SIX months since the City of Greater Geelong set up its LGBTQIA+ advisory committee, a call has been made for one to be formed in the Surf Coast Shire.<\/p>\n
Greens Member for Western Victoria Sarah Mansfield is urging residents to support the LGBTQIA+ community by signing Rainbow Local Government’s petition, which if successful, would establish an advisory committee similar to Geelong’s on the Surf Coast.<\/p>\n
“Councils play such an important role in helping their local communities feel seen and heard,” Ms Mansfield said.<\/p>\n
“Establishing an LGBTQIA+ Advisory Committee would empower Surf Coast Shire’s LGBTQIA+ residents to have their say on ways to reduce discrimination and make the area safer and more inclusive.”<\/p>\n
Ms Mansfield played a large part in the formation of the city’s new LGBTQIA+ advisory committee in 2022, moving the motion to establish it during her time as a councillor.<\/p>\n
Geelong’s committee, which was first announced in August last year, meets six times a year to advise the council on issues that affect people in the City of Greater Geelong who identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community.<\/p>\n
Setting a new precedent in the south-west regions, Geelong’s new committee provides advice to a range of initiatives run by the city, such as the Gender and Sexuality Project for young people, staff training, IDAHOBIT Day, and Wear It Purple Day events.<\/p>\n
“We know other councils across the state have begun establishing committees like this and so we’re urging residents to sign the Rainbow Local Government petition as a way to encourage Surf Coast Shire to do the same,” Ms Mansfield said.<\/p>\n
“LGBTQIA+ communities should be able to have their say on the issues that affect them and their families, and this is an important way to make sure they have a seat at the table.”<\/p>\n
To view the petition, head to actionnetwork.org\/petitions\/petition-to-surf-coast-shire-council-lgbtiqa-advisory-committee<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
SIX months since the City of Greater Geelong set up its LGBTQIA+ advisory committee, a call has been made for one to be formed in the Surf Coast Shire. Greens Member for Western Victoria Sarah Mansfield is urging residents to support the LGBTQIA+ community by signing Rainbow Local Government’s petition, which if successful, would establish […]<\/p>\n