Midsumma Festival is just over a month away and we are gearing up for UnionPride to be out there and involved.

If you want to get involved in UnionPride Midsumma related activities, just email Sarah at sarah.rogan@alliance.org.au You may have noticed that UnionPride is part of the 1st Asia-Pacific Outgames Human Rights Conference, scheduled for Wednesday 30th January and Thursday 31st January. Our part will be on the Thursday but you will need to register for both days. For more information about this, go the http://www.melbourneoutgames.org/ or contact Sarah (see above for contact details).


Join us at Midsumma 2008!!
‘Midsumma’ is Melbourne’s annual G.L.B.T.I festival.
In 2007, a number of Victorian trade unions came together to participate in the festival under a combined banner – ‘UNION PRIDE’. We wanted to show that trade unions support the workplace rights of all Victorian workers and that our unions actively support our G.L.B.T.I members. Plus, participation gave G.L.B.T.I workers the chance to show that they are also proud unionists and to celebrate their solidarity!

Following on from the huge success of our participation in 2007, UNION PRIDE will be involved in a number of activities in the 2008 festival. This year, the Festival kicks off at the Midsumma Carnival on Saturday 19th January. Carnival will be at the Alexandra Gardens and like last year, UNION PRIDE will have a stall with theYoung Unionists Network. So come along to the biggest party in Melbourne!
For more information, contact Sarah Rogan on sarah.rogan@alliance.org.au

Pride March draws a huge crowd who come along to show their support for the G.L.B.T.I community. Last year over 50 unionists from a variety of trade unions marched under the combined UNION PRIDE banner in support of GLBTI workers.
If you want to be part of this, come along to the corner of Lakeside Drive and Fitzroy Streets, St Kilda on Sunday 3rd February 2008. We will assemble at 4.30pm, with the march starting at 5.00pm sharp.

We have also been asked to forward on a report conducted by Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria called 'The coming Forward Survey'. The genesis of the survey is an attempt by Victoria Police to downgrade the status of the Gay and Lesbian Liaison Officer Program because their data bases do not show a big demand for the service. GLHV is trying to use the survey to document the unmet need, which is evident from the levels of violence and abuse that we know our community members experience. If you have any enquiries, conctact Ann Mitchell at A.Mitchell@latrobe.edu.au or 9285 6124 or if you would like a copy of the final report.

The report can be found at:http://www.comingforwardsurvey.org.au/

Labels: Midsumma 2008