LGBTIQ Action Plan
2015-17
Contents
Mayor’s message
Introduction
Part A: Action Plan
Theme 1: Fostering respect and celebrating diversity
Theme 2: Promoting participation
Theme 3: Creating accessible places and spaces
Theme 4: Leadership and representation
Part B: Context
Consultation
Policy Context
Best-practice research
Glossary
Fighting discrimination
Acknowledgments
Mayor’s message
It is with great pleasure that I introduce Council’s first LGBTIQ Action Plan. This action plan aims to improve access and equity, and importantly acknowledge and celebrate our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) community members.
The Moonee Valley community is vibrant and diverse and Council strives to ensure everyone has an opportunity to participate in community life, regardless of their age, cultural and linguistic background, faith, ability, gender identity and sexual orientation.
We believe that no one should face violence or discrimination because of who they are or whom they love. We commit ourselves to creating a safe, secure and inclusive community in which all LGBTIQ people can live their lives free from any form of homophobic, biphobic, intersexism or transphobic discrimination. We ask community members to stand up against prejudice, discrimination and work towards eliminating it where it exists.
In 2014, Council adopted the Diversity, Access and Equity Policy with the goal to support an inclusive city that respects the human rights of all citizens and promotes participation in community life. This LGBTIQ Action Plan will help implement our commitments included in the Diversity, Access and Equity Policy.
The success of the LGBTIQ Action Plan will be measured by the ability of Council to engage with our community to improve access and equity for all. There will be annual reviews of the document to ensure we are on track, with a further review and update in two years’ time.
This LGBTIQ Action Plan 2015-17 has been guided by community consultation, research and reflection on the current broader political climate affecting the LGBTIQ community. I would like to extend my appreciation to everyone who has contributed to the development of this plan, in particular to our LGBTIQ Working Group including Deputy Mayor Cr Cam Nation, who shared their time, energy, ideas and experiences. I commend this well thought out, and balanced action plan to our Moonee Valley community.
Cr Narelle Sharpe
Moonee Valley Mayor
The rainbow flag
The rainbow flag (also known as the gay pride flag or LGBTIQ pride flag) is used as a symbol of pride and LGBTIQ rights around the world.
It was designed by Gilbert Baker in 1978 in San Francisco. Originally it had eight coloured stripes, but now uses 6 colours. Each colour has a meaning: red – life, orange – healing, yellow – sunlight, green – nature, blue – serenity/harmony, violet – spirit.
Introduction
The LGBTIQAction Plan outlines actions to improve access and equity for Moonee Valley’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer(LGBTIQ) community members.
Moonee Valley City Council is committed to respecting the human rights of all our citizens.
Through Council’s Diversity, Access and Equity Policy, Council has adopted a human rights approach to promote inclusion, access and equity across Council services and activities.
Goal: support an inclusive city that respects the human rights of all its citizens, celebrates their diversity and promotes their participation in all aspects of community life.
Purpose
The LGBTIQAction Planaims to improve access and equity for Moonee Valley’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer community members.
The actions are based on the four themes of Council’s Diversity, Access and Equity Policy:
- Foster respect and celebrate diversity
- Promote participation
- Create accessible places and spaces
- Build on Council’s leadership and representation role.
These actions were developed based on research on the key issues and opportunities for our LGBTIQ community including key findings from background research and consultation with our community.
Timeline
This action plan outlines activities that will be implemented across two years. A review of the action plan will be undertaken following the first year of implementation and a final review at the end of the two years after which the action plan will be updated.
1
Part A: Action Plan
This table details the actions, target audience, timing of implementation and responsibility only.
“”indicates that the actions will continue beyond Year 1.
