Wednesday, 29 November 2023

 Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for Housing, Minister for Water, Minister for Equality) (12:16): I rise today in my capacity as Minister for Equality, and at the outset I am enormously proud of the strength and the perseverance and the unbreakable spirit that LGBTIQA+ Victorians have shown time and time again, in particular this year. I was delighted yesterday to contribute to yesterday’s Midsumma Festival 2024 program launch and to recognise Victoria’s LGBTIQA+ communities, whose passion, talent, creativity and inclusion will breathe even more life into this celebration of love and equality that has been going strong since 1988.

Pride events such as Midsumma play a really vital role in fostering inclusion and cohesion and also in dispelling much of the ignorance and the disinformation that fuels discrimination, stigma and violence against members of our LGBTIQA+ communities. The Allan Labor government proudly supports Midsumma with a $6.8 million commitment to deliver the statewide LGBTIQA+ celebrations grants round, Victoria’s Pride, over four years.

For more information on Midsumma’s exciting program of events for next year, please do hop online and visit midsumma.org.au. Please enjoy every moment of the festivities. And if you are an ally, get amongst it, get involved and participate. Be part of a program of events, celebrations and opportunities to have and continue conversations that are bedded in the notions of respect, dignity, safety and inclusion.

I am also exceptionally grateful to Transgender Victoria for their tireless work and remarkable dedication in realising Australia’s first dedicated community hub for trans and gender-diverse communities, the Affirmation Station in Brunswick. Congratulations to everybody involved in making this a reality.