Zoe Moffatt
A LGBTQ+ empowerment group is encouraging the community to stand up and celebrate diversity ahead of Trans Day of Visibility on Friday, March 31.
Not for profit organisation WayOut, which runs LGBTQ+ groups in Sunbury and the Macedon Ranges, said Trans Day of Visibility is about elevating the voices of the transgender diverse and non-binary communities.
Health promotion officer Rhani Dean-Talbett said the day is about “standing up against anti-trans groups and bigotry.”
“Anti-trans sentiments and groups have got a really negative and draining impact on trans communities,” she said.
“So to try and counteract that, as allies and community members, we need to step up and educate ourselves about what we can do to help.
“There’s so many wonderful and fabulous trans voices out there to listen and elevate.”
Ms Dean-Talbett said there is a range of ways people in the community can get involved and support the day.
Donating to advocacy organisations, buying from trans owned businesses, following transgener people on social media and checking in on transgender people are all ways to support the day, Ms Dean-Talbett said
Throughout Sunbury and Macedon Ranges there are a range of events and groups for residents to get involved with.
WayOut and Hume council run a fortnightly glitter social group for LGBTIQ+ people and allies aged 12 to 21 years old, and WayOut runs a fortnightly social group called House of Awesome for LGBTIQ+ people aged 12 to 25 years old.
“It’s so important to have these safe and affirming spaces for young people to come to live really authentically and be surrounded by people whose journeys and identities reflect their own,” Ms Dean-Talbett said.
“That reduces social isolation [and] increases social inclusion, and we know that there’s huge health and wellbeing benefits to having those safe spaces.”
Following the anti-trans rally in Melbourne on March 18, Ms Dean-Talbett said it is important to have days of celebration.
“We know that when trans people’s lives are used as a political battleground, it can be very distressing for people,” she said.
“Having days where we’re raising visibility and celebrating trans communities is incredibly important as an antidote for all the distressing content.”
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