Theme 1: Fostering respect and celebrating diversity
Focus area / Outcomes / Action / Target audience / Timing of implementation / ResponsibilityPublic displays and recognition / LGBTIQ community acknowledged
Visibility of LGBTIQ people increased
Greater community awareness of our LGBTIQ community members / Display Rainbow Flags at Council’s three main junctions, the Civic Centre and the Depot to celebrate the annual Midsumma Festival and recognise International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia (17 May). / General community
LGBTIQ people, families and allies / Year 1 / Community Planning and Development
Explore opportunities to use the arts to show support and celebrate the LGBTIQ community and to engage the broader community. / Year 1 / Arts and Culture; Community Planning and Development
Develop an image library of diverse representations of LGBTIQ people for inclusion in Council publications and communication channels to acknowledge the diversity of our community. / Year 1 / Communications
Promote the ‘Rainbow Stories in the Valley’ project documenting the personal stories of LGBTIQ people in Moonee Valley and display the storyboards at Council libraries, Clocktower Gallery and other locations. / Year 1 / Community Planning and Development
Display the Rainbow Families posters and promote Rainbow families resources at Council’s venues such as Family and Children’s facilities including Maternal and Child Health Centres, Kindergartens and Childcare centres; libraries and appropriate Aged and Disability managed venues. / Year 1 / Family and Children’s Services; Aged & Disability; Library & Learning
Celebrations and events / LGBTIQ community members celebrated and acknowledged
Visibility of LGBTIQ people increased
LGBTIQ people part of broader Council activities / Recognise International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia (17 May) through activities and/or an event. / General community
LGBTIQ people, families and allies / Year 1 / Community Planning and Development
Recognise days that mark the various communities within the queer community (for example: 31 March – International Transgender Day of Visibility; 23 September - Celebrate Bisexuality Day; 26 October - Intersex Awareness Day; 8 November – Intersex Day of Remembrance; 20 November - Transgender Day of Remembrance) through Council’s social media channels. / Year 1 / Community Planning and Development
Undertake activities as part of annual the Midsumma Festival including local and joint projects with other councils and/or organisations. / Year 1 / Community Planning and Development; Arts and Culture
Develop a communications campaign to encourage staff, Councillors, external partners and the community to take part in Melbourne’s Pride March. / Year 1 / Community Planning and Development
Raising awareness / Greater community awareness of our LGBTIQ community members, issues and ways to promote participation and redress discrimination
Greater inclusion of all community members across a range of activities and programs
Greater awareness by young people of bullying and its impacts
Reduced instances of bullying and discrimination / Advocate through key networks and advisory committees for activities to be inclusive and embed LGBTIQ-inclusive practice in programs and initiatives, including the Learning Board, Neighbourhood Houses, youth activities, seniors’ groups and sports’ groups. / General community
LGBTIQ people, families and allies / Year 1 / Community Planning and Development; Leisure and Open Space; Aged & Disability
As part of Count Me In (a partnership with cohealth), raise awareness of bullying and discrimination in primary schools and the impact this has on young people. / Young people (primary school)
LGBTIQ people, families and allies / Year 1 / Community Planning and Development
Inclusive practice / Inclusive language used by Council staff in publications and material
Sports clubs promote inclusion and redress discrimination in sport / Develop a resource to guide staff in the use of inclusive language on forms and surveys and Council-wide communications material, including translation and interpreter services and ensuring material is presented in a culturally sensitive and inclusive way. / Council / Year 1 / Community Planning and Development; Communications
Include information about LGBTIQ-inclusive sport practices in the biennial Moonee Valley Sports Summit. / General community
LGBTIQ people, families and allies / Year 1 / Leisure and Open Space
Make information available about inclusive sports practice at Club Workshops to encourage sports clubs in Moonee Valley to embed inclusion in sport. / Year 1 / Leisure and Open Space
Review Council’s Sports Club User Guide to ensure it reflects inclusion of diverse community members. / Year 1 / Leisure and Open Space; Community Planning and Development
Theme 2: Promoting participation
Focus area / Outcomes / Potential actions / Target audience / Timing of implementation / ResponsibilityGreater support for groups, increased opportunities and places for people to meet / LGBTIQ people supported and part of community / Establish and facilitate a LGBTIQ youth group in Moonee Valley for young people to participate in planning and delivery of Council and/or community initiatives. / Young people / Year 1 / Community Planning and Development
Through the grants program seek to support LGBTIQ community, programs or services. / LGBTIQ people, families and allies / Year 2 / Community Planning and Development
Provide appropriate and responsive services / Services responsive and appropriate to the needs to LGBTIQ people
Increased capacity of staff to work with and respond to LGBTIQ people
Increased awareness and access to LGBTIQ-specific services in Moonee Valley and Melbourne / Develop a program of training and education forums to build capacity of staff and services to be LGBTIQ inclusive. / Council / Year 2 / Community Planning and Development; Human Resources
Develop and publish on Council’s website (and provide hard copy in libraries and hubs) a list of resources and LGBTIQ-specific services. / LGBTIQ people and families / Year 1 / Community Planning and Development
Deliver the pilot project: Living Safer Sexual Lives: Respectful Relationships in the West, a partnership with western region councils and cohealth and investigate opportunities to continue the project. / LGBTIQ people with a disability / Year 1 / Aged and Disability
Education / Increased uptake of Safe Schools Coalition initiative and programs
Increased opportunities for the community to access diverse stories about LGBTIQ people and families / Promote the safe schools coalition initiative to secondary schools in Moonee Valley and promote activities as part of this initiative. / Young people (12-18 years) / Year 1 / Community Planning and Development
Continue to acquire a library collection that reflects our diverse community, including LGBTIQ culture (for example, children’s books that celebrate Rainbow families). / General community
LGBTIQ people, families and allies
Young people / Year 1 / Library and Learning
Theme 3: Creating accessible places and spaces
