Victoria
Gay man Thomas Banks is on a quest for love in new Stan doco
Award-winning local documentary Thomas Banks’ Quest For Love, following a gay man with a disability, is streaming soon on Stan. The documentary follows Thomas himself – a charismatic Melbourne writer and professional speaker who has cerebral palsy – on his years-long search for a man to fall in love with. Created over six years, the …
Victorian government unveils legislation to ban ‘conversion therapy’
Survivors of so-called “conversion therapy” have praised the Victorian Government’s proposed legislation to criminalise the harmful practices. The Change or Suppression (Conversion) Practices Prohibition Bill would outlaw practices seeking to change or suppress a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity in Victoria. Under the proposed laws, those who subject others to such practices that cause …
GiveOUT Day: Australian groups join national LGBTIQ fundraiser
Australians are being urged make a donation to support a local LGBTIQ group as part of GiveOUT Day today. GiveOUT Day, started last year, is a national coordinated day of fundraising for LGBTIQ+ projects, community groups, and not-for-profit organisations nationwide. Despite as many as a tenth of Australians identifying as queer, LGBTIQ-specific projects get only …
LGBTIQ Aussies suffer higher rates of domestic violence, study finds
LGBTIQ adults in Victoria experience domestic and family violence at more than double the rate of non-LGBTIQ adults, according to a major new survey. The Victorian Agency for Health Information conducted the survey of over 34,000 LGBTIQ adults about their health and wellbeing. The study shines a light on issues contributing to health inequalities LGBTIQ …
Council candidate apologises for anti-marriage equality campaign
A Bendigo man who campaigned against same-sex marriage has apologised and claims his views have changed, as he campaigns for a seat on his local council. Lewis Freeman-Harrison ran a Facebook page named “Vote No Australia” during the divisive 2017 postal survey. But the 25-year-old now says he no longer holds those views. He posted …
COVID deniers and other trolls attack Magda Szubanski ad
The Victorian Government’s star-studded campaign urging Victorians to abide by lockdown rules features a Magda Szubanski ad in which she appears as her character Sharon Strzelecki from Kath and Kim. Sadly, COVID deniers, QAnon trolls and other morons quickly emerged from under their rocks to attack Magda over the ads. “It’s not the lockdown that’s …
MP celebrates ‘arrival’ of trans daughter in moving post
Victorian MP Andy Meddick has posted a beautiful “birth announcement” on social media celebrating his 25-year-old transgender daughter. “Both our children are trans and both are perfect,” the independent Animal Justice Party MP tweeted. “Our eldest Kielan has been on a unique and personal journey that (with permission of course) I’m now proud to share …
LGBTIQ seniors hit hard by Victorian aged care lockdowns
Victorian LGBTIQ advocates are extremely concerned for the welfare of older LGBTI Victorians in aged care or self-isolation during the state’s COVID-19 lockdown. Numbers of Victorians in aged care with COVID-19 reached 1186 on Tuesday (August 4), with outbreaks in at least 100 facilities. Switchboard Victoria provide peer support to LGBTI people including seniors through …
Fifth AFL Pride Game at the Gabba in Brisbane for the first time
St Kilda Football Club and the Sydney Swans are celebrating the fifth annual AFL Pride Game, which is in Brisbane for the first time this weekend. Earlier this month, the AFL moved teams to Queensland to escape COVID-19. And on Saturday evening, St Kilda and the Swans will play Round 9 at the Gabba. It’s …
Victorian Pride Centre appoints first CEO
The Victorian Pride Centre Board has appointed Justine Dalla Riva as its inaugural CEO. The Pride Centre, located in St Kilda, will be an LGBTIQ community hub. It’s due to open later this year. Board Chair Jude Munro AO said Dalla Riva (pictured above, left) brings “a wealth of community-based experience” to the role. Dalla …