I wrote some words over at about how the queers in my life have been a lifeline over the past year and how the pandemic has thrown the importance of 'chosen families' for LGBTIQA+ people into sharp relief.
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Matthew Wade
@MatthewRWade
Queer advocate and award winning journalist. Secretary . Volunteer . Former Editor-in-Chief .
Naarm (Melbourne)Born May 11Joined April 2009
Matthew Wade’s Tweets
Happy #WearItPurple Day.
The Victorian Pride Lobby would like to let all of our younger LGBTIQA+ followers know that you are valid, and loved.
We commit to advocating for LGBTIQA+ young people and to work towards removing the social and legal discrimination they still face.
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Join our Trans Voices campaign!
The Lobby is organising trans people to speak directly with their local MPs about their lives, so decision makers can hear directly from the community about the issues that impact them.
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Join our Trans Voices campaign! 
The Victorian Pride Lobby is organising trans people to speak directly with their local MPs about their lives, and we need trans people to put their hands up to tell their story.
More info: bit.ly/3OSWQL2
The Victorian Pride Lobby is organising trans people to speak directly with their local MPs about their lives, and we need trans people to put their hands up to tell their story.
More info: bit.ly/3OSWQL2Show this thread
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Very sad news 😢
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"After nearly a decade of working with The Laird to raise funds for @JOY949 and @ThorneHarbour’s David Williams Fund – we’re hanging up our boots."
Read more from the team behind #NorthsideBizarre -
facebook.com/northsidebizar
The #ChromaticaBall was phenomenal.
There's always something so special about seeing an artist like Lady Gaga in concert at the top of her game. The vocals, the theatrics, the outfits, the atmosphere.
Truly one of the best concerts I've ever been to 👽🚀
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Holy sh*t we are here 👽🚀
Just over a week ago we were in Melbourne and now we're in Düsseldorf ready to see the opening night of Lady Gaga's #ChromaticaBall.
Life has peaked.
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So excited 🚀👽
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The opening night of Lady Gaga’s upcoming #ChromaticaBall stadium tour in Dusseldorf, Germany is officially sold out (65,000 people).
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Film lovers rejoice, it’s season 🍿
I’m currently on the other side of the world but have miraculously managed to book a no-clash schedule of all the films I’m most excited to see.
#MIFF2022
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The Lobby is surveying LGBTIQA+ Victorians on the issues that matter most to them ahead of the Victorian State Election in November.
The survey takes two minutes to complete and will help inform our election campaign work 👇🏼
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We want to hear from you! 
The Victorian Pride Lobby is surveying LGBTIQA+ Victorians and our allies to understand the issues that are important to you ahead of the Victorian State Election coming up in November 2022.
Take the survey: bit.ly/3ORoQPZ
The Victorian Pride Lobby is surveying LGBTIQA+ Victorians and our allies to understand the issues that are important to you ahead of the Victorian State Election coming up in November 2022.
Take the survey: bit.ly/3ORoQPZShow this thread
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Today both Harriet Shing MLC and Steve Dimopoulos MP were sworn in as Ministers in the Victorian Government.
This makes them the first two out LGBTIQA+ community members to be Ministers in Victoria, ever.
Congratulations & on making history.
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Today's decision by FINA to exclude certain trans women from elite women's competitions is disappointing, and will set a worrying precedent for other sports to follow.
Everyone should be able to participate in sport as their true selves. 1/4
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But I can now reveal that my action was successful and Linda Gale is no longer the Convenor of the Victorian Greens.
There will now be a new election for convenor and I urge Linda to not re-contest the election. 4/7
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From today in Victoria, religious organisations and schools will no longer be able to sack or refuse to hire people based on their sexuality or gender identity.
This is huge, and will help better protect LGBTQ+ Victorians from discrimination at work and in school. #SpringSt
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The is looking for volunteer campaigners to help us with a new trans rights campaign.
You don't need any experience organising or campaigning, just a passion for trans rights and a bit of spare time. Send an EOI to: info@vicpridelobby.org.
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VOLUNTEERS WANTED
The Lobby will soon be launching a new trans rights campaign and we need activist leaders to help us steer it.
As an activist leader you might be expected to organise events, train other activists, and do outreach to queer organisations. 1/2
The Lobby will soon be launching a new trans rights campaign and we need activist leaders to help us steer it.
