Tickets have already sold out for the Queerstories event on Friday, which features the Illawarra's finest LGBTQI+ storytellers.

This is the third year Queerstories has run in Wollongong.

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The line-up includes host Maxine Kauter, with stories from bisexual Dunghutti woman, academic and advocate Ash Johnstone, nonbinary writer, poet, Radical Fairy and bodyworker Fox Shepherd, trans and queer artist, writer and performer Lu Bradshaw, trans rights advocate Paige Headington, local trans theatre actor and musician Alex Groombridge and Adam Larkham who is also known by his drag alter ego Roxee Horror.

"The Wollongong events are always so joyful and community-focused," said curator Maeve Marsden.

"This year's line-up includes some incredible young writers so audiences are in for a treat."

This event is Auslan interpreted and will be recorded for the Queerstories podcast, and is presented by Wollongong City Libraries and Maeve Marsden.

In other news, the University of Wollongong has been named among the nation's most inclusive employers for gender, sex and sexuality diversity, receiving a Bronze Award at the Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) on Friday, May 28.

This is the third consecutive year, UOW has been recognised as a bronze employer for its efforts in supporting its gender, sex and sexuality diverse community.

The AWEI annually assesses workplaces in the progress and impact of LGBTQ inclusion initiatives. This year a record 186 organisations participated and AWEI received more than 40,000 employee survey responses.

Chair of the UOW Ally Network Dr Quah Ee Ling said the result was heartening, but there was still more work to do.

"Our overall mark has improved from previous years, so it's reassuring to know we are moving in a positive direction," she said.

"We do recognise there is still a lot of room for improvement. While we are happy to receive the award, the advocacy work doesn't stop and the injustices are still very much present."

She said the coronavirus pandemic had disproportionately affected the queer community.

"Australian queer organisations like ACON have reported queer people suffered poorer mental health through the pandemic," she said.

"A larger proportion were laid off from their job, experienced a reduction in income, or were evicted. There's also been an increase in tension at home - many people who lost their jobs have been forced to move home where they may face queerphobia."

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