12 Victorian LGBTQ+ Community Projects To Share In $100,000 In Grants
Image: Charles Criscuolo / Pexels
Victoria’s Carroll Labor Government announced on Monday that 12 community-led LGBTQ+ projects across the state will share in over $100,000 as part of a grant partnership with the Youth Affairs Council Victoria.
According to Minister for Mental Health Ingrid Stitt, the grants are once again being awarded to the winners of its annual Healthy Equal Youth (HEY) grants, a program that specifically supports initiatives that promote diversity, reduce stigma and discrimination, and strengthen mental health and wellbeing for young LGBTIQA+ Victorians.
“Labor is backing young people to thrive – no matter what their gender identity or sexual orientation is,” said Stitt.
“HEY grants are vital in strengthening LGTBIQA+ communities – to help build a Victoria where everyone feels respected, safe and connected.”
This Year’s HEY Grant Winners
Among this year’s winners are Queer Joy, a youth-led program which will expand an LGBTIQA+ library and deliver social events and group outings for young people in the Bass Coast; Worldbuilders, a series of creative workshops in Bendigo where young people design costumes, make props, and create fantasy characters; and Transforming the Narrative, a program bringing young trans and gender diverse writers together for a series of creative writing workshops, culminating in a book of short stories exploring their lived experiences.
Of the 12 winning projects, four are in rural and regional Victoria, while eight are based in metropolitan Melbourne. Whether a creative program, community event, or workshops about healthy relationships, all recipients are chosen for their delivery of inclusive activities, practical resources, and/or safer spaces for young LGBTIQA+ Victorians.
According to Minister for Equality Steve Dimopoulos, the program reflects Victoria’s long-standing commitment to protecting the wellbeing of its LGBTQ+ youth.
“We will always make sure young people across Victoria feel safe to express themselves, be who they want to be and get the support they need,” said Dimopoulos.
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