WHILE the simple act of raising a flag might seem like a small insignificant gesture, to the LGBTQIA+ community of Swan Hill it means a great deal.
“While the flag is raised, the community is the safest place for LGBTQIA+ youth,” a Swan Hill Sexuality and Gender Alliance (SAGA) spokesperson said.
“This is the first step to building a stronger and more inclusive community.”
Tuesday was the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), marking 32 years since the World Health Organisation removed homosexuality from the classification of a disease and related health problems.
In Swan Hill, the day was marked by Swan Hill Council raising its new pride flag.
“I remember years ago we would do a flag-raising or have an IDAHOBIT recognition ceremony and we would never get many people,” Swan Hill Mayor Jade Benham said.
“It really is amazing to see everyone coming together and showing the world that Swan Hill and our surrounding community is a welcoming one, where discrimination based on gender and sexual orientation won’t be tolerated.
“Diversity is such an important thing in our community, and it is really what makes the entire Swan Hill region so special.”
For people like 15-year-old Swan Hill College student Kerro Janetzki, who identifies as LGBTQIA+, IDAHOBIT is a day that means a lot.
“It’s a day for the LGBTQIA+ and allies alike to come together and celebrate their differences,” he said.
Janetzki is also a member of Swan Hill SAGA, a social support group for LGBTQIA+ young people and their allies. The group meets once a week to talk about issues they can try to help resolve, starting within the school.
“I think a lot of the younger kids that have just come in (to SAGA), they feel very safe,” he said.
“They feel a lot safer in the group than outside in the yard.”
Minister for Equality Martin Foley marked the day by releasing the Rainbow Ready Roadmap, giving regional communities access to a set of resources and guidance on how community groups, service providers, organisations, sporting clubs, health services, schools and businesses can take steps to ensure all Victorians are respected.
“The Rainbow Ready Roadmap directly responds to calls from rural and regional Victorians for further support to drive LGBTQIA+ inclusion in their communities and is an important step in ensuring equality for all Victorians,” Mr Foley said.
“The roadmap provides a set of practical and simple measures any member of the community can make to ensure LGBTQIA+ Victorians feel welcome.”
The resources provided as part of the roadmap build on ongoing efforts to tackle discrimination and stigma. Research shows that LGBTQIA+ Victorians can face heightened challenges in some regional and rural areas, and may have access to more limited support services than those in the city.
Janetzki said there was “absolutely” still work needed on LGBTQIA+ discrimination in Swan Hill.
“A lot of places in Swan Hill try to be as inclusive as they can, but there is still a lot of places that are not fully LGBTQIA+ safe,” Janetzki said.
Cr Benham also acknowledges that Swan Hill has work to do on inclusivity.
“I think we are a lot better than we used be, but we’ve got a long way to go,” she said.
“I don’t think Swan Hill is alone, but I think doing things like this, wearing our rainbow ribbons and raising the flag on IDAHOBIT, then that will help us get there a lot sooner, hopefully.”
