1. Good afternoon everyone – lovely to see you all
here today.
Id first like to acknowledge the traditional owners
and thank them for letting us be here today.
My name is Fiona and I am the Director of Sunshine
Coast Rainbow Network and also a Regional
Representative for Diverse Voices. Sunshine Coast
Rainbow Network is a non-profit organisation set up
to help connect our Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and
Transgender community together; and to network
with, and educate the wider Sunshine Coast.
Diverse Voices is our online and phone counselling
service.
What a wonderful country we live in – such a vast
range of cultures, languages, religions, ideas and
possibilities. There is so much we can learn about
each other!
It is so important that we celebrate all our
differences. There is absolutely no need for an of us
to be separated, alienated or refused entry into this
beautiful nation. Today is the day when we make a
statement to our government and to our brothers
and sisters from all over the world that we
EMBRACE all our minorities, all our majorities – no
matter where they are from, or how they got here.
We are all EQUAL.
As a member of the LGBT community, I know first

2. hand how difficult it can be. We face a lack of
acceptance every day – so imagine how you would
feel if you were a refugee from another country –
with a language barrier – but also gay…. Fleeing
from danger – possibly even just for being gay.
It is so important that we show humanity and
understanding without bias – because we are
dealing with real people!
We are a compassionate people – we need to
continue to be compassionate – to show empathy
and to welcome diversity – to rejoice in change and
new experiences.
Lets drown out the prejudice and fear – and hold
our hands out in welcome.