City’s gifts to gay groups

Gay and lesbian community groups have won out in the last round of Local Community Grants provided by the City of Sydney in 2008.

Twenty10, the Gender Centre, the Gay and Lesbian Counselling Service and the Sydney Rangers Football Club were this week granted funding from the council in recognition of the services these groups provide for the community.

The Gay and Lesbian Counselling Service received $2000 to provide anti-violence professional development training. A further $2000 was provided to the Sydney Rangers Football club to start a football club for young GLBT people.

Gender Centre coordinator Phinn Borg was thankful for a grant of $2022, provided for a music therapy workshop.

As with most organisations funded the way we are, it always seems inadequate as we strive to reach an ever-growing community need, Borg said.

In light of these limitations we are only able to fund additional and increased services with the assistance of the likes of City of Sydney Council, Marrickville Council, Street Smart and the Aurora group.

Twenty10 received $2500, to be put towards next year’s Mardi Gras Youth Festival.

This funding will allow us to provide a quality of festival that isn’t usually possible, Twenty10 spokesman David Moutou said.

The City of Sydney supported our youth festival last year in its first year, so this is a really helpful continuation of that support and I hope when people see the festival next year they will be able to see how we’ve managed to grow it and make it a part of Mardi Gras that makes an impact.

A City of Sydney spokeswoman said the grants were just one aspect of the city’s over-arching plan of support for the GLBT community.

The city is committed to providing a high level of service to our GLBT community who live, work and visit the city and this funding recognises the contribution of the GLBT community to the city’s diversity and vibrancy.