Over 2000 local lesbians, bisexuals and trans* people have liked an followed the Facebook page Out Sauce Run by an ellusive and anonymous administrator named Chef Out, the page is a popular space for LBT confessions, vents, questions, shout outs an coming out stories.
After months of trying to score a face-to-face interview with the illusive Chef Out, the anonymous Out Sauce administrator agreed to an interview via Facebook chat. Whoever this person is, they are successfully running a page of full of local Perth lesbians. Our thoughts… Oh Chef, you are one wise and witty lesbian guru. Here’s how it went.
When did you start Out Sauce?
July 1st 2011.
There are thousands of lesbians accessing the page, why do you think it is so successful?
Perhaps due to all the common experiences in life we all have. Having a platform to share all of the things you may not have expressed publicly on your own profile, you can now do so anonymously via Out Sauce and somewhat find solace from it.
What made you decide to stay anonymous?
It was crucial to the concept. Out Sauce could be anyone at all and members had to take that leap of faith to trust in a complete stranger. It pushes you out of your comfort zone, it exposes you and it’s all right. Not everyone has the intent to purposely hurt you. People will surprise you, if you allow them the chance to.
How have you managed to maintain your anonymity so well?
I’m not quite sure. If I were to tell you though, it would render my technique useless.
Do your close friends know that you administer Out Sauce?
Negative.
What is it like knowing the secrets of the Perth lesbian scene?
Knowing is comparable perhaps to having read a book. You begin to know about the characters and understand why things are the way they are, why people say what they say, why people do what they do and why at times, some things are better left unsaid. I do not see them as secrets; I see them as comparable experiences that we all go through, just not at the same time. Therefore, I don’t associate the posts with the people that write them, it could have all derived from one individual and I would still feel the same.
Have any of your friends sent Out Sauce anonymous message unaware they are sending it to you?
It has occurred and it is inevitable.
Is it hard to administer?
At first it had its difficulties but over the last year, I’ve become used to it.
Lesbians start to worry when you do not post for lengths of time, is there a sense of pressure in maintaining the site?
There is definitely pressure, it is expected. When I am unable to post at least once a day, people begin to question where I am and assume I have left them for good – which is not the case. They have all supported the page for over a year now and I have much love for them all. I appreciate their loyalty and trust
What do you think would happen if Out Sauce disappeared?
Lesbians would raid through the streets of Perth in manic singing Tegan and Sara songs in tribute, holding hands, rocking back and forth in unity, lighting candles in fear of what’s to come – like straight out of a scene in Avatar. In all seriousness though, I hope that something relative would stand in place of it.
Do you get sick of correcting grammar?
Good question. I must say that there have been times I’ve wanted to slam my face head first into the monitor.
Are people always trying to work out who you are?
Always. There are times when I see members out and they unknowingly stand beside me or talk about the page with me. Some people come close to figuring but never close enough.
Nadine Walker
