PRATT NAMED IN TOP 25
WA Labor Senator Louise Pratt has been voted one of the 25 Most Influential Gay and Lesbian Australians of 2009 on GLBT website SameSame. Named among high profile identities such as Olympic diver Matthew Mitcham and MTV’s Ruby Rose, Pratt said it was an honour to be recognised. Pratt was the youngest woman ever elected to the Legislative Council, the second openly lesbian woman to be elected to Parliament and the first to have a transgender partner. Pratt told SameSame that she spoke out on a great many political issues not just those that affected her personally. ‘On the other hand, I do recognise that it is important to be publicly visible, as I recall how important it has been to me to have out role models,’ she said.
YOUTH SLEEPOVER
The Freedom Centre will be holding their quarterly Sleepover Retreat at their new Brisbane Street premises on January 23-24. While the retreats have been held elsewhere in the past, the new Freedom Centre space is much larger than the previous one, allowing more scope for the activities offered on the premises. Thanks to the donation of an oven and a much more accessible kitchen, the sleepover will include a cooking workshop and young people will have the opportunity to contribute to painting a mural for the new space. For more information on Freedom Centre and their coming events go to: www.freedom.org.au
ROCKY HORROR FOR A CAUSE
Take a jump to the left… then a step to the right, and help raise much-needed funds for homeless young people. Perth Inner City Youth Service (PICYS) is joining forces with Movies by Burswood to present a special midnight screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, with proceeds going toward PICYS support and accommodation services. PICYS works primarily with ‘hard to reach’ young people other youth services can not manage, such as those with substance abuse problems, criminal backgrounds and diverse sexuality and gender. The film is showing in the Burswood Parklands on Friday, February 19. Doors open at 11pm. Tickets available at www.moviesbyburswood.com
COASTAL WANDERING
Perth’s gay men’s bushwalking group, WA Wanderers will be taking two costal-themed walks as their next events. On Sunday, January 17 the group will be taking an 8km route through Port Kennedy Costal Park ending with a swim on the beach. The walk will take approximately 4 hours and participants for both walks are reminded to bring plenty of water, food and closed walking shoes. On February 21 the group are planning a 12km walk through coastal bushland from Marmion to Scarborough Beach to be followed by a BBQ lunch. Participants are asked to meet at the Dome Café in Leederville and travel to the start location together or alternative plans may be made by contacting 0415 249 265 or http://wawanderers.bravehost.com/
***
