Whittlesea Pride Festival | Justice For Kimberly McRae Queering The Air

Whittlesea Pride Festival Sasja spoke to two of Whittlesea Pride Festival organisers, Anas & TommyAnas is a gay Palestinian man who has been living in Melbourne for 10 years. He works for a community organisation called Whittlesea Community Connections based in Epping. As a queer migrant working in the community services sector, Anas is passionate about creating safe spaces for LGBTQA+ people from multicultural backgrounds. Through organisational development and community engagement, he has been working to create these spaces in the northern suburbs of Melbourne particularly for young LGBTQA+ people. He has a special interest in the significance of lived experiences in taking an intersectional approach to community support.Tommy is a passionate, determined, and highly motivated individual, who is strongly committed to promoting inclusivity through advocacy, to alleviate the disadvantages lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, non-binary, intersex, as well as gender and sexually-diverse communities, along with other culturally and linguistically diverse groups, can experience with accessing equitable, safe, and inclusive services. As a local member of the Whittlesea community, as well as member of the gay community, he understands the need for equitable healthcare that is non-discriminatory, and emphasises on utilising a strength-based and person-centred approach, to promote positive health outcomes. Tommy places strong emphasis on empowerment, self-love, and positive affirmations as integral factors to reaching your highest potential, and taking pride in who you are.___________________Whittlesea Community Connections and partnering organisations have come together to plan the first ever Whittlesea Pride Festival on Sunday May 7th 2023 at Meadowglen International Athletics stadium.They invite you to come and be a part of the magic as they transform the stadium into a vibrant rainbow of colour, music and dance.There will be something for everyone to enjoy at the Pride festival, from delicious food trucks to interactive activities.A lineup will be confirmed closer to the day of the live performances, so stay tuned!They are committed to creating a welcome and safe environment where everyone, from all identities, backgrounds and orientations can be themselves and express their unique cultural identity.Whittlesea pride festival is the perfect opportunity for families to come along, enjoy the day and show their support for the LGBTQIA+ community in Melbourne’s Northern suburbs.Please find all key information and free ticket registrations via the Eventbrite link below or scan the QR code on the flyerhttps://www.eventbrite.com/e/whittlesea-pride-festival-tickets-570358667127?fbclid=IwAR3u74eiNoBdRlibEb2gfzVp095uR3xAuB3Xc7t5Vkx9118ES1EQJmhx9H8 -----------------------------------------------------------------------Justice for Kimberly McRaeSasja had a discussion with Matthew Roberts on the murder of Kimberly McRae.Kimberly McRae was killed at her Coogee apartment in January 2020 by a Colombian student, Hector Enrique Valencia  who has been found not guilty of murdering Kimberley but guilty of her manslaughter.https://www.starobserver.com.au/news/student-admits-to-killing-sydney-trans-author-and-sex-worker-kimberley-mcrae/221168?fbclid=IwAR1Ug5g-9lSba8SmZ8keJVqJ1VhNRbNLViT9Gu0RmOsoHLdGWr1d6D4Dq8wMatthew Roberts is a gay male sex worker and policy officer at sex worker peer-led organisation Sex Work Law Reform Victoria. He was a leading voice to help decriminalise sex work in Victoria in 2022 and is passionate about fighting for fair laws for all sex workers. Sex Work Law Reform Victoria