Focus area / Outcomes / Potential actions / Target audience / Timing of implementation / ResponsibilityPublic realm art displays / Increased visibility of LGBTIQ people
LGBTIQ people and culture celebrated / Identify opportunities for public realm art displays to recognise and celebrate LGBTIQ diversity in Moonee Valley. / General community
Artists
LGBTIQ people, families and allies / Year 1 / Arts and Culture; Leisure and Open Space; Community Planning and Development
Accessible libraries / Libraries accessible to all community members / Continue to ensure Moonee Valley’s libraries are accessible to all community members and that this accessibility reflects the diversity of our LGBTIQ community. / General community
LGBTIQ people, families and allies / Year 1 / Library and Learning
Community infrastructure / Accessible and appropriate facilities considered in new or upgraded facilities / Explore feasibility of project briefs andfacilitystandards to consider design approaches and provision of gender neutral spaces and facilities (e.g. provision of unisex toilets in additionto male and female toilets) when planning for new or upgraded infrastructure. / General community / Year 2 / Community Planning and Development
Theme 4: Leadership and representation
Focus area / Outcomes / Potential actions / Target audience / Timing of implementation / ResponsibilityWorkplace culture that supports LGBTIQ people / Moonee Valley City Council culture embraces and supports diversity in the workplace / Apply the ‘Rainbow tick’ six standards[1] across Council’s services to embed LGBTI inclusive practice and service delivery. / Council / Year 2 / Community Planning and Development
Investigate opportunities for a workplace culture survey to record baseline data about attitudes and inclusivity at Moonee Valley City Council. / Year 2 / Human Resources
Advocacy / Council’s position on marriage equality established and promoted / Develop a position statement on marriage equality and promote this to our community. / General community / Year 2 / Community Planning and Development
Decision-making / Council decisions are informed by diverse community views
Council initiatives are community-led / Support a LGBTIQ working group to help guide the implementation and monitoring of the action plan as well as activities and events. / LGBTIQ people, families and allies
Council / Year 1 / Community Planning and Development
Update Council’s Community Consultation Framework to include guidance on consulting with the Moonee Valley LGBTIQ community. / Council / Year 1 / Community Planning and Development
Partnerships / Council established and maintained partnerships and collaborated on key initiatives / Establish and maintain links with other organisations in Moonee Valley to recognise and celebrate LGBTIQ people, including with people with a disability. / LGBTIQ people, families and allies
Council / Year 1 / Community Planning and Development; Aged and Disability
Join and be active members of working groups and networks including the Western Region GLBTIQ working group and Q West and Minus18. / Year 1 / Community Planning and Development
Through the Action for Equity partnership led by Women’s Health West, collaborate on programs and initiatives that promote sexual health and healthy relationships. / Year 1 / Community Planning and Development
Reporting/Monitoring
An annual review and report will be developed with the action plan updated following review findings. Following the two year implementation process, the action plan will be updated.
1
Part B: Context
The Moonee Valley community place a high value on diversity. This is strongly reflected in the themes of the community vision, Moonee Valley Next Generation 2035 (MV2035), which includes the aspiration that Moonee Valley is friendly and safe, and vibrant and diverse.
The diversity of the Moonee Valley community includes Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer (LGBTIQ) people. It is difficult to know the exact numbers of the Moonee Valley LGBTIQ population. An estimate of this population is 10 per cent[2].
Of the available data, 9per centof adult men and 15per centof women in Australia report same-sex attraction, or having had sexual contact with someone of the same sex, although only approximately 2per centactually identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual[3]. The 2011 Census also included a question about same-sex relationships. However, this data is not fully reflective of the LGBTIQ community as information is volunteered and it only asks information about same-sex couples (male same-sex couple or female same-sex couple), when the person is classified as a partner in a de facto marriage. In Moonee Valley in the 2011 Census, 101 male same sex couples and 79 female same sex couples were recorded. No data is available on sexuality or transgender status.
There is an increasing acceptance of LGBTIQ people in Australian society and greater visibility in the media and public life;despite this,LGBTIQ people are more likely than the general population to experience harassment and prejudice motivated abuse and violence in their daily lives. Discrimination can directly contribute to poor health outcomes, especially in terms of mental health, for some LGBTIQ people. For example LGBTIQ people are at least two to three times more likely to experience depression and anxiety than the broader community[4].LGBTIQ people are also “at greater risk of suicide and self-harm”[5].
When we asked the community for the top three challenges for LGBTIQ people in Moonee Valley, the most common responses were:
- Discrimination
- lack of acceptance
- abuse and bullying.
Respondents also commonly identified that services need to be appropriate and responsive. This included health services and aged care services.
LGBTIQ communities are not a homogenous group and there can be additional issues for some LGBTIQ people. For example, LGBTIQ people from some ethnic groups or diverse backgrounds can face additional difficulties ‘coming out’ including being ostracised by their ethnic community of origin.
Older LGBTIQ people have lived through discrimination and research suggests that they are least likely to access mainstream services due to fear of discrimination.
In 2010-11, the Australian Human Rights Commission undertook consultation “to canvas the experiences and views of people who may have been discriminated against on the basis of their sexual orientation or sex and/or gender identity”. Key issues identified the:
- “importance of using appropriate, inclusive and empowering terminology
- benefits of having consistent and uniform laws across Australia
- benefits of having federal discrimination laws that would bind Commonwealth agencies
- importance of including gender identity and gender expression as protected grounds of discrimination
- need for government action in other areas such as health care, education, marriage equality, as well as reform of the requirements for changing a person’s legal sex”[6].
Consultation
Council has undertaken a series of consultation activities to better understand issues, priorities and opportunities to improve access and equity for our LGBTIQ community members.