Find out what the birds-eye view of regional, rural and remote Australia is from the perspective of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, as well as those who support them.

For The Head: LGBT Summary: For The Head
(An LGBT Support Black Hole; LGBT Support Snapshot; LGBT Support Worker Snapshot)

For The Heart: LGBT Summary: For The Heart
(LGBT (Sydney) Utopia; Starting Out – Geelong; New Work – Indigenous and Trans)

For The Hand: LGBT Summary: For The Hand
(Mainstream Leveraging; Talk, Share, Change: Cuppa and Cake; LGBT Young People Snapshot)

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Recently at the 2nd CoastOut Festival in Coffs Harbour, Daniel added his support to ACON’s thisisoz campaign.  As the website says: “This Is Oz is an online photo gallery where you can help spread the word about GLBT rights by uploading an image of yourself with your message and encouraging friends and family to do the same.”

www.thisisoz.com.au

On October 31st 2011, Daniel joined AME and everyday marriage equality advocates for a dinner at Parliament House with the key Independents (i.e. Rob Oakeshott, Tony Windsor and Andrew Wilkie).  Happy Halloween!

Daniel with Rob, Tony and Andrew

Independent’s Dinner attendees

One example of the coverage can be seen here:
gaynewsnetwork.com.au/news/national/2541-independents-agree-gays-right-to-marriage.html

For more information, go to: www.australianmarriageequality.com

Late October saw Daniel travel to Coffs Harbour, NSW for the first time in 3o years to speak at the Coast Out Festival’s Gender & Sexuality Conference.  Held at, and in partnership with, Southern Cross University, the conference was hailed as a success by both organisers and those that attended.  Daniel spoke about his tour, his findings and the implications for regional, rural and remote Australia.

Daniel then enjoyed being a guest of the 2nd Coast Out Festival.  For more information on a fun-filled weekend, see:
www.coastout.com.au/

On Thursday 20th and Friday 21st October,  a committed group of teachers and health professionals undertook and completed the two-day Pride & Prejudice Facilitator Training.  Hosted by Hobsons Bay Youth Services, educators and workers from across three local government areas came together to stop talking about challenging homophobia and to get moving.

Not only did participants receive frameworks, strategies and action plans for challenging homophobia, making schools safer and supporting young people better, they also got all the resources they could possibly need: Pride & Prejudice, Beyond ‘That’s So Gay’ and bound Summary Series from the tour.

One participant described feeling “energised” at the end, whilst another said in Beyond ‘That’s So Gay’ she had found “the Bible” on challenging homophobia in Australia schools.

If you are interested in organising a similar training for your region, see the Pride & Prejudice and Schools sections of this website, or e-mail: daniel@thatssogay.com.au

Newly trained teachers/health professionals

The resources

SUMMARY SERIES, PART THREE: MAINSTREAM RESISTANCE (AUGUST 2011)

Find out what the birds-eye view of regional, rural and remote Australia is from the perspective of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, as well as those who support them.

For The Head: Mainstream Summary: For The Head
(Everyday Mainstream LGBT Resistance: “not on the radar”; Mainstream Exceptions)

For The Heart: Mainstream Summary: For The Heart
(Steve’s, story; ‘Whatever’ and everyday mainstreaming; Michael and Mary’s story)

For The Hand: Mainstream Summary: For The Hand
(The Faces of Homophobia; Hopping On The Homophobic Scales; Is Your Workplace “Ready”?)

If you happen to be in Berlin on Thursday 25th August, why not drop by and see Daniel present on his Beyond ‘That’s So Gay’ Tour?  Find out more here: QueerFormat Presentation Flyer

Daniel joined a range of young people and educators on Channel Ten’s The 7pm Project to discuss ‘Coming Out In School’ (July 2011).

See Daniel twice during this 3 minute clip.

1. Go to: 7pmproject.com.au
2. Click on ‘Video’
3. Click on ‘Features’
4. Click on ‘The 7pm Project, Wednesday 06 Jul’

Daniel joined a range of young people, parents and educators on SBS’ Insight Program to discuss ‘Being Gay In School’ (June 2011).

See Daniel at 32 minutes, 25 seconds talking about the dangers in ‘Waiting For Disclosure’ and at 43 minutes, 05 seconds discussing the misinformation about his work in schools.

Watch here on YouTube: SBS Insight: Gay In School

For the International Day Against Homophobia (May 17th, IDAHO), Daniel Witthaus co-keynoted a conference for the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Department of Education with Dr Lynne Hillier.  The event was attended by Deputy Commissioner and Education Minister, the Hon. Andrew Barr.

Over 160 students and teachers combined to see what they could be done to affirm sexual diversity and challenge homophobia in their schools.  Students and teachers reported they found Daniel’s two and a half hour presentation fun, informative and very, very practical.

Hopes are high that Pride & Prejudice can be incorporated into ACT curriculum over time to reduce the impact of homo-aggressive behaviour and its subsequent impact.