By Goya Dmytryshchak
Aboriginal queer performer Jessie Lloyd will be among the guests at Hobsons Bay council’s annual ceremony for IDAHOBIT – International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia.
Lloyd, from St Albans, said the day held special meaning for her.
“I have a personal interest in this event,” she said.
“I will be inviting some of my family to come along because we’ve recently had a new member of our family who’s intersex, this is quite a new thing for my family, especially the older generation.
“So, I’m going to take the opportunity to invite them along to this event to raise awareness and learn more information about, not only the intersex, but the LGBTIQA community.
“My family’s quite conservative and they’re Christian people so we’re really taking the opportunity to create awareness within our family.
“It’s just a coincidence that they’re all coming down from Queensland and the Northern Territory for a party – they just don’t have these conversations up there.”
Hobsons Bay councillor Tony Briffa, who was the world’s first intersex mayor, said everyone was welcome to the council’s event held outside the civic centre.
“This year’s event is really exciting, led by proud Aboriginal queer performer Jessie Lloyd, followed by guest speaker Bobuq Sayed speaking about challenges still faced by the LGBTIQA+ community,” Cr Briffa said.
“As always, the day will include the raising of the Pride flag.”
At the Hobsons Bay Civic Centre, 115 Civic Parade, Altona, from 11am-noon on May 17.
