On May 17, 1990 the World Health Organization removed homosexuality from the Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems.
Echuca Neighbourhood House manager Sarah Peake welcomed members of the local LGBTQIA+ community and allies to the event, which celebrates the local community.
Mayor Chrissy Weller spoke about the council’s connection with the community.
“For the Campaspe Council, (IDAHOBIT) is about recognising the diversity within our community, the supporting role that council has a part of creating inclusive and connected communities, which connects with our council plan under the objectivity of growing quality of life,” she said.
“We want to work with our communities of priority — of which LGBTQIA+ is one of nine — to ensure that Campaspe is a place that welcomes and provides opportunities for us all.”
Cr Weller said that according to statistics from the past 12 months, 75 per cent of youth experienced some form of discrimination, and at a local level, 65 per cent of our LGBTQIA+ community felt socially isolated.
“These statistics highlight that we have a long way to go, and need to continue to raise awareness of the lesbian, gay, bi, trans, queer, intersex, asexual and gender diverse people, and support them and their families to ensure genuine inclusion and the realisation of their human rights within our community,” she said.
“As the Mayor of Campaspe Shire I have been given this platform to be an ally and have my voice heard.
“You, too, can choose to be an ally, whether it’s pulling friends up in a casual conversation, or listening, or learning, or educating others.
“A true ally is always learning, and there’s no shame in seeking to further understand, and admitting you don’t know it all.
“Today helps raise awareness, increases our understanding and acceptance, and (guides us) to think about what action we can take. I choose to champion inclusivity, and demonstrate my desire to learn.”
Local LGBTQIA+ community members also spoke about their experiences with discrimination, and how they had come to terms with themselves — including Peter Wiliams, Vin Jarrod and Autumn Stacey — and allies from the new Echuca headspace shared resources for LGBTQIA+ people locally.
More photos and stories to come in Friday’s Riv.
