LGBTIQ
Council is working hard to promote inclusion for our Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer (LGBTIQ) communities.
The Inner West occupies a central place in Australia’s LGBTIQ history.
All three of the former councils that comprise Inner West (Ashfield, Leichhardt and Marrickville) endorse support for marriage equality and engage LGBTIQ communities in events and consultations such as the Feel the Love Mardi Gras Reception, Wear It Purple Day and an annual forum. Rainbow flags are raised every year to show support for diversity and the benefits it brings to the local community.
Inner West Council is made up of communities where there is a strong spirit of cooperation, trust and pride.
Feel The Love 2019
Each year Council recognises and celebrates the month of Mardi Gras through our fabulous Mardi Gras Reception in February, Feel the Love. Council also proudly opens the month of Mardi Gras by raising Rainbow Flags, street flags and banners throughout the Inner West local area. 2019 marked the seventh annual Feel the Love Reception and was organised in partnership with the Inner West Council LGBTIQ Working Group. Feel the Love 2019 was hosted by Barbra Blacksheep and themed Fierce, Fabulous, Free.
This year's event showcased the fierce and fabulous community members that are giving our community the freedom to be themselves.
Mardi Gras Official Flag Raising Ceremony
An official Rainbow Flag Raising ceremony was held to mark the start of the Mardi Gras celebrations at the Lackey Street Piazza at Summer Hill.
The Piazza is home to the Summer Hill Rainbow Crossing and was 'chalked in' by children, families and community members with messages of love and support.
The Rainbow flags were flown throughout the Mardi Gras celebrations from the Piazza and several civic buildings throughout the Inner West area.
Forums
Rainbow Roundtable 2017
Members of the LGBTIQ communities came together to discuss emerging issues and talk about local initiatives. This has provided an opportunity for the local LGBTIQ community to contribute their ideas and views into Council's decision making process.
The Rainbow Roundtable was hosted by Jordan Raskopoulos and covered issues such as:
- Bullying and Harassment
- Health and Mental Health
- Social Isolation
- Access to appropriate services/programs
Download a copy of the Rainbow Roundtable Community Consultation Report (PDF207.9KB)
Any enquiries to Josie Leeson on: 9392 5756 or josie.leeson@innerwest.nsw.gov.au.
LGBTIQ Library Collections
The Inner West Library service has developed significant collections of LGBTIQ items for our community, including fiction, non-fiction, DVD's and graphic novels. The collection is aimed at being inclusive with relevant adult non-fiction topics such as:
- raising gay children
- being Christian and gay
- coming out
- transgender teenagers
- history of gay and lesbian activism in Australia and the world
- HIV
- bullying
- gay and lesbian marriage guides
- gay and lesbian parenting guides
The resources are interfiled in the collections and can be identified with a rainbow flag sticker on the spine.
For the catalogue, visit the Inner West Council Library page.
Marriage Equality
Inner West Council flew rainbow flags and banners from its key buildings throughout the voting period for the same-sex marriage postal survey. The flags and banners confirmed a unified commitment and served as a reminder to residents to make sure they vote and signal Council's support for marriage equality.
Council's LGBTIQ Working Group had requested flags be flown to remind people of the importance of having their say on the issue and to support diversity in our local community.
All three of the former Councils that comprise the Inner West (Ashfield, Leichhardt and Marrickville) endorsed support for marriage equality.
Rainbow flags flew above key council buildings from 12 September - when enrolled voters started receiving their voting forms, until November 7 – when all forms were due back by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Visit www.equalitycampaign.org.au for more information on the marriage equality campaign.
Council Venues
The Inner West was the first council in Australia to offer our facilities for same sex marriages free of charge for 100 days, following the change in marriage laws. Congratulations to all who utilised this service and were joined in marriage.
If you would like information for your wedding venue, look no further!
Pride Seats
Seven Pride Seats have been installed in the Inner West. Each Pride Seat contains a unique plaque dedicated to an Inner West Person or organisation who has campaigned for or contributed to LGBTIQ rights over the years.
A list of the recipients and their locations are below.
Recipient Location of Pride Seat
Alexander 'Lex' Watson Marrickville Road, Marrickville
The Feminist Bookshop Orange Grove Plaza, Lilyfield
Roberta Perkins Australia Street, Newtown
Robyn Plaister Norton Street, Leichhardt
The Pollys Club Marrickvillle Road, Marrickville
Timothy J Bishop Lackey Street Piazza, Summer Hill
Peter Bonsall-Boone Darling Street, Rozelle
and Peter de Waal
Volunteers
If you're interested in joining the LGBTIQ Working Group to assist with future events and programs, please get in touch.
All enquiries to Josie Leeson on: 9392 5756 or Josie.leeson@innerwest.nsw.gov.au.
Resources
Multicultural Support Directory
This directory has been compiled to provide information for people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual and including all minority sexual and gender identities, as well as atypical biological sex (LGBTQIA+). This resource contains information related to religious groups, cultural groups and sporting groups that are specifically for LGBTQIA+ individuals, with the aim of providing assistance and social support in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Access your copy here: LGBTIQIA Multicultural Support Directory (PDF 737KB)