The Victorian Government is supporting the State’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender diverse, intersex, queer and asexual (LGBTIQA+) communities with recipients announced for the new LGBTIQA+ Sector Strengthening (LSS) grants program.
Minister for Equality Harriet Shing has announced the grant recipients on the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT).
“We have always supported LGBTIQA+ communities in Victoria and these new grants are designed to support the growth, vitality and sustainability of the LGBTIQA+ sector for years to come,” said Minister for Equality Harriet Shing.
“Now more than ever, it’s important we are supporting Victorian LGBTIQA+ groups and organisations to connect and thrive as we continue our work to ensure that in Victoria, equality is not negotiable.”
A total of $800,000 in grants have been allocated to 12 organisations and groups across Victoria, to help them serve diverse LGBTIQA+ communities including expanding services to regional areas.
Strengthening the LGBTIQA+ sector through grants programs is part of the Government’s efforts to drive equality in Victoria, aligned with the Pride in our Future: Victoria’s LGBTIQA+ strategy 2022-32.
One grant recipient, Many Coloured Sky, the Queer Development Agency of THREE for All Foundation, which supports LGBTIQA+ refugees and asylum seekers, will use its grant to expand services to outer suburban and regional communities in Victoria with high asylum seeker populations including in Melbourne’s outer south-east.
Transcend Australia will use its grant to establish a drop-in peer support space at the Royal Children’s Hospital’s Gender Service, translate gender affirmation care resources into languages other than English, and engage a consultant to support their development of training modules for their fee-for-service business model.
The Gippsland Pride Initiative will use the funding to support its Rainbow Brick Road project and services, and Rural Pride Australia will use its grant to create resources that help regional communities to prepare, respond and recover from increasing LGBTIQA+ hatred and vilification.
While Switchboard will expand its Rainbow Community Angels project, which supports LGBTIQA+ communities to host pride events safely, and the Zoe Belle Gender Collective will extend its project promoting healthier relationships between trans women and cisgender men.
For more information about the LGBTIQA+ Sector Strengthening program and the list of successful grant recipients, visit: www.vic.gov.au for details.
Image: Progress Pride Flag by Daniel Quasar (sourced)