THE State Government has announced funding for a range of local LGBTIQ+ pride events.<\/p>\n
Revealed last week, money will go towards Bendigo Pride Festival, Bendigo Queer Film Festival, and the Queer Country Art Exhibition.<\/p>\n
Member for Bendigo West, Maree Edwards, said the pride offerings were key to inclusion in the region.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Bendigo Queer Arts Festival\u2019s events provide important visibility for LGBTIQ+ people in Central Victoria and we\u2019re proud to be supporting them as they continue their work,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
With a range of LGBTIQ+ events planned, Bendigo Pride Festival director John Richards said the backing was \u201cphenomenal.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe whole thing about being queer is that you are not born into your own culture, so you have to find your tribe,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn some ways, I think pride events, trans-clothing swaps all that sort of stuff is almost more important in the regions than it is in the big cities.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople in Melbourne, Sydney they\u2019ve got lots of resources, we don\u2019t have that here.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not that hard to make the world better, and that\u2019s what we\u2019re doing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Trans and Gender Diverse Bendigo and Beyond president Zara Jones said her organisation would like to see more businesses choosing to \u201cbuy-in\u201d to support the festivals.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe love to see rainbows, we love to see trans colours, but what we want is it done ethically,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf they\u2019re going to be profiteering from using those symbols for our community then perhaps thinking about how they can contribute back to the community, and whether that\u2019s holding an event, raising awareness, or contributing financially.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s lots of different ways they can contribute to raising awareness about LGBTI people and creating a safer space for everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE State Government has announced funding for a range of local LGBTIQ+ pride events. Revealed last week, money will go towards Bendigo Pride Festival, Bendigo Queer Film Festival, and the Queer Country Art Exhibition. Member for Bendigo West, Maree Edwards, said the pride offerings were key to inclusion in the region. \u201cThe Bendigo Queer Arts […]<\/p>\n