Light the Way Home

This blog dedicated to highlighting political issues for comedians on the Australian comedy circuit. It seems both appropriate and sad, that I want to start this blog this way. But I think I have to. Australia has a massive violence against women issue, and it all begins with misogyny and the comedy scene is not free of that. So, today, I want to highlight, in light of recent news events in Sydney and that fact this recent violence has again, disproportionately targeted women, a program called Light the Way Home.

Content note: high level discussion of violence (no detail but some discussion of stats and disporportionality).

I’m sharing this post because while the “whys and what fors” are being debated, Light the Way Home is one preventative solution in the sphere of community arts. While we need more, it’s an example of programs that act to prevent. We need to also talk about the system more broadly, and how the NSW government is now reducing this all down to mental health instead of addressing the obvious gender-based drivers of violence.

There are a lot of comedy shows that talk about issues for women and gender diverse people in the 2024 Melbourne International Comedy Festival. And I have a zero-tolerance view of people who shrug this off, because it takes enormous guts to get up and talk about intersecting topics (and they do so at risk to themselves). And right now, it appears we need these shows and these gutsy comedians more than ever.

"Light The Way Home is designed to provide female, non-binary and other vulnerable performers with a safe way home from comedy venues in or around the Melbourne CBD. At-risk performers can register to join a Melbourne International Comedy Festival administered Uber account and access a free ride home when they need it.

Performers can email LTWHregister@comedyfestival.com.au for more information on how to register."

Why do I promote this? Aren’t comedians meant to be funny?

Comedy has been a way to sooth us during difficult times since we sat and laughed about lack of firesticks in pre-historic times. It’s time we stopped policing when people laugh. Because people laugh all the time at discomfort as a way to survive discomfort (and death and despair). It’s hardwired into us.

I’m not saying all comedy good, there’s some rubbish out there. But I’m saying we need it. We so need it right now, given the world going up in flames of conflict and authoritarianism in vogue (again).

As for me opening this blog with a post that is effectively about violence…you betcha ya. I’ve been stalked and harassed on the circuit, by the public and by other comedians. It hasn’t been a lot, but many others who have also had this experience.

But I want to highlight something that always gets me up and speaking about this. The word disproportionate. And that is that all violence in disproportionately experienced by women and children and members of the LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, trans and disabled communities (and the intersections of that experience).

Disporportionate means “more than”. Until any of the apologists or vocal deniers can give me stats that don’t show that more women and children dying at the hands of largely men, y’all need to stop blaming mental health for what is violence that comes from male entitlement. I don’t want men to experience more than, I want an overall reduction in violence against anyone. Violence is the issue here.

Just in the family violence sphere - 1 in 6 women and 1 in 18 men - physical and/or sexual violence by a partner since age of 15. Click this link for more examples of how this is disproportionate. It’s not that female violence doesn’t exist, it’s that it’s often reactionary or retaliatory from the constant mouse of wheel of a society that deems having a penis more valuable.

Stop banging on with the ‘not all’ arguments and teach consent. Teach that voilence isn’t the answer. Teach that we are all capable of it and need to work to be better at recognising social, emotional and physical violence and responding to it. Teach that we can all be guilty of it and need to examine and reflect on the behaviours that drive it.

Why am I commenting? Is it the right time to comment?

It’s always the right time to comment, because I comment because I’ve experienced it and I want to prevent it. I use comedy as the vehicle for commentary. There are many other vehicles you can choose to support the victims of violence. And ‘too soon’ argument doesn’t work anymore.

It’s always soon enough for authoritarian leaders, so we should respond too.

I’ve worked in and out of violence prevention since 2008. I’m a non-binary anthropologist who sometimes does comedy. I’ve been doing comedy about gender-based inequality, disability and queer issues since 2017. I unreservedly support all comedy that has a clear political and progressive message. I also support comedy more broadly, because I feel comedy is vital to freedom of expression in Australia.

I’m doing a PhD in Political Science about the above, centring the voice of comedians. And one of the things that work has highlighted for me is just how unsafe the comedy scene remains for women and non-binary and gender diverse comedians. Still. Ongoing.

From petty psychological gaslighting in comedy rooms, to risk of (and experience of) sexual assault, to gatekeeping, to being told what they can and can’t speak about on stage. It’s all still there. This comes from audience members and fellow comedians who don’t support or target those that highlight these issues to - and don’t even start me about the trolls online (don’t read the comments, turn comments off).

I moved to Melbourne to access the political comedy scene in 2018. In 2019, because of the murder of comedian Eurydice Dixon, Light the Way home was started by members of the Comedy Women’s Association and Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

Some may argue that it would be better if Light the Way Home did not have to exist. I agree. But I also think it’s a good preventative example of a community and Melbourne International Comedy Festival working together to deal with an ever present issue. More needs to happen, that’s for sure.

But this weekend we learned (again) that women and children can’t even go shopping safely.

So, for those that are raising their voices on stage, this is Light the Way Home fundraiser. For lighting the stage with messages that highlight reality and call it into question.