Rainbow gift for Moorabool Council

MEMBER for Buninyong Michaela Settle has offered to gift Moorabool Shire two rainbow flags following debate within council on flying the symbol.

The move comes after Cr Tonia Dudzik put forward motion at a recent council meeting to fly the rainbow flag on the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia above the Shire offices. The action was met with some resistance.

In support of Cr Dudzik, Ms Settle said if cost was an issue for the municipality, she would be more than happy to gift two rainbow flags to be flown on 17 May, IDAHOBIT Day.

“This would say to the LGBTIQ+ community that we celebrate your contribution to our community and Moorabool is a wonderful and welcoming place to live,” she said.

“I have been passionate about the rights of the LGBTIQ+ community since working at the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in the 1980s.”

After extending the offer to gift the rainbow flags, Ms Settle said the response from the community has been overwhelmingly positive.

“I’ve had lots of people reaching out to me and locals have created a Facebook event to fly a rainbow flag from your home or business which has close to 80 people either going or interested,” she said.

Ms Settle said the offer to gift Rainbow flags is part of the State Government’s Victorian LGBTIQ+ Strategy.

“The strategy will guide the Victorian Government’s efforts to achieve equality for LGBTIQ+ communities over the next decade,” Ms Settle said.

“It’s out for comment now, please visit the site and have your say, let’s make sure rural and regional voices are heard.”