Media Releases

• Labor provides no Ministerial responsibility for LGBTI affairs; Coalition and Greens commit to portfolio responsibility
• Coalition cuts funding for Safe Schools; Labor support but no funding commitment; Greens commit additional funding
• Strong support for LGBTI health and ageing, but no firm commitment from major parties to renew LGBTI Ageing Strategy

The results of a major survey of political parties on LGBTI issues have revealed important differences in the major political parties. The parties differed significantly on their approach to LGBTI representation and engagement, including on the issues of a party spokesperson and a commissioner for LGBTI affairs. “We are pleased that a Coalition Attorney General will have responsibility for LGBTI equality, ensuring that our issues are heard at the Cabinet table. However, we are disappointed that Labor has not committed to a party spokesperson for LGBTI affairs. The Greens and the Victorian Labor Party have long had a spokesperson; it’s time federal Labor followed their lead,” said Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby (VGLRL) Co-Convenor Rachael Hambleton. The Greens have put forward a proposal to establish a Commonwealth Commissioner for Gender and Sexuality, which would be able to work across Government to provide support for the LGBTI community. “Whilst the Labor party's proposal to establish an LGBTI Discrimination Commissioner and the Coalition's plan to give the new Human Rights Commissioner responsibility for LGBTI affairs are both welcome, we believe the Commissioner should not be stuck at the Human Rights Commission but able to work within Government to advance the rights of LGBTI Australians,” said VGLRL Co-Convenor Sean Mulcahy Two issues that have dominated the media have been the Safe Schools program and balancing religious freedom with LGBTI equality. "We welcome the Opposition Leader's comments in support of Safe Schools, but those words need to be backed by funding. The Coalition needs to explain what they are going to do to when the funding contract for the Safe Schools Coalition programme ends given that they will not extend the funding,” said VGLRL Co-Convenor Rachael Hambleton. “Given that faith leaders such as the Australian Christian Lobby's Lyle Shelton and the Archbishop of Sydney say they would not use religious exemptions to discriminate against LGBTI Australians in critical service delivery, we are disappointed that neither of the major parties would commit to amending the law to end discrimination against LGBTI Australians in service delivery,” said VGLRL Co-Convenor Sean Mulcahy. Marriage equality and the proposed marriage plebiscite has been another strong focus of the election campaign. “Upwards of 70% of Australians now support marriage equality. To deny a free vote on marriage equality, to deny the will of the vast majority of Australians, and to deny LGBTI Australians their right to equality, dignity and respect is a statement which says that our love is not equal. We will continue to fight for a free vote in Parliament and for the passage of marriage equality,” said NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby (NSW GLRL) Co-Convenor Lauren Foy. The parties also made commitments to the health and wellbeing of LGBTI people, including improvements to aged care services. “We are encouraged to see all the major parties make commitments to the health and wellbeing of LGBTI people. We are delighted to see parties have highlighted the unique health needs of LGBTI people and provided strategies for addressing them. Across all measures, LGBTI people are more likely to experience poor health outcomes and have greater difficulty accessing care. Whatever party forms government, we will work with our community partners to ensure the parties follow through on their commitments to LGBTI health,” said Victorian AIDS Council (VAC) CEO, Simon Ruth. “Unfortunately, there were no solid commitments from the two major parties to renew the National LGBTI Ageing and Aged Care Strategy beyond 2017. Older LGBTI Australians need support and we need to continue the reform in aged care towards an inclusive sector. Good strides have been made and need to be continued,” said VAC CEO, Simon Ruth. There is also increasing awareness of the plight of LGBTI asylum seekers seeking refuge in Australia. “There is an increasing number of refugees seeking protection in Australia based on their LGBTI status with at least 77 countries worldwide criminalising homosexual behaviour. LGBTI asylum seekers are some of the most vulnerable individuals held in detention around the world and should not be repatriated to their country of origin if it would compromise their safety,” said NSW GLRL Co-Convenor Lauren Foy. The survey also addressed specific issues facing the transgender, gender diverse and intersex communities, with the parties making commitments to support the health and wellbeing of these communities. "It is wonderful to see some political parties finally begin to address the stigmatisation and treatment of people born with intersex bodies, in line with concerns stated by the United Nations and other international human rights organisations,” said Organisation Intersex International (OII) Australia CoChair, Morgan Carpenter. “We urge all those with an interest on LGBTI issues to carefully examine these responses which we believe cover our communities comprehensively. From the trans and gender diverse perspective, we note in particular the responses regarding critical health and medical issues for trans and gender diverse people of all ages,” said Transgender Victoria (TGV) Executive Director, Sally Goldner. The survey organisers urge all LGBTI Australians and anyone with an interest in supporting these communities to pay close attention to the results. “This election is going to be a close one, so it’s more important than ever that voters who care about LGBTI issues know not just where their candidate stands but also what the party policies will be,” said VGLRL Co-Convenor Sean Mulcahy. The complete survey responses and assessment are available at rainbowvotes.com.au

