JOY FM goes bush

Melbourne gay and lesbian radio station JOY94.9 is heading to the bush this weekend for a four-hour special outside broadcast and picnic.

The station will go to Shepparton in northern Victoria on Sunday, February 13 for the special event which has been funded by Family Planning Victoria (FPV).

Aboriginal Affairs and Local Government Minister Jeanette Powell will launch the event.

JOY president David McCarthy said the station was excited to work with rural organisations to promote sexual health.

“The issues that GLBTIQ youth face along with social isolation, social exclusion and disconnection from family and community networks make this an important initiative,” he said.

“We want to counter their increased risk of sexual and mental ill-health, homelessness, suicide, self-harm and drug and alcohol misuse.”

The show will include guests from the Victorian Aboriginal Community-Controlled Health Organisation, local medical services and sexual health workers, Melbourne University Centre for Rural Sexual Health, Country Awareness Network (CAN) Victoria, Youth Empowerment Against HIV/AIDS, the PLWHA Positive Speakers Bureau, and Goulburn Valley Pride.

The broadcast is part of FPV’s Sexual Health and Diversity Enterprise (SHADE) program, a sexual health campaign which aims to raise awareness of STIs and blood-borne viruses in young GLBTI people in regional Victoria.

The broadcast will start at 11am and PFLAG Shepparton will provide a free BBQ. Locals are encouraged to attend and bring a picnic rug.

Prizes will be drawn on the day, including entry passes for the ChillOut Festival in Daylesford in March.

info: Visit www.joy.org.au