Leaders back LGBTI community

Wimmera Pride Project founders are thrilled with support from Horsham leaders, who have committed to help improve the lives of the region’s LGBTI community.

Project co-founder Maddi Ostapiw said a visit from the state’s first Gender and Equality Commissioner Ro Allen as part of an LGBTI Equality Roadshow was well received by the community and its representatives.

The roadshow comprised several events concerning lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people, their supporters and key stakeholders in the Wimmera.

“It went brilliantly – so much better than I thought it would,” Ms Ostapiw said.

“A highlight was how well attended all three sessions in Horsham were.

“I didn’t expect to have that many community leaders in one room, from Horsham council to health services, mental-health services, the education sector and police.

“I am overwhelmed by the support they have shown us and their commitment to work with us moving forward.”`

The roadshow included an LGBTI equality workshop, a community dinner and an inclusion planning session.

“Throughout the events we received a lot of feedback about what has to happen and a lot of people stood up and said they could make things happen,” Ms Ostapiw said.

“I was blown away really. We talked about everything from an LGBTI advisory committee to health teachers and classes in schools.

“We had really good support and we’re hoping that moving forward we can work with a lot of teaching staff and health and mental-health services.”

Ms Ostapiw said she and fellow Wimmera Pride Project co-founder Loucas Vettos would meet with key stakeholders in the next few months to develop an LGBTI strategy for the region.

She said the strategy would cover everything from mental-health issues to information in schools to educating community groups about how to be an ‘ally’ for LGBTI people.

Education

“I made it very clear throughout the roadshow that Wimmera Pride Project is here to help the services in the region,” she said.

“They can come to us with any LGBTI questions or issues.

“I want us to work collaboratively. Eventually, I want this to be one big machine rather than having all the wheels turning separately.”

Ms Ostapiw and Mr Vettos founded the pride project in 2015 with the aim of educating Wimmera and Mallee residents about issues facing the LGBTI community. The group aims to reduce stigma and discrimination of LGBTI people and improve their mental health outcomes.

Beyondblue research shows non-heterosexual people face up to twice as much abuse or violence than their heterosexual counterparts.

It also shows LGBTI people have an increased risk of depression and anxiety, substance abuse, self-harming and suicidal thoughts.

“It happens in every LGBTI meeting – a straight or cisgender person hears the statistics about how bad it is for LGBTI people and their face drops,” Ms Ostapiw said.

“I had one person say they didn’t know what kind of awful things they might have said in the past that could have been homophobic or transphobic.

“Education about the issues facing LGBTI people is so important.”

Ms Ostapiw said she was pleased to welcome Commissioner Allen to the Wimmera.

She and Mr Vettos reached out to the commissioner in September 2015 about a lack of services and support for LGBTI people in the Wimmera.

“After we wrote to Ro, she called us personally and set us on the path to creating our own group,” Ms Ostapiw said.

“The commissioner said the way we reached out to her inspired her to put a lot more effort into LGBTI issues in small towns.”

Ms Ostapiw said Wimmera Pride Project hoped to host more Lgbti-focused events in the future.

She encouraged people who wanted more information about the group to send a private message to the Wimmera Pride Project Facebook page.

“Whether its allies or LGBTI people who have questions, need help or want to offer support, we’re here for everyone,” she said.