SUNRAYSIA’S LGBTIQ+ community support group Mallee Pride celebrated its official launch on Monday, hoping to make change in the Mallee.
The LGBTIQ+ community support group was originally founded in 2015 as Mildura Pride, but reformed and rebranded as Mallee Pride in July.
Mallee Pride president Hannah Sycamore opened the event and said the group was excited to move forward and work with the Victorian Government to create change in the Mallee.
“We hope to positively represent and advocate on behalf of the LGBTIQ+ community in the Mallee, organise fun events to advocate to the government and to change our local organisations, schools and business owners to make them more safe and inclusive,” she said.
“Our long-term goal is that the Mallee is a place where the LGBTIQ+ community chose to live, feel safe and can fully participate and thrive.
“We want to decolonise the pride movement and fully include culturally and linguistically diverse and First Nations people.”
Victoria’s gender and sexuality commissioner Ro Allen was a guest speaker at the event, and said the turnout was an impressive show of how far the community had come.
“Look around this room, it’s buzzing isn’t it?” Ms Allen said.
“Imagine 10 years ago, we would have all been behind a door with a secret knock, now we are in a main street, in the front, open and out there.
“I think it shows that we are moving but the job’s not done, a lot of people think — marriage equality tick — we have equality and that’s not the case.”
Ms Sycamore said the group had already achieved so much in the region, and hoped for continued growth in the future.
“I am here to tell you that right now and right here, change is happening in the Mallee and you are part of it,” she said.
“The Mallee is changing, there are loud proud LGBTIQ+ people representing our community and the Victorian Government is in our corner and they are supporting us to succeed.”
“Mallee Pride hopes to hear gay and lesbian people speaking louder and prouder in solidarity with trans, intersex and gender diverse people.”
