Council mark National Coming Out Day

GREATER Geelong councillors gathered on the steps of the City Hall last week to show support for the LGBTIQA+ community on National Coming Out Day.

National Coming Out Day, which is held annually on October 11, was established in 1988 as a way to show support for people coming out and to raise awareness of the LGBTIQA+ community.

Mayor Trent Sullivan said it was important for everyone to be able to celebrate their individuality.

“National Coming Out Day is a great way to show those in the LGBTIQA+ community that there is support for them across our region.

“The people of Geelong are welcoming and inclusive and I am proud of our ongoing work in this space.”

Windermere Ward councillor and Inclusion and Care portfolio chair, Sarah Hathaway also added the importance of supporting vulnerable members of society.

“We know that members of the LGBTIQA+ community can be targets of abuse and that is something that simply has to stop.

“Everybody has a right to be who they are and hopefully days like today show those who are out already, as well as those who might be uncertain about coming out, that doing so is OK and that they will be embraced by their community.”