The Victorian AIDS Council (VAC) has called on Australia’s major political parties to
adopt quotas for LGBTI candidates in winnable seats. Preselection quotas within the major parties will
increase LGBTI representation in Parliament and ensure sufficient attention is paid to issues affecting those
communities.
Quotas have been used successfully in Australia in the past to increase representation for women in
Parliament, and LGBTI quotas should be adopted by the major parties to redress poor historical LGBTI
representation within each party.
By adopting this position VAC hopes to draw attention to entrenched discrimination within Australia’s
political parties and campaigns. VAC also believes increased LGBTI representation within the major parties
will help curb the extreme rhetoric about LGBTI people that has become commonplace in the public
sphere, and balance those extreme viewpoints in the party room.
VAC CEO Simon Ruth said representative quotas for women could serve as a model both for how LGBTI
quotas might work, and their potential for positive outcomes.
“We’ve seen the success organisations like Emily’s List have had in increasing women’s representation in
Parliament, so we know quotas can work in Australia,” said Ruth.
“Having more women in Parliament has contributed to positive change on issues like paid parental leave,
pay equity and measures to reduce family violence, and we believe quotas for LGBTI representation could
do the same for issues specifically affecting our communities.”
“Representative quotas and merit-based systems are not mutually exclusive. Encouraging a Parliament
that better reflects the diversity of the Australian community, its different backgrounds, experiences and
viewpoints, will lead to better outcomes for all of us.”
VAC President Chad Hughes said preselection quotas for LGBTI candidates could have a significant impact
on the tone of debate on issues affecting those communities.
“This isn’t just about legislative and policy outcomes, it’s about recognising the impact that political and
public debates about LGBTI people have on our communities,” said Hughes.
“We know that discriminatory language negatively impacts the mental health of LGBTI communities, and
the toxic discourse we’ve seen on a few issues this year needs to change. We would hope that having more
LGBTI people present in party rooms will have a positive effect on how these issues are discussed, and
allow political positions to be shaped by the people they affect the most.”
VAC’s full position statement on LGBTI quotas is attached, or can be found at www.vac.org.au/lgbtiquotas.
For more information, contact:
Benjamin Riley
Media Officer
benjamin.riley@vac.org.au
03 9865 6700
0401 267 024

The promotion of Treatment as prevention (TasP) and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) will be the focus as the Victorian PrEP Accord launches the Double Happiness Campaign with Minister Jill Hennessy on Thursday, 16 June at the Multicultural HUB at 2pm*.
“I – along with all Australian health ministers – am committed to the goal of the virtual elimination of new HIV transmissions by 2020,” said Health Minister Jill Hennessy. “PrEP and Treatment as Prevention are effective strategies to help us achieve that goal.”
The campaign uses Chinese symbolism for ‘double happiness’ to promote the union of the two complementary strategies working together: the use of anti-retroviral drugs for people living with HIV to reduce the HIV viral load to an 'undetectable' level (TasP), and the use of anti-retroviral drugs taken by HIV negative person to prevent HIV transmission (PrEP). At present, the drug Truvada has been approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for PrEP use, however it has not yet been listed on Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
“Although there has been progress made, it’s not enough,” said Phillip Joffe, Chair of PrEPaccessNOW. “The quick access and availability of this drug is imperative to the health and wellbeing of Australians at risk for HIV.”
The website for the campaign, TasPLovesPrEP.info, will launch on Thursday and in addition to providing essential information about TasP and PrEP, some information will be available in multiple languages including Chinese, Greek, Spanish and Vietnamese.
“Whether you are HIV negative or HIV positive, we want to educate everyone about both of these methods of HIV prevention and convey the message that everyone can play a role in ending new HIV transmissions,” said Brent Allan, CEO for Living Positive Victoria. “We’re all in this together, HIV shouldn’t stand in the way of love.”
The Victorian PrEP Accord is a partnership between Living Positive Victoria and the Victorian AIDS Council (VAC), alongside grassroots PrEP organisations PrEPaccessNOW, Time4PrEP, PrEP’d for Change, and researchers from VicPrEP who are all committed to ensure the availability of PrEP for the Victorian community.
*Please note the Minister will be in attendance from 2-2.30pm

