Local

Glam Night of Nights

Perth’s LGBT community gathered at Novotel Langley’s Riverside Ballroom on Saturday, August 28 to celebrate the second annual Pride Ball and Glammy awards.

The MASKerade theme encouraged some fantastic costumes, with Kitty Hawkins of Gay and Lesbian Equality (WA) taking home the prize for best mask. (more…)

Thousands Rally for Marriage Equality

‘Vote with your genitals’ was the flamboyant message from Perth icon Patti Chong heard by over 1,000 people at the Equal Love marriage equality rally on August 14 at Forest Place.

Chong, a high-profile lawyer in Perth announced this mandate during the rally, met by a cry of laughter and support from the crowd of homosexual, heterosexual and transgender people present. (more…)

In the lead-up to Pride, the Freedom Centre will change some of their key monthly events to prepare for an exhibition expected in late October. The monthly Guyspace and Girlspace nights have gone to make way for the CREATE evenings in September to generate pieces for the exhibition. The centre is calling out for anyone under 26 with an artistic flair to contribute. Dani Wright from the Freedom Centre encouraged anyone to head on down on either of the two CREATE Thursday evenings. The Freedom Centre will be changing up its events again in October with a monthly skills-share evening planned and an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-specific event in conjunction with YouthLink. (more…)

Family First Candidate Calls Homosexuals ‘Diseased’

11 August

A Family First candidate in Western Australia has angered the gay community, having said the minority were a ‘diseased group’.

Family First candidate for Hasluck Jim McCourt expressed his views at a community forum held at Woodlupine Family Centre on August 9 for residents to meet their potential representative members. (more…)

Aged Care Facilities Urged to Adopt GLBTI Guidelines

Community members and professionals gathered on July 12 for the launch of a groundbreaking report by the GLBTI Retirement Association Inc (GRAI).

The report titled We Don’t Have Any Of Those People Here: Retirement Accommodation & Aged Care Issues for Non-Heterosexual Populations is the result of many years planning and recent industry surveys. (more…)

Subscribe to Keep it Alive

RTR 92.1FM’s Radiothon has returned this August with more prizes, parties and special broadcasts to rustle up some much needed subscribers and funds.

The Radiothon is the station’s annual subscription drive, a vital event necessary to the everyday running of the station and this year the theme, ‘Its Your Shout’ highlights the importance of listeners giving back.

RTR General Manager Graeme Watson said that without subscribers, there was no budget and no radio station. (more…)

Youth Focus for Pride

Despite a modest turnout, Pride’s first Youth QU Forum yielded some new and innovative ideas targeting the under-26 demographic.

Meeting at the Freedom Centre early last month, a cross-section of sexual orientations and gender-diversity ensued for strong debate.

On the night, Pride Youth representative Paul van Lieshout said youth had largely been ignored.
Currently the Freedom Centre held the majority of LGBT events for young adults in Perth, such as the weekend-long Freedom Centre Retreat held on July 9. (more…)

Local News Briefs - August

Recognising LGBT Leaders
Pride WA’s Glammy Awards have returned this year to recognise outstanding contributions from the community at this year’s MASKerade Ball. Nominations opened last month, providing an opportunity to acknowledge people, organisations and businesses in Western Australia. Masks are mandatory for this year’s MASKerade Ball as Channel 10’s Narelda Jacobs takes the reigns as the master of ceremonies. The Hit Factory will be playing live for the event, to be held in the Ballroom of the Novotel Langley Hotel on Saturday August 28 with tickets on sale via prideball@pridewa.asn.au. Glammy nomination forms are also available on the Pride WA website www.pridewa.asn.au. (more…)

Know Your Rights and Wear them With Pride

What do the Family Law Act; Fair Work Act and the Immigration Act have to do with the LGBT community?

Much more now that the Federal Government amended 85 laws in 2008 to close the gap on legal discrepancies like family, finances and freedoms for LGBT people.

While law reform may not be everybody’s cup of tea, the Wear It With Pride (WIWP) campaign spells big news for the community. (more…)

Lesbians Head South for the Winter

Ladies, it’s time to dust off those cowgirl boots, the annual Hoe-Down is on from Friday, July 20 and it’s still girls-only.

Taunton Farm in Cowaramup is the host for the weekend long event; only the second year at the new venue.

Now eight years running, event organiser Nickie Sheldrick aka Knickers the Hoe-Down Hunny said 2010 was going to be the biggest turn-out yet. (more…)