PURPLE BOMBERS LAUNCH: AFL & THE LGBTI COMMUNITY

Daniel Wiithaus joined an excited throng of over 150 LGBTI and AFL folk at Herbert Smith Freehills to hear from Essendon player Brendon Goddard and Essendon’s CEO, Xavier Campbell to celebrate the birth of the second LGBTI inclusive fan club within AFL footy.

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Driven from the start by Purple Bombers President, Jason Tuazon-McCheyne, those gathered heard about his love of the Essendon Football Club, his experiences of homophobia and his vision of the AFL eventually becoming the national game for all people, equally.

Daniel was interviewed by JOY94.9FM’s Dean Beck about the importance of groups like the Purple Bombers, as part of Dean’s broader look at the event: DeanBeckJOY94.9FM
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Daniel from 26m28s – 34m06s)

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To find out more about the launch and the Purple Bombers, click here: PurpleBombers

ONE STEP CLOSER TO CHARITY STATUS

For over 6 months, Daniel has been working with King & Wood Mallesons, who are doing great pro bono work to achieve charity status for the National Institute for Challenging Homophobia Education (NICHE).

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Signing these documents forms the second application process.

Cross your fingers.

SACREDEDGE FESTIVAL LAUNCH & INTERNATIONAL MARRIAGE EQUALITY

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Ahead of May’s SacredEdge Festival in Queenscliff, the organisers held a media launch, attended by around 50 locals and media. Daniel Witthaus, author of Beyond ‘That’s So Gay’ and Beyond Priscilla, Founder and CEO of the National Institute for Challenging Homophobia Education (NICHE), gave a glimpse of what he’d be presenting during the weekend festival and met parishioners from Queenscliff’s Uniting Church.

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Hear Daniel talk about: “it’s about bloody time”, faith communities & LGBTI young people, my secret strategies for engagement, homophobia as the “death of 1000 cuts”, my definition of community and the hopes of LGBTI young people across Australia (bit dark, and shaky at first, but you’ll get the drift).

Daniel’s Speech: SacredEdge Media Launch

 

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During his time in Queenscliff, Daniel spent time talking with international marriage equality advocate, Tracy Hollister.  Tracy has spent many years sacrificing her everyday life to fight for marriage equality across the United States and to travel the world documenting the everyday LGBTI stories behind social change.

To get involved with Tracy’s CrowdFunding Campaign to document moves internationally around Marriage Equality, click here: Tracy’s Campaign

YOUTH WORKER ASSOCIATION: INNOVATION PANEL

Late March saw Daniel joined a panel of speakers at the Youth Worker Association’s professional development day on ‘Innovation’ at the Treacy Centre, Parkville.

Daniel spoke about his work in regional, rural and remote Australia with the National Institute for Challenging Homophobia Education (NICHE) and community-based innovation.

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BEYOND ‘THAT’S SO GAY!’: CAREY GRAMMAR

Every Year 9 student at Melbourne’s Carey Grammar participated in a Beyond ‘That’s So Gay!’ (double) session, led by Daniel. Due to scheduling, one half of the Year 9s started in the school theatre and ended in an expanded classroom, whilst the other half started in the school chapel before ending in an expanded classroom.

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The Student Q&A was a highlight, going over time both times the session was delivered.

‘OUT IS IN’ FORUM: LGBTI COMMUNITIES & LOCAL GOVT IN THE WEST

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Over 110 people from the six local government areas in Melbourne’s west gathered at The Substation to talk about how life had changed for them in recent years, what was still missing for them and what their hopes for the future were.

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Daniel Witthaus, Founder and CEO of the National Institute for Challenging Homophobia Education (NICHE), facilitated the conversation, whilst Kaye Sera entertained the crowds and Kenton Penley Miller captured it all with cartoons.  NICHE has been commissioned to deliver a report on this forum, due in the second half of 2015.

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