The results of this year’s Melbourne Gay Community Periodic Survey give us a snapshot of sex and
relationships in our communities, said the Victorian AIDS Council (VAC).
Recruited throughout Melbourne’s Midsumma festival at gay venues and events, the survey captured the responses of
2886 gay and same-sex attracted men to a broad set of questions about sex, relationships and sexual health.
Conducted by the University of NSW in conjunction with partner organisations around the country, like VAC in Victoria,
the gay community periodic surveys have been running since 1998, giving not just a snapshot but a picture of how
trends change over time.
Just one highlight of the 2016 survey is the effect of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) on what sex and sexual health in
our communities looks like, and how gay men are becoming more aware of ways to reduce the risk of HIV transmission.
Some key findings for 2016:
• A drop in men who have tested for HIV at all over the past year (down from 69.9% in 2012 to 65.6% in 2016), but
a big increase in men who have had three or more HIV tests in the past year (up from 11.9% in 2012 to 22.8%
in 2016).
• A large increase over time in the proportion of HIV-positive men on treatment and with an undetectable viral
load, up from 65.1% in 2008 to 95.2% in 2016. Having an undetectable viral load makes HIV transmission during
sex very unlikely.
• A gradual increase over time of the proportion of gay men in open relationships to 32% in 2016—it’s now the
most common type of relationship.
• An increase over the past year in the proportion of gay men not using condoms during anal sex with casual
partners, up from 38.9% in 2015 to 42.6% in 2016.
• However, the past year has also seen a huge increase in the proportion of men on PrEP, up from 1.4% in 2015 to
5.6% in 2016. This largely accounts for the increase in condomless anal sex with casual partners.
• An increase over time in awareness and use of undetectable viral load as a strategy for avoiding HIV transmission,
both among HIV-positive men (up from 67.6% in 2013 to 76.2% in 2016) and among HIV-negative men (up from
12.2% in 2013 to 15.4% in 2016).
VAC CEO Simon Ruth said the findings from this year’s survey were particularly interesting for the light they shed on
PrEP use in the community. PrEP is a highly effective HIV-prevention method, where HIV-negative people take HIV
medication to significantly reduce their risk of contracting HIV.
“This is really the first time we’ve been able to see the way PrEP is protecting our community,” Ruth said.
“The results around PrEP and undetectable viral load show us what we’ve known for a long time now, that gay men
in Victoria are smart, aware, and willing to engage with new and often complex information about sexual health and
HIV prevention.”
“Grass-roots initiatives like PrEPaccessNOW and PrEP’d for Change have shown us how gay men are taking the lead on
educating and informing the community.”
VAC’s Director of Health Promotion, Policy and Communications Colin Batrouney pointed to the results around HIV
and STI testing as an indication of positive change.
“Since it began, the Drama Downunder campaign has encouraged people to get tested to maintain their sexual
health, and for almost a year now we’ve been encouraging gay men to test every three months through our seasonal
campaign,” said Batrouney.
“In these results we can see how testing behaviour is changing—the proportion of gay men who have had at least
three HIV tests in the previous 12 months has almost doubled over the past five years. That’s an impressive result.”
“Testing every three months is particularly important if you’re having sex with a lot of different guys, and these look
like the kind of men who are testing more frequently. We’re also working to make testing easier and more convenient
with peer-led services like rapid HIV-testing at the PRONTO! clinic.”

