Sydney’s Mardi Gras has awarded 18 community grants | Photo: Richard Hedger
The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is one of the world’s most famous LGBTI festivals and parade.
Now, to celebrate and support of all of Australia’s LGBTI community it is has awarded its first LGBTQI community grants.
Along with ANZ bank, Sydney Mardi Gras has distributed 18 grants across the country to LGBTQI groups and individuals. The grants are worth up to AU$10,000 (US$7,252).
Some of the recipients include an LGBTQI refugee support group and a historian aiming to preserve LGBTQI history. Youth group, Minus18, also won a grant for its planned queer formal (prom) in Adelaide.
Heather Grace Jones, is Project Officer of STARTTS. It is a non-profit organization providing culturally appropriate and cutting edge psychological treatment to refugees. She spearheaded STARTTS’ new Rainbow Refugees project.
‘Many of the LGBTQI refugee community have fled countries where sexual and gender diversity is punishable by death and upon arriving in Australia, require support to rebuild their lives and own their identity,’ she said.
‘This grant is extremely important as it means we will be able to create a safe space in Sydney’s western suburbs for all LGBTQI refugees to feel welcome and connected.’
Help for ‘anything under the rainbow’
ANZ and Sydney Mardi Gras developed the community grants to give money to people in a wide range of sectors. This year they included education and training, community development and creation, arts and culture. Or as Mardi Gras says, ‘anything under the rainbow’.
‘After receiving over one hundred submissions, we are reminded of the incredible and important work being done within the LGBTQI community,’ said Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras CEO, Terse Casu.
‘We are so pleased to be able to make a difference in the lives of many of our community members across the country and announce the winners of the much deserved grants thanks to the ongoing support of ANZ.’
