Website down but not out

The ALSO Foundation’s website, a portal of information about Victoria’s LGBTI community groups and projects, has gone offline this week although the organisation insists there is nothing “sinister” going on.

The Foundation’s website domain, www.also.org.au, stopped working with no explanation published on their website landing page or Facebook page.

ALSO Foundation secretary Daniel Perkins said the website was down as the organisation moved into its Collingwood Also Fabulous opportunity shop.

He said the website was expected to be back online next week once the move was finished.

Perkins also rejected fresh allegations from Minus18 board member Nick Bassett that community groups had been left in the lurch by the foundation’s abrupt departure.

Basset told SameSame.com.au yesterday: “Those of us who are regularly at City Village heard mumblings of ALSO leaving around the 30th of June but there was certainly no official notification by ALSO to their auspiced community groups.”

Perkins told the Star Observer he rejected any suggestion Minus18 were not adequately informed or consulted.

“Minus18 were informed of the move a number of weeks before it took place and we communicated to them it was our strong wish that they be placed in the best position possible to continue to use the space if that’s what they were able to come to terms with the City of Melbourne,” he said.

The ALSO Foundation had auspiced smaller LGBTI community groups at the City Village office since it moved there in 2008.

Some of the groups affected by the move include youth group Minus18, queer television program Bent TV and young gender diverse group Y-Gender.

The foundation ended its lease at the Bourke St City Village office as of this month to cut costs and downsize operations.

It posted a significant loss of $65,900 for the 2010/11 financial year at this year’s Annual General Meeting, putting the foundation over $130,000 in debt.

Perkins said the move so far had not been the “smoothest process” but added the foundation was now a largely volunteer organisation and volunteers were “doing the best they can”.

The ALSO Foundation is the largest LGBTI advocacy organistion in Victoria.

To get in contact with the ALSO Foundation, call the Also Fabulous Op-Shop on (03) 9419 2696 or email [email protected].