Victoria’s Gender and Sexuality Commissioner Rowena Allen has called for a greater focus
on lesbian, bisexual and queer (LBQ) women’s health, pointing to current gaps in research and services for
LBQ Women, and the poorer health outcomes these groups face.
The call comes ahead of next week’s Lesbian, Bisexual and Queer Women’s Health Conference in Melbourne,
presented by the Victorian AIDS Council (VAC) and ACON. Now in its second year, the conference brings
together industry experts, service providers and community members from around Australia to discuss
the health and wellbeing of LBQ women.
Commissioner Allen said the conference would be a chance to address some of theses health issues.
“We have an opportunity in front of us to greatly improve the health and wellbeing of lesbian, bisexual and
queer women. We need a response that includes targeted programs considering the unique needs of LBQ
women, and we need research to support that response. Funding better health outcomes for LBQ women
must become a priority,” she said.
“The overwhelming response to last year’s inaugural LBQ Women’s Health Conference is a testament
to how much the community wants and needs this important dialogue. Expanding the scope of the
conference to a national level in this second year is a promising sign we’re moving in the right direction.”
ACON’s Director of HIV and Sexual Health Karen Price echoed the commissioner’s calls, highlighting the
specific health issues these communities experience.
“We are committed to highlighting the particular health issues facing LBQ women such as higher rates
of smoking, higher rates of substance use, poorer mental health and lower screening participation rates.
We also know that this subpopulation is not effectively reached by mainstream health messaging or
campaigns,” said Price.
“For those of us working to maximise the health and wellbeing of LBQ Women, we know there’s a big job
ahead of us to ensure our communities’ health issues are better understood by decision makers.”
“ACON is proud to partner with VAC to deliver this conference. Ensuring there is a space for key partners to
share knowledge, experience and thinking on these issues is pivotal. We believe that by bringing women
together we will foster collaboration, galvanise effort and amplify our messages.”
An international keynote speaker for the conference has also been announced: Professor Julie Fish from
De Montfort University in Leicester. Professor Fish has published widely on human rights and LGBT health
inequalities around the world.
“Professor Fish is recognised as a leader in her field, and having her deliver the conference keynote is a
fantastic opportunity to connect the work we’re doing here to what is happening in LBQ women’s health
worldwide,” said VAC CEO Simon Ruth.
“This conference is the only one of its kind in Australia, and the huge interest in last year’s event proved
how much it is needed, and how much we need to find ways to create opportunities for conversations
about women’s health specifically.”
The LBQ WOmen’s Health Conference will take place on Friday, 27 May, 9.30am – 4.30pm. For more
information about the conference and to see the conference program, visit: www.vac.org.au/LBQWHC2016

The Victorian AIDS Council (VAC) is marking International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and
Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) on 17 May with the launch of Equinox, the new name and brand for VAC’s trans and gender
diverse health service, and celebrations at the VACountry service in Bendigo.
Equinox encompasses the trans and gender diverse GP service VAC launched in February, offering a wide range
of services to the trans and gender diverse community from the Fitzroy-based PRONTO! clinic. Led by Dr Pauline
Cundill, Equinox’s GP service offers general medical care, mental health checks and referrals, a PrEP clinic, support
for trans people living with HIV, sex work checkups and more.
Following the launch there are plans for Equinox to continue to expand, with Hepatitis C treatment available soon,
and mental health and alcohol and other drugs services to be introduced in the future.
Developing Equinox has been the first activity of VAC’s Trans and Gender Diverse Advisory Group, which worked with
a trans, Melbourne-based designer to create the logo and brand.
VAC’s Bendigo-based service for the Loddon Mallee region VACountry is also celebrating IDAHOBIT, partnering with
the City of Greater Bendigo, Goldfields Libraries, Bendigo Community Health Services and Headspace Bendigo for
events throughout the day.
“IDAHOBIT is a great opportunity for us to reflect on the ways LGBTI organisations can support some of the most
vulnerable people in our communities, and to do something about it,” said VAC CEO Simon Ruth.
“Between the launch of Equinox and the work of our VACountry service in the Loddon Mallee region, VAC is working
with trans and gender diverse communities and people living in regional and rural Victoria to make sure no one is
left behind.”
VAC’s Project Lead for Trans Health Jeremy Wiggins said a peer-led approach to delivering services for the trans and
gender diverse community is at the heart of Equinox.
“We are very excited to be launching a new gender diverse health service that is run for the community, by the
community,” Wiggins said.
“Equinox is the only service of its kind in Australia as it is a peer led model where community members can receive
respectful, confidential and knowledgeable healthcare from professionals who understand their experience. We
have worked closely with the community in establishing Equinox. We will continue to be responsive to their needs
and look forward to growing our service with them.”
Since 2004, IDAHOBIT has been observed around the world to raise awareness of homophobia, biphobia
and transphobia worldwide, and to provide opportunities to address violence and discrimination against our
communities.
Event details:
Equinox Launch
Tuesday, 17 May, 6–8pm
PRONTO! Clinic, 175 Rose St, Fitzroy
www.facebook.com/events/1136236219797791
VACountry IDAHOBIT Events
Tuesday, 17 May, 12–2pm
Bendigo Library, 259 Hargreaves St, Fitzroy
www.facebook.com/events/1761438020766556

