LGBTI community encouraged to submit a lyric for equal love

AT one time or another many us might have written a letter to our local MP or newspaper expressing our support for equality.

We might even have written on a banner we then marched beneath.

But it’s unlikely any of us have ever written a song lyric in support of equality.

However, this Mardi Gras Sydney-based youth group Twenty10 are encouraging us to do exactly that and be part of Australia’s largest crowd sourced musical collaboration while also supporting young LGBTI people.

“Music really bonds and involves everyone and this is an easy way to support young people who don’t always find that their identity is supported,” Twenty10 executive director Brett Paradise told the Star Observer.

Singers Guy Sebastian and Megan Washington and actress Magda Szubanski have already submitted a lyric and Paradise said they were hoping for 1000 more by this Sunday’s Fair Day where the completed song will be performed.

Songwriter Toby Martin, formerly of Sydney inner west band Youth Group, has the task of picking the best lyrics to shoehorn into a song.

Paradise said it was apt a former member of Youth Group, whose biggest single was Forever Young, was lending his expertise to an actual youth group.

“He’s got a tough job on his hands, he’s got to put together a melody and pull together the lyrics and perform it on the main stage at 5.30pm,” he said.

The theme for the lyric is “What is Love” and for every one that is submitted by the public, Google will donate $10 to Twenty10 up to a maximum of $10,000.

The tech giant’s LGBTI staff group, the Gayglers, came up with the idea and have also been helping Twenty10 improve their IT systems.

“Our relationship with Google means we’re bringing in experience and resources we couldn’t possibly access internally,” Paradise said.

“To do what we need to do we need to find as many avenues and incomes as possible.

“Not fitting into what is considered normal for a teenager is still very hard.

“Many young people are looking to come out or are of a non-binary gender and they need our support.”

Asked if he thought the song could top the charts, Paradise responded: “It might go to number one, but maybe only on the Twenty10 charts.”

Click here to submit your Twenty10 song lyric.

Singer Toby Martin will perform the finished song live at 5.30 pm, Sunday, February 22 at Mardi Gras Fair Day. Click here for details

Watch Youth Group’s smash hit Forever Young: