A group of passionate young leaders in Greater Dandenong have created a campaign to show support for the LGBTIQA+ community.
Participants in Council’s 2022 Young Leaders program identified the need to promote culturally appropriate, positive messaging for young people and created the Proud 2 Be Me campaign to celebrate LGBTIQA+ community members of all backgrounds and identities.
Proud 2 Be Me aims to educate the wider community about diverse sexual and gender identities, while shining a light on the many similarities we share. The campaign hopes to spread the message that there is so much more to a person than their sexuality and gender identity.
Junior Melo (pictured) stars as an ally in the campaign, and says it is important to be inclusive and to love and respect people for who they are.
Manager of Youth Engagement for South East Community Links, Junior works with young people from diverse backgrounds every day.
He said in a diverse community like Greater Dandenong, there are people from many different backgrounds, and for some communities talking about sexuality and gender issues remained taboo.
“In Greater Dandenong young people face so many barriers including youth disadvantage and racism, as well as identity. You can’t isolate this issue (of identity). We all have a role to play.
“It comes down to respect. We can’t just have one viewpoint, we need to understand where other people are coming from and create places where everybody feels safe and welcome,” Junior said.
He also encourages allies to be vocal about their support for people in the LGBTIQA+ community.
Wednesday 17 May is International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), a significant day that celebrates LGBTIQA+ people globally, and raises awareness for the work still needed to combat discrimination.
Council is working towards improving the inclusion, recognition and community understanding of our LGBTIQA+ residents and visitors.
The Drum Theatre will be lit up in rainbow colours to celebrate IDAHOBIT on 17 May.
Visit the Proud 2 Be Me campaign page and discover the stories of Emily, Pierce, Andy, Rosanna and Junior.