Two of Australia’s leading HIV organisations have welcomed $1.6 million in new Federal Government funding to educate gay and homosexually active men in Australia about blood borne viruses and sexually transmissible infections (STIs), particularly HIV.
ACON from NSW and the Victorian AIDS Council (VAC), their respective state’s leading HIV prevention, support and LGBTI health organisations, have been allocated funding following a national tendering process through which ACON and VAC made a joint submission.
The funding will enable ACON and VAC to develop, produce and promote a range of online educational resources for gay men and men who have sex with men, with a particular focus on HIV.
In welcoming the announcement, ACON President Justin Koonin said ACON and VAC are excited to have been given the opportunity to deliver this important national health promotion work.
“It is good to see the Federal Government providing funds to support the work to reduce HIV and STI transmission in Australia. These funds are really important to add to the efforts of jurisdictions and communities who have been working hard to capitalise on the new scientific and technological breakthroughs in this area.
“Men who have sex with men account for over three quarters of all annual HIV diagnoses in Australia and are disproportionally affected by other STIs. With any public health issue, it’s vital that health promotion activities meaningfully engage with the most affected groups and ACON and VAC are committed to providing evidence based, high quality, accessible and culturally appropriate information to help gay men look after the health of themselves and their sexual partners.
For over 30 years ACON and VAC have been proven effective leaders in sexual health promotion, particularly through social media, and both agencies’ campaigns have been used across Australia.
“Our communities are smart and engaged—gay and same-sex attracted men already access and share information about HIV and sexual health online and through social media, so this is just about going where the people are,” said VAC President Chad Hughes.
“Digital technology has been a big part of how both VAC and ACON do health promotion for a long time now, and having a national platform will allow us to utilise that expertise on a much larger scale. First and foremost this is about improving the health and wellbeing of Australians most affected by HIV and STIs.”
“This is a big project, and of course we’ll be working closely with partner organisations across the country. These partnerships are central to how we operate, and our ability to collaborate and cooperate is a strength of Australia’s HIV sector.”
The project is set to commence later this year.

The candles will be burning bright as Melbournian’s gather to remember those who lost their lives at the 33rd International AIDS Candlelight Memorial on Sunday, 15 May at 5pm at City Square.
“The International AIDS Candlelight Memorial allows us to come together to remember and honour those we have lost to the epidemic,” says keynote speaker Rowena Allen, Victoria’s Gender and Sexuality Commissioner. “We want everyone regardless of their HIV status to engage in breaking down current barriers of HIV stigma and discrimination and empower the next generation with vital information about HIV and AIDS.”
This year’s theme, ‘Engage, Educate and Empower’ is presented in partnership with the Victorian AIDS Council (VAC). The evening will be centred around a candle-lighting ceremony to honour the lives lost and showcase personal narratives from young HIV positive speakers as a way to share the journey of those currently living with HIV, their challenges to living well and the struggle to have access to treatment.
“While the landscape of HIV prevention is rapidly changing in light of biomedical innovations, it’s important to remember that HIV still affects our community today and continues to have a massive impact globally,” says Simon Ruth, Chief Executive Officer, Victorian AIDS Council. “The International AIDS Candlelight Memorial is an opportunity to honour those lives lost, to reflect on where we’ve come from, and allow that history to inform how we continue to address the issues surrounding HIV and AIDS into the future.”
Currently, there are more than 27,000 people living with HIV in Australia. Melbourne has already taken steps towards eliminating new cases of HIV including being the first city in Australia to sign on as a Fast- Track City with a commitment to reach the Joint United Nations’ targets on reducing HIV. Fast-Track Cities pledge to achieve the UNAIDS 90-90-90 HIV treatment targets by 2020 – which aim to ensure that 90 per cent of people who are HIV positive know their status and are on treatment, and that 90 per cent of people on treatment have an undetectable viral load.
“HIV testing and treatment have improved but the biggest barrier to reaching the 90-90-90 goal is the stigma and discrimination that is tied to the virus,” says Brent Allen, Chief Executive Officer, Living Positive Victoria. “Australia is in a good position to achieve that goal and the Memorial is another way to educate the community and allow them to be part of the solution.”
Started in 1983, the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial takes place every third Sunday in May and is led by a coalition of some 1,200 community organisations in 115 countries. The International AIDS Candlelight Memorial, coordinated by the Global Network of People living with HIV (GNP+) is one of the world’s oldest and largest grassroots mobilisation campaigns for HIV awareness in the world.
Founded in 1988, Living Positive Victoria Living Positive Victoria is a not for profit,
community based organisation representing the wellbeing of all people living with HIV in
Victoria. For more information visit livingpostitivevictoria.org.au

