Sept 29 2009 - DEVELOPING A COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND AWARENESS STRATEGY TO REDUCE HOMOPHOBIC HARASSMENT IN VICTORIA

The {also} Foundation with partners TGV (TransGender Victoria), VGLRL (Victorian Gay & Lesbian Rights Lobby) and AVP (Anti Violence Project) are pleased to announce the commencement of the first stage of;

“Developing a community education and awareness strategy to reduce homophobic harassment in Victoria”.

Funded by the Department of Justice, the initial stage of the project aims to develop a framework to reduce the incidence of homophobic harassment in Victoria by changing homophobic community attitudes and behaviours, and secondly to increase the capacity of GLBTIQ people to respond to homophobic harassment and encourage reporting of homophobic incidence.

A meeting of the project reference group will be taking place on Monday October 5th at the {also} Foundation. The reference group is made up of key representatives of stakeholders important to the project’s objectives including TransGender Victoria, the Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby, the Anti-Violence Project Victoria, Gay and Lesbian Heath Victoria, Rainbow Families, Victoria Police, Vic Health, The Victorian AIDS Council, The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission and the Department of Justice.

“This is an exciting and innovative project which gives us the opportunity to get some powerful messages to the community that homophobic harassment will not be tolerated. We look forward to a successful collaboration with our partners and the reference group.” Lyn Morgain, CEO of the {also} Foundation.

Media enquiries to Kylie Smith at the {also} Foundation on 9660 3900 or kylie@also.org.au