Organisers of a queer formal hope their event can mend damage done to sexuality and gender diverse young people during the postal survey on same-sex marriage.
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The Glittering Goldfields formal is an initiative of the Theatre Royal and Castlemaine Secondary College diversity group, and modelled on a similar event from LGBTI youth service Minus 18.
Castlemaine Secondary College guidance counsellor Shera Blaise said the event was conceived after a decision by Mount Alexander councillors in September not to fly the rainbow flag.
Ms Blaise presented a question about same-sex marriage to the meeting of council that saw the flag motion voted down. She said members of the school diversity group were left “disheartened”.
“Castlemaine gets seen as a very left-learning, progressive kind of place and to have the reality of the situation revealed to them was diffcult,” Ms Blaise said.
The young people’s experience was a pointed difference to the experience young people visiting Melbourne, or even Bendigo, where shows of support for LGBTI people were more pronounced.
“For today's young people, seeing a rainbow flag up somewhere or a sticker lets them know they're in a safe place,” she said.
“For those who are coming out, that's really comforting.”
Theatre Royal co-owner Andrea Distefano, whose venue will host the event, said a formal would show the region’s LGBTI youth they were loved and were free to be themselves.
“And in doing so, we can say a big no to homophobia, biphobia and transphobia in our community,” Ms Distefano said.
Read more: See Bendigo celebrate a ‘yes’ result
She believed a rift had opened up between shire leaders, LGBTI people and their allies since the survey and called on the council to put equality at the heart of their policymaking.
“In 2017, we shouldn’t have to sit down and convince our leaders of the merit of equal rights.”
At September’s meeting, councillors agreed to form a roundtable to discuss how they could better respond to the needs of the queer community.
Next Saturday’s event is a drug and alcohol free event for those aged 12 to 20. LGBTI youth and their friends are invited to attend.
It will be staffed by adult volunteers who are calling themselves “goldfields guardians”.
Tickets can be purchased at ickets are on sale at headspace Bendigo, Theatre Royal or online at www.theatreroyalcastlemaine.oztix.com.au.
Mark Kearney
Journalist. Traveller. Pop culture connoisseur. Mark is passionate about education, the arts and social justice, especially stories affecting the LGBTI community.
Journalist. Traveller. Pop culture connoisseur. Mark is passionate about education, the arts and social justice, especially stories affecting the LGBTI community.
