CELEBRATING difference is the rally cry of Melbourne’s fi rst queer Multicultural conference, ‘Living and Loving in Diversity’, to be held at St Kilda Town Hall, October 15-17. The aim of the weekend is to highlight issues relating to sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex status in our local multicultural communities. Committee member, Vic Perri

(pictured with Maria Pallotta- Chiarolli and Shanton Chang) says the event will reach beyond the queer community.

“One of our objectives is to not only raise awareness in our own community about multicultural issues but also to raise queer issues in the mainstream ethnic communities,” he says. “It’s going to be an incredibly diverse event in terms of content.”

A number of Melbourne based groups have signed up for the conference – such as the Arab Gay Group and the Jewish Lesbian Group – and the weekend has also attracted wide support from mainstream ethnic communities. Comedian Sue Ann Post will make an appearance, as will SBS newsreader, Anton Enus. “It’s not going to be your typical conference with people getting up and giving facts and graphs,” says Mr Perry. “There are a lot of people giving performances, and the Gay and Lesbian Archives have organised a display. It will be one big weekend of celebration.”

Story and pic by Daren Pope

Living and Loving in Diversity
St Kilda Town Hall
October 15-17