The Victorian AIDS Council (VAC) has welcomed the news today that the Therapeutic Goods
Administration (TGA) has approved the drug Truvada for use as PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV) in
Australia.
TGA approval means doctors in Australia no longer have to prescribe Truvada as PrEP “off-label”, that is,
for something other than its previously-approved use as a medication to treat HIV. More importantly, TGA
approval is a necessary step towards the eventual listing of PrEP on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
(PBS).
VAC CEO Simon Ruth said the news brings Australia one step closer to affordable, accessible PrEP.
“TGA approval is a huge step forward, but there is still a lot of work to do. Over the coming months we will
be continuing our work with other community organisations and advocates to ensure PrEP is listed on the
PBS, providing subsidised access for those who need it,” he said.
“This has been a long road, but it’s brought out the best in our community. The passion and dedication
groups like PrEP’d for Change and PrEPaccessNOW have shown in shaping this conversation has played a
huge role in getting us to where we are now.”
VAC President Chad Hughes said gay communities in Australia have come a long way since VAC first started
talking about PrEP.
“It’s almost two years to the day that we held our first community forum on PrEP, at a time when PrEP had
become a divisive topic within gay communities in the US,” Hughes said.
“Since then we have seen gay men here in Australia engage in reasonable, informed discussion, always
with a willingness to learn. The conversation continues, but we now have a community who understands
the vital role PrEP can play in HIV prevention.
PrEP is a highly effective HIV-prevention method, where HIV-negative people take HIV medication to
significantly reduce their risk of contracting HIV.

The Victorian AIDS Council (VAC) has welcomed funding from the Victorian Government to
allow people living in regional and rural Victoria to access the upcoming Lesbian, Bisexual and Queer (LBQ)
Women’s Health Conference.
The funding will allow VAC to provide bursaries covering travel and accommodation costs for Victorians
living outside of Melbourne.
The Victorian Government has also helped reduce financial barriers to attendance by funding an increased
number of registration scholarships, providing free access to people experiencing financial difficulties.
“It’s great that the government is investing in making an event like this accessible, particularly for people
living in regional and rural Victoria. This conference is a unique opportunity and we want to do as much as
possible to ensure money isn’t a barrier for people to want to attend,” said VAC CEO Simon Ruth.
“LGBTI people living in regional and rural areas face additional pressures that can have an adverse impact
on health and wellbeing, and when it comes to LBQ women’s health we need to make sure no one is left
out of the conversation.”
Now in its second year, the LBQ Women’s Health Conference is the only one of its kind in Australia,
seeing hundreds of delegates come together to discuss LBQ women’s health. The inaugural event in 2015
attracted significant attention from health professionals and LGBTI communities, leading VAC to partner
with ACON to present the conference going forward.
For more information about the conference, and about travel and registration bursaries, visit:
www.vac.org.au/LBQWHC2016

