Gavin Roach, award-winning playwright, performed his internationally-acclaimed one-man show, Confessions of a Grindr Addict, at GasWorks Arts Park to raise funds for the National Institute for Challenging Homophobia Education (NICHE: www.niche.org.au ).
Having spent time in regional NSW, Gavin knows only too well the challenges for young people growing up in regional, rural and remote Australia. All in all over $1000 was raised towards rural LGBTI work.
Thanks and congratulations to Gavin.
Spending time with one of his favourite local government areas in Australia, Daniel presented to educators, health professionals and homophobia-curious others about his upcoming half-day workshop on supporting LGBTI young people in the west.
The conversation from local workers was spirited to say the least.
Daniel brought May to a close with a chat with the team from JOY94.9FM’s ‘In The Spotlight’. Daniel shared his thoughts on how outer metro areas mimicked the experiences of regional and rural communities, and how LGBTI people tell him there’s two different kinds of metro.
For more about the program, click here: InTheSpotlight
In and amongst many presentations for the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), Daniel took time to do a whole of staff presentation for Bentleigh Bayside Community Health.
Around 40 staff heard about the latest research about LGBTI people’s experience of mainstream health services, the three critical points of a client’s care journey* and practical strategies for supporting LGBTI people and challenging homophobia and transphobia.
* developed by the National Institute for Challenging Homophobia Education (NICHE)…
Across May and June 2015, Melbourne Grammar thought deeply about school-based homophobia.
Daniel Witthaus, author of Beyond ‘That’s So Gay!’ and Beyond Priscilla, Founder and CEO of the National Institute for Challenging Homophobia Education (NICHE), delivered twelve workshops in twelve school days to hundreds of students. The workshop schedule meant that every student in Years 9, 10, 11 and 12 undertook the workshop.
Students were given the opportunity to reflect on the experiences of same-sex attracted and gender diverse students, consider how they’d respond if one of their friends ‘came out’ and workshop ways they could challenge everyday homophobia and transphobia.
Funded by parents involved with Friends of Grammar (FOG), the workshops followed up a similar series of workshops held four years ago in 2011, in conjunction with staff professional development sessions.
Daniel Witthaus, Founder and CEO of the National Institute for Challenging Homophobia Education (NICHE), was amused to find he incensed core members of anti-LGBTI Saltshakers, spreaders of the word of hate and exclusion. In an online rant about the promotion of May 17th, International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), they included the following:
“click here to see homosexual Daniel Witthaus’ speaking agenda in Melbourne in 2014!”
If that upset them, I’m sure they would have coughed up hairballs reading about Daniel’s 2015 speaking agenda!
As Daniel’s high school motto says: Onwards & Upwards.
Organised and lead by LGBTI students at the schools, Daniel presented an extended LGBTI session to students at both Collingwood College and Fitzroy High, ranging from Year 8s through to senior students. Partly to celebrate the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) the sessions were also designed to increase awareness about the school-based PRIDE clubs that students had recently set up.
Congratulations to all the students involved.
To mark the the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), Westpac held an event for staff and community in Melbourne. Westpac Group is currently ranked No. 2 corporate and No.1 bank for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) employee inclusion by the Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) Awards
Daniel joined a panel that included Sally Goldner, from Transgender Victoria and Bi-Alliance Victoria. The panel was asked a range of questions from across the LGBTI spectrum and beyond, with a focus on mental health and support for those who hadn’t won the genetic and social lottery.
Over lunch and MANY rainbow cupcakes, Daniel joined Melton City Council staff for their International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) luncheon.
Daniel talked about his experiences in travelling across the country, Beyond Priscilla and the work that the National Institute for Challenging Homophobia Education’s (NICHE) had been undertaking in recent months.
It was standing room only when Daniel presented to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) staff on May 17th, the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT).
PWC is currently ranked No. 1 corporate for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) employee inclusion by the Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) Awards
Daniel talked about the work that the National Institute for Challenging Homophobia Education’s (NICHE) had been undertaking in recent months and what opportunities lie ahead for regional, rural and remote Australia.