As an activist leader you might be expected to organise events, train other activists, and do outreach to queer organisations. 1/2Show this thread
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BREAKING: The Victorian Pride Lobby has just launched a new report into LGBTIQA+ experiences with the Australian insurance industry.
The report is the first of its kind & reveals our communities continue to face discrimination when seeking insurance: bit.ly/3NHrlnu 1/2
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What an incredible people-powered campaign!
Across the country, more than 13000 people volunteered for the Greens on booths.
Thank you. Whatever happens tonight, our movement has grown as we fight for action on climate & inequality.
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Free trans pride and solidarity badges around Naarm 🏳️⚧️
This is an excellent #IDAHOBIT initiative led by my fellow Lobby committee member , and a great way to show your support for the trans community this election. Details below.
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It's no secret that the federal election has been incredibly tough on the transgender community. Candidates haven't been afraid to say horrible things about trans people, and it's no doubt taking a toll.
That's why for #IDAHOBIT, the Lobby decided to do something about it. 1/4
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Today is International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Discrimination Against Intersex People and Transphobia, or #IDAHOBIT.
It's a day to remind LGBTIQA+ people they're loved, and to recognise how much more needs to be done to address the discrimination our communities face.
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Thirty and flirty and thriving 🥳
My twenties were a ride and I'm really proud of what I've accomplished and grateful for the experiences I've had.
I'm excited for the next decade and what my thirties will bring.
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Honestly. There's been two more questions. We're checked out. We are a community that is tired and burned out who have dedicated years to visibility and advocacy, and on a night that should spotlight our issues. The two major parties came up short. #IntersexVotes #EqualityVotes
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. closes the Forum by thanking the Senators for their time, as well as the community organisations and media outlets that helped make the event possible.
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. says the question is, what additional services can they fund? He says he’d be keen to hear from Equality Australia about where might be best to put commonwealth resources.
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. says governments get a lot of asks for funding from different orgs within our community. But that it would be useful to explore what additional entitlements there might be.
Recognises that funding is often short-term.
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says she recognises the importance of funding for community-controlled healthcare.
The Greens have committed $70 million dollars for a grants fund over four years for community-controlled health orgs.
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President of Janet Jukes is up now with the final question, and is asking what each party will do to support AIDS councils and other LGBTQ+ health orgs in meeting community demand for primary health services.
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When prodded on how they will make this happen, says he will personally write a letter to “ensure we get it done”. Says it’s something we can get done on a bipartisan basis.
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Paula is up now and asking: Will you commit in 2026 to having a Census that “counts people like me”?
says yes, says yes, says it’s a sensible idea, and is sure it will be included in the next Census. #EqualityVotes
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. says the Liberals have committed $14 million dollars if elected for community controlled organisations so they can advocate for outcomes.
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On a question now about supporting LGBTIQ+ people in aged care.
says it’s an “indictment” on our community that we have such a lack of care for older Australians, as has been documented in the Royal Commission. Says Labor is committed to improving this.
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. says “what a small amount of money to end HIV transmissions… it’s considerably less than our government gives to oil and gas companies.”
She says the Greens commit to the Agenda 25 plan in full, to end new HIV transmissions.
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. says the Coalition has done a lot to improve access to HIV prevention medication, but is open to more ways the Government can help drive down new transmissions to zero.
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Next question is from , who has been living with HIV for ten years. He says the investment we need to end new HIV transmissions and support those living with HIV is $41 million each year.
He asks what each party will do to achieve that.
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. says the Greens have committed $285 million for a health and well-being plan.
She says it has to be front and central to what’s being done in the queer community. Says it’s something the Greens’ promised Equality Minister would be responsible for.
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Earlier tonight announced a commitment to provide LGBTIQ+ Health Australia with $3.7 million dollars, to help undertake research on mental health. He says he hopes that would be an important first step.
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The next question is from the CEO of LGBTIQ+ Health Australia. They’ve asked the Senators what commitment their parties can make to deliver a whole of government strategy to improve LGBTIQ+ health and well-being.
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. says the Greens want to spend $132m to implement the recommendations outlined in the Darlington Statement, which was put together by intersex advocates and organisations (and includes getting rid of the medical interventions).
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The next question is from Alice, who is on the board of Intersex Human Rights Australia.
Alice asks what each party would do to prevent the coercive and unnecessary medical interventions that continue to be performed on intersex people.
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