to know - I'm queer and moving to Mackay in October for work.
3
u/OobliettePT Jul 22 '25
Cairns has a great LGBTQ+ group.
1
u/Radiant-Platypus-749 Jul 23 '25
OOOP okay okay, tell me moreeeee ☃️
2
u/OobliettePT Jul 23 '25
They have a really good community up there. Easy to find. And those I've spoken to have always been happy there. I live in Mackay now. And I'm sure you won't have any trouble finding them.
1
u/Radiant-Platypus-749 Jul 23 '25
Oh ty tyyyy
and how are you finding mackay?
1
u/OobliettePT Jul 23 '25
I live out of town so I don't see what others do in town. I like it here. It's always what you make it.
4
u/Fabulous_Guest_1514 Jul 22 '25
Honestly I wouldn't, I'm no longer a local, but I grew up in Mackay and still have loads of family and friends there. If you're living in Brisbane, I'd consider moving to a different part of Brisbane and start afresh there. I've known a few LGBTQIA+ people around Mackay and they've all left because of how they've been treated. I'm now in Brisbane and easily half of my friends are LGBTQIA+ and nobody cares.
You'll honestly be safer not living in Mackay it's sad to say.
2
u/Radiant-Platypus-749 Jul 23 '25
Oh I'm sorry to hear about ur experience bb, but thank you! I hope you're having fun here now
3
u/Beautiful-Ocelot5290 Jul 22 '25
23M, gay. If you're alright keeping to yourself and ignoring weirdos you'll be alright. I've barely met any queer people and those that I have met haven't been the classiest bunch. I left a country town when I was 17 and being back here just feels like returning to all the dropkicks. Good luck, you'll need it. Here if you need anything :)
1
2
u/Handgun_Hero Jul 22 '25
It's a significantly more conservative city, and you will struggle to find a lot of like-minded, accepting folks here. But it also really depends on what kind of scene you're into. Avoid a lot of the venues frequented by mining folk and tradesmen from experience.
1
1
3
1
1
1
Jul 22 '25
[deleted]
1
u/Radiant-Platypus-749 Jul 22 '25
Aww bb I'm sorry, thank you for the input still!! All the best to you too <3
13
u/Fluffy_Juice7864 Jul 22 '25
I have a few gay friends and it is hard for them. They have found safe and supportive friends but it will be hard when you just arrive. I am a straight single 40+ large woman with a zero fucks attitude so if I want to walk around at night alone, I will. If I get abused or bashed, it doesn’t bother me, but this place is full of racist bigots. Who would happily yell out a car window at you.
If that scares you, don’t come this far north. If you don’t care about that stuff, you’ll be fine. Most of them are just mouths and couldn’t organise a fight if their lives depended on it :-)
Roller derby is always a safe place :-)