Council proud to commit

Council proud to commit

A group of residents of Melbourne’s northern suburbs has been selected to combat homophobia in the area.

Darebin City Council has appointed its first LGBTI advisory committee in an attempt to become more inclusive of LGBTI people, particularly youth.

The council, which takes in the suburbs of Northcote, Thornbury and Preston, is the second Melbourne municipality to embrace the initiative. Hobsons Bay City Council was the first.
Councillor Trent McCarthy said the new committee reflects the area’s diversity.

“Darebin is home to a growing population of residents who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer and council is keen to develop and help realise equality for residents from GLBTIQ communities,” he said.

The advisory committee will advise the council on issues facing LGBTI locals and will develop the council’s first official plan to tackle homophobia and transphobia.

Darebin-based regional health service, Women’s Health In The North, produced a guidebook last year to tackle homophobia in local secondary schools.

McCarthy said the committee came about as a result of community discussions during an International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) event in May 2010.

The committee will now develop an action plan to determine where changes can be made. A draft of the plan will be released for public feedback as part of Darebin’s 2012 IDAHO celebrations.

INFO: www.darebin.vic.gov.au

PICTURED: Cr Trent McCarthy (second from left) welcomes the appointment of Darebin’s new LGBTI advisory committee.

You May Also Like

Comments are closed.