Voice of Byron

GAY, LESBIAN and gender diverse teenagers converged on Byron Bay last weekend (12 Nov, 2016) to attend the inaugural LGBT-Plus Fancy Formal.

The event was partly inspired by the exclusion of same-sex couples from their own school formals in other parts of the country.

Organiser Lisa Apostolides told the ABC she is a great believer in equality, fairness and acceptance.

“I think young people need to have a safe place in which to express themselves and that’s not happening,” she said.

“Some people were so against an event in Melbourne earlier this year that they tried to buy all the tickets.

“But what happened is, they bought tickets and they paid money and once they found out what was going on, the organisers just issued more tickets so, in fact, it backfired.”

Kirsti Procter, 17, from Mullumbimby, who identifies as gender fluid, said she hoped events like the formal would help educate the broader community about diversity.

“There are still some adults who are less accepting because they won’t believe me,” she said.

“They’ll say ‘you have breasts, you have a female body, you must always be female what are you talking about?’

“A lot of people don’t realise how many of us there are.”

Raani Nicholls, 17, from Billinudgel, helped organise the event and wore a wedding gown to make a statement about the gay marriage debate.

“In Australia right now, since same-sex marriage is still illegal, it’s important to get the word out there that it’s normal and acceptable to love whoever,” she told the ABC.

“I think love will always win. I hope there will be more tolerance and acceptance in the future.”

James Wright, 20, from Byron Bay, said while he had not experienced discrimination, growing up as a gay person could be an isolating experience in a regional area.

“It makes me upset when I hear that young people feel as though they’re not safe in their communities,” he said.

“I think bringing people together in the LGBT community, especially young people, is very important (and to let them) know that they’re not alone and that they have somewhere to go that’s safe for them and to enjoy themselves.”

The LGBT-Plus Fancy Formal is expected to become an annual event.

Source Article: Read it here!