HIGHER HEALTH RISKS
Lesbians and bisexual women were recognised with higher health risk factors compared to heterosexual women in the National Women’s Health Policy 2010. Gender diverse and intersex people were also identified to have higher risk factors in a range of areas including mental health, experiences with violence and illicit drug use. The National LGBTI Health Alliance executive director Gabi Rosenstreich said the alliance provided the Australian government with ‘robust’ evidence from the LGBTI community. ‘We hope that the government will work with us to fill current gaps in research and ensure that all areas of the National Women’s Health Policy address the needs of all Australian women,’ she said.

GIVE ‘EM BALLS & ALL
Melbourne’s gay and lesbian soccer club, Melbourne Rovers are calling for men across the country to put their balls on the line at the Wellington Outgames 2011. The soccer tournament was announced last month and the Rovers are set on flying a team over for the international gay games. Five teams from New Zealand and Australia are expected to play at the seven-a-side tournament with separate tournaments for men and women. Rovers President Heath Wilson said it was a ‘fantastic opportunity’ to play in a gay-specific tournament, pegged as the first Asia Pacific tournament for gay players.

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MARDI GRAS MEETING
While the International Lesbian and Gay Association Conference will be held in Sao Paulo this year, Asian and Pacific represenatives will be holding a joint meeting in Sydney during Mardi Gras. ILGA Australia and New Zealand representative Simon Margan told Sydney Star Observer that Sydney was chosen to provide a safe place for regional members to meet. The ILGA 2010 Conference in Surabaya, Indonesia was shut down last year after protestors formed a blockade around the hotel, according to SSO. The 2011 conference will coincide with New Mardi Gras’ Queer Thinking event which will bring together the queer community’s best and brightest to discuss their work and ideas.

RIP RALPH McLEAN
Australia’s first openly gay person elected to public office passed away last month in Victoria. Ralph McLean died on December 25 at St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne. McLean was elected unopposed to the Fitzroy City Council in July, 1982 for Labor and became the mayor of Fitzroy in 1984. The community activist was a former executive director of the Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations and a strong advocate for rural health. McLean also chaired Melbourne’s community-focused Channel 31 for four years and helped set up the LGBT-specific programmer Bent TV. His most recent work was with Channel 31 as the director/producer for the arts program, YARTZ. His funeral was held on December 30 at La Mama Theatre.

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