A day of acceptance

Wimmera advocacy groups are planning online celebrations for a globally recognised day to reflect on progress and raise awareness of the violence and discrimination against LGBTIQ communities worldwide.

People are being encouraged to join Wimmera LGBTIQ communities to celebrate International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia, IDAHOBIT, on Sunday.

For many, May 17 recognises past and present discrimination the minority groups have faced for many generations.

For this year’s theme, ‘Breaking the Silence’, Wimmera Pride Project plans to host a Netflix watch party on Sunday featuring LGBTIQ films, while the LGBTIQ Regional Network plans to raise a rainbow flag in Ararat, St Arnaud and Stawell on Friday.

In addition, Stawell Regional Health will paint the footpath entry to the hospital in rainbow colours.

Wimmera Pride Project secretary Renae Bartlett and fellow committee member Vixen Arrowsmith both stand strongly in solidarity with the LGBTIQ community.

Both joined the group more than a year ago with a vision of helping people who feel socially isolated because of their identity.

Ms Bartlett is an ally to the LGBTIQ community, supporting her transgender son Zac, who recently transitioned.

She said IDAHOBIT was an important reminder of the hardships LGBTIQ people have faced.

“It’s a great day to celebrate being part of the LGBTIQ community, but it’s a day that also recognises there is still some work to be done,” she said.

“People in that community still have poorer health outcomes than the general community – that’s not because of their identity. A lot of that is about stigma and feeling like they need to conceal who they are, there’s a lot of stress associated with that.”

Open invitation

Ms Bartlett encouraged more people to join or support Wimmera Pride Project.

“We invite people to get involved with us, come to meetings, be a part of us – you don’t have to identify as LGBTIQ to attend our events,” she said.

“We want to keep growing and find ways of inviting the community to join us and continue growing our community.

“It’s an amazing thing being a part of the LGBTIQ community, and we want to be accepted as part of the community.”

Vixen, 19, joined the group in 2019 with the intention of helping others become comfortable in their own skin.

Vixen, who identifies as transmasculine non-binary, said IDAHOBIT strongly resonated with their journey.

“IDAHOBIT just reminds me of how far I’ve come in my journey and how far I have to go, despite all the discrimination there is and has been in my journey,” they said.

“I see it as a reminder that I can do this and be myself – the future is brighter, there’s definitely less and less discrimination.”

Vixen said the group wanted to reach as many people in the community as possible who might be feeling socially isolated.

“We want to create an even larger community, not just Horsham based, but reach out to other regional towns and other cities where they might not have the same thing,” they said.

“Our passion for the same cause is what brings us together. We all have our own lived experiences and even though our experiences vary, we still have each other’s back.”