In this article TimeOut’s Tim Hunter highlights some of Daniel Witthaus’ work, introduces NICHE and talks about tips for reducing homophobic bullying in schools.
www.au.timeout.com/melbourne/gay-lesbian/features/2417/daniel-witthaus-on-beyond-thats-so-gay
At the launch of NICHE, Daniel announced he wanted five regional, rural and/or remote Australian communities to apply for him to spend a week in their community helping them find better ways to challenge homophobia and support local LGBTI people. Daniel’s time for these five weeks will be free.
Daniel is happy to go to new places, or return to those places he visited during the original Beyond ‘That’s So Gay’ Tour.
All you need to do is answer the questions below and send it through to: niche@thatssogay.com.au. More information on the timing will be negotiated with individual communities.
* Who?
* Where?
* What is life like for LGBTI people your way?
* How could having Daniel Witthaus for a week make a difference where you live?
* What opportunities could be taken advantage of during the week? See www.thatssogay.com.au for ideas (e.g. ‘cuppas’ with locals, story collection, training, media, presentations, etc) Please list.
* What challenges might be faced to make this week a success?
* Is there the possibility to contribute funding for Daniel’s reasonable transport and accommodation for the week? (N.B. Daniel is based in Melbourne for 2013)
We look forward to hearing from you all.
In this article for ‘The Stirrer’ Daniel Witthaus discusses his launch of the National Institute for Challenging Homophobia Education (NICHE) and what it means for LGBTI people across regional, rural and remote Australia.
www.thestirrer.com.au/my-niche-agenda-daniel-witthaus/ (if this does not work, cut and paste the link into your browser)
Special attention is focused on what is really better these days, and what isn’t. Daniel argues we need a focus on turning LGBTI ‘friendliness’ into LGBTI ‘supportiveness’.
Daniel recently teamed up with The Alannah & Madeline Foundation (AMF) to deliver a full day’s professional development to a group of primary and secondary school teachers from Victoria’s Hepburn region.
Organised and delivered with funds donated by Daylesford’s annual Chill Out Festival, the national bullying organisation wanted to include Daniel’s experiences of working across the country in regional, rural and remote areas. Daniel offered a mix of research, stories and strategies to help teachers in their everyday classrooms and school communities.
Well done to AMF and great effort thanks to Chill Out.
Thursday 24th January saw Daniel ‘GoWest’ to the Williamstown Library to present with a panel of local people from the LGBTI communities in Melbourne’s west.
Daniel presented on his experiences of travelling around regional, rural and remote Australia to challenged homophobia one cuppa at a time, and used this as a context for local stories.
Around 50 local people enjoyed this Midsumma Festival event, with heart-warming, funny and powerful experiences from a range of characters.
www.midsumma.org.au/event/stories-from-out-west
On Sunday 20th January 2013, as part of the Midsumma Festival, Daniel Witthaus launched the National Institute for Challenging Homophobia Education (NICHE). In his speech Daniel explained that NICHE builds on his many years working in regional, rural and remote Australia. Those communities regularly said it was “about bloody time” that they are included in national conversations about how to create safer communities for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people.
With the atmospheric setting of Hares and Hyenas Bookshop and a crowd of around 110 people, Rodney Croome followed Daniel’s speech to officially launched the new initiative. He observed that Australia is ready for NICHE and a national conversation in ways it was not ready only 18 months ago. Rodney added that there was no-one better placed in Australia to build NICHE than Daniel.
Daniel outlined what NICHE could do in its first year, given limited resources. The projects announced included:
1. A competition for five regional, rural and remote Australian communities to apply for Daniel to spend a week in their community helping them find better ways to challenge homophobia and support local LGBTI people.
2. A call for local regional, rural and remote areas to map their own communities for their LGBTI Inclusiveness [to be officially launched in March 2013].
3. A library of LGBTI stories from regional, rural and remote communities to highlight the good, the bad and the ugly, and help us plan for the future.
4. The world’s first LGBTI TEDx event (to be confirmed, currently being considered).
5. A National Challenging Homophobia Roundtable of mainstream, philanthropic and LGBTI orgnaisations and individuals.
Stay tuned for more information, coming soon.
To register your interest, to offer your support or to find out more, e-mail:niche@thatssogay.com.au
Recently I wrote a two-part piece for The Stirrer around the idea of LGBT young people, victims and allies.
As I say in Part I, accusations of ‘playing the victim card’ are misplaced: “If young LGBT people in every nook and cranny of the country are victims, they certainly aren’t doing a good job of showing it.”
Read Part I here: Friends Of Dorothy – Not Victims But Allies
In Part II, I point out that there are lots of LGBT and LGBT allies in such mainstream organisations, and we need to find them, link them together, and work with them. I explain how important allies have been to me in my career as a challenging homophobia educator.
Read Part II here: Friends of Dorothy – The Power Of One
On Saturday 24th November 2012, Daniel joined Saturday Magazine’s Macca and 3AW’s Neil Mitchell at the JOY94.9FM.
Find out more here: saturdaymagazine.wordpress.com/2012/11/19/neil-mitchell-joins-the-show/
You can download the podcast here: SatMag Podcasts
Hear Daniel Witthaus discuss his book, Beyond ‘That’s So Gay’: Challenging homophobia in Australian schools by clicking here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhq_-I1EelY