The International AIDS Candlelight Memorial is a free and accessible community led event that takes place each year to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS related issues across 150 countries and over 1200 communities.
“Living Positive Victoria is thrilled to work in partnership across our sector, with the Victorian AIDS Council, City of Melbourne, and our media partners, JOY 94.9 and Melbourne Community Voice. We are also grateful for Low Rez Male Choir, who will again add a musical dimension to the ceremony. The International AIDS Candlelight Memorial brings us all together to keep focus on issues we continue to face around HIV,” says Brent Allan, Chief Executive Officer, Living Positive Victoria.
A large number of people are expected to gather at City Square to commemorate those lost to AIDS and look forward to supporting a better future, where a vaccine or cure may be found for HIV.
“The International AIDS Candlelight Memorial allows us to come together to remember and honour those we have been lost to the epidemic both here and overseas. And while we’ve come a long way in Australia, there is still an incredible amount of work to be done in HIV prevention, access to treatment, and combating stigma if we’re to see our vision for a future without HIV in Australia,” says Simon Ruth, Chief Executive Officer, Victorian AIDS Council.
Proceedings will be led by Auckland Pride Parade Director 2014 and MC of the AIDS 2014 Candlelight Vigil, Richard Taki. Dr Alyson Campbell, theatre director and academic at the Victorian College of the Arts, women’s rights champion, HIV and AIDS activist, will be the keynote speaker. Kim Davis and John Manwaring will also address the crowd about the lived experience of HIV.
“I’m thrilled to be asked to be involved with this year’s Memorial. HIV and AIDS has been the defining epidemic of our generation and while we have made strident progress toward ending the HIV and AIDS epidemic, we’re not there just yet. I strongly believe that the arts has a role to play in this and that we can use our arts to draw attention to the ongoing battle with stigma, to educate and to be agents of change,” says Dr Alyson Campbell.
JOY 94.9, Australia’s only GLBTI radio station has sponsored a series of short vignettes from individuals engaged in the international response to HIV and AIDS. These stories highlight the reality of living with HIV and the challenges facing communities where AIDS is a real threat to lives and economic and social stability.

“JOY started in response to the AIDS crisis here in Melbourne. When the gay men who were unable to come out into the community because of AIDS and HIV related illness, the community decided to come to them via the air waves. We’ve been broadcasting for our community for 21 years now, and we’re proud of our ongoing commitment to the HIV response and partnership with local HIV and AIDS organisations,” says Conrad Browne, General Manager, JOY 94.9.
Melbourne Community Voice have provided ongoing support for the ENUF campaign since its launch in 2013 and are an official media partner of the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial.
“We have seen how damaging stigma can be in relation to HIV/AIDS. The fact that there are HIV Positive who people still feel they cannot disclose their status is a tragedy and honouring and remembering those who have lost their lives to HIV/AIDS is another way to raise awareness of the fact that the fight against HIV/AIDS is far from over,” says Rachel Cook, Editor, Melbourne Community Voice.
Join with our community to show solidarity in our fight against HIV and AIDS at the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial.

The Victorian AIDS Council (VAC) welcomes the news today that the Victorian Government
will be contributing $15 million towards a Pride Centre in Melbourne, designed and purpose-built to house
LGBTI community organisations.
Minister for Equality Martin Foley made the announcement as part of a suite of funding initiatives for
LGBTI communities, including a fully-funded business case for the Pride Centre.
“It is fantastic to see the government commit such a significant amount of money to a project as important
as the Pride Centre. It’s been a long time since the state government has funded infrastructure to support
LGBTI communities in Victoria,” said VAC CEO Simon Ruth.
“We’ve been discussing the concept of a Pride Centre with Minister Foley and Commissioner Allen since
their appointments under the Andrews Government, and we’ll be delighted to work with the government
on furthering the project.”
Ruth continued: “I’ve spent time at similar centres in San Francisco and New York and I’ve seen how those
spaces can become hubs for LGBTI communities. We have some incredible LGBTI community organisations
in Victoria, and it’s so important to have the autonomy of an LGBTI-run space where we can come together
and support each other, as well as provide a safe, welcoming space for our community members.”
In August last year VAC sold the Peter Knight Centre, the organisation’s main site in South Yarra, and is
currently in the process of looking for a new location. Alongside VAC, the Centre also houses the Australian
Lesbian and Gay Archives (ALGA) and the AIDS Memorial Quilt Project, and a number of other LGBTI
community organisations meet regularly in the building.
“As part of the relocation process we’ve been speaking with other LGBTI community organisations about
how we might share space,” said Ruth.
“We will have to move and it’s good to be having these discussions as a community, but ultimately each
organisation is going to have to make its own decisions about what’s best for them and for the communities
we serve.”
VAC President Chad Hughes said the organisation looks forward to reviewing the feasibility study into the
Pride Centre commissioned by the government last year.
“We’re looking forward to seeing the feasibility study the government commissioned from PwC last year,
and once that study is released our board will be in a better position to look at how VAC could be involved
in the Pride Centre,” Hughes said.
“As an organisation we have some complex needs—with the services we run and the work we do we’re
the largest LGBTI community organisation in Victoria. There are a lot of considerations when it comes to
finding a suitable new location.”