The City of Greater Geelong has strengthened its commitment to better support and engage with the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer Intersex and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) community by unveiling its inaugural advisory committee.
The new committee will meet six times a year to advise Council on issues that affect people in the City of Greater Geelong who identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Members of the inaugural committee are:
- Amanda Glasson
- Erika Kerley
- Trent Toohey
- Stephen Ryan
- Finn Rowbottom
- Jen Walsh
- Alex Malibu
- Henry Pyc
- Bonnie Loft
- Nicholas Simon
The 10 community members will be accompanied by one councillor and the City’s Director of Community Life or a delegate.
The new committee adds to the range of support initiatives run by the City such as the Gender and Sexuality Project for young people staff training and IDAHOBIT and Wear It Purple Day events.
Mayor Trent Sullivan
The committee gives an official voice to the LGBTQIA+ community aligning with Council’s desire for a diverse healthy and socially connected community.
It’s unfortunate that despite increased acceptance and visibility the region’s rainbow community still faces disadvantage such as discrimination stigma poor mental health and violence.
The LGBTQIA+ Advisory Committee will play an important role in guiding Council to address and reduce any homophobia biphobia transphobia and other forms of sex or gender-based discrimination in the community.
Deputy Mayor Anthony Aitken
The establishment of the Advisory Committee presents an opportunity for Council to build a safer and more inclusive region by engaging more strongly with the LGBTQIA+ community.
The committee will provide advice and recommendations to Council on issues and barriers that affect this group and their families and how to address them.
Council welcomes the opportunity to listen to the lived experiences and ideas of members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
This will allow us to take meaningful action promoting an improvement in health wellbeing and community participation.