A Reflection following Pride March
As we finish the Midsumma season, we acknowledge the important role LGBTIQA+ community festivals play in uplifting and celebrating the rich diversity of our communities. They also make space for meaningful dialogue about the issues faced by our communities – issues that impact our health, wellbeing and ability to participate fully in society. In particular, Pride March has always been an important platform for starting conversations, taking action, and raising awareness of issues faced by our communities.
16 Feb 2024
Like Pride March, Thorne Harbour Health is borne out of a legacy of LGBTIQA+ activism and community mobilisation. This year we’ve celebrated 40 years since our founding by a generation of community activists forged in the fires of gay and lesbian liberation as they sought to address the emerging epidemic of HIV and AIDS. In fact, several of those founding figures joined us for this year’s Pride March. We have a deep respect for the history of collective action that has seen our communities progress to where we are today. We also uphold the legacy of activism in the streets together with advocacy of those working within the systems of power.
However, at this year’s Pride March we saw a confrontation. We do not condone violence of any kind, directed at anyone, and are committed to defending the wellbeing of all our LGBTIQA+ communities and people living with HIV. This includes lateral violence within our communities as well as inappropriate police conduct.
Our communities have had a long and complicated relationship with police going back almost to colonisation. While we have made several advances in Victoria towards improving this relationship, the incident at this year’s Pride March is a stark and upsetting reminder that we have a long way to go. We will be engaging with Victoria Police around addressing these issues.
There is no pride in violence. We are committed to seeing a future where our communities can exist peacefully and in good health – and where peaceful direct action can continue to be taken.
First and foremost though, we are committed to supporting the health and wellbeing of our communities. We encourage anyone seeking support to contact us on 03 9865 6700 or QLife on 1800 184 527.
Furthermore, if any member of our LGBTIQA+ communities has issues or concerns with any public officer, we can assist and support you in making a complaint to the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) https://www.ibac.vic.gov.au/.
In other news
25 Jul 2024
Protect Yourself from Violence, Scams, and Catfishing on Grindr
In recent years, we’ve seen an unsettling rise in incidents of violence targeting our communities, with several “gay bashings” being reported.These attacks are often connected to meetups arranged through online dating and hook-up apps like Grindr. News articles about Grindr users who have been “gay bashed” by malicious matches are a reminder of the need for online safety practices.
19 Jul 2024
The Joy of Trans and Gender Diverse Peer Support
Kai* came to TAPS (Trans and Gender Diverse Alcohol/Drug Peer Support group) hungry to connect with gender diverse peers, to be understood, and to participate in a safe sharing of experiences.