Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby announces new co-convenors

THE Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby (VGLRL) has announced its new co-convenors for the upcoming year.

Anna Brown has stepped down after four terms in the role and will be replaced by Rachael Hambleton, alongside ongoing co-convenor Sean Mulcahy.

Under Brown’s leadership the VGLRL has played key roles in the expungement of historical gay consensual sex convictions, the apology for the raid on the Tasty nightclub, and the first national social marketing campaign to address stigma and discrimination, No to Homophobia.

Brown has stepped back from the role to allow new leaders to develop and to devote her time to growing the LGBTI Rights Unit of the Human Rights Law Centre that she established in 2014.

Mulcahy said he was looking forward to 2016 and believes Hambleton is the perfect fit for the VGLRL.

“Rachael brings a strong background in fundraising, as well as large scale event management and people management to the role,” he told the Star Observer.

“Her experience and connections will boost our lobbying efforts enormously.”

Hambleton has spent four years in the legal sector and has been involved in a number of not-for-profits including the Human Rights Law Centre, Justice Connect, Lawyers for Animals, and Reprieve Australia.

Looking at the year ahead, she said: “Over the coming year we will progress our collaboration with fellow LGBTIQ community groups, leveraging each other’s knowledge, skills, and connections.

“That has started with the LGBTIQ summit held last month and will continue with our planning day next month.

“In the lead up to the federal election next year we will be advocating for all sides of politics to adopt LGBTIQ inclusive policies and will be pushing hard to get the best outcomes for LGBTIQ Victorians.”

Former co-convenor Corey Irlam has also stepped down as Secretary of the VGLRL.