Ararat Rural City Council raises rainbow flag in support of IDAHOBIT

Last week, Ararat Rural City Council raised a rainbow flag to mark International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOBIT Day), a day of LGBTIQ+ inclusion.

This year’s IDAHOBIT marks 31 years since the World Health Organisation declassified homosexuality as a mental health disorder.

Cr Peter Beales spoke to attendees at the ceremony outside Council offices on Monday before proceeding with raising of the rainbow flag.

“The first time I remember experiencing discrimination was when my sister and I started working in the same bank, in the same position, and she only received 75% of my pay,” said Cr Beales.

“One of the harder moments was seeing a close friend while I was in the police force get sentenced to three months of imprisonment for being in a relationship with another man.

“Though attitudes have changed since I was a young man, discrimination still exists and it needs to be called out for what it is.

“Choosing to remain silent only entrenches acts of prejudice and that’s why Council looks forward to raising the flag on this day, as we’ve done for the past two years.

“We want to celebrate our diverse community and recognise the progress made, while acknowledging how far we have yet to go.

“We all play a part of the solution in creating a more inclusive community,” Cr Beales concluded.

IDHOBIT Day celebrations in Ararat were held in partnership with Grampians Pyrenees Primary Care Partnership, the ceremony was followed by refreshments at Ararat Town Hall. 

Ararat Rural City Council is a member of the Grampians LGBTIQA+ Network run by Grampians Pyrenees Primary Care Partnership (GPPCP). Contact Jo Ritchie on n 0417 512 480 for more information.