SPEECH BY COUNCILOR AMANDA DIPROSE

I move this motion this evening to formally ask Council to offer its support to our LGBTI
community.

Local Government and Central Coast Council are responsible for more than just the three Rs of
roads, rates and rubbish. We are responsible for, and have an explicit commitment to inclusion.

We, as elected representatives of our community have a responsibility to lead by example, by

setting the standard for our community. By doing this we help create a community that is
compassionate, tolerant, inclusive and safe.

We have a responsibility to show that the Central Coast municipality is a place that values and
cares for people, a place that is welcoming and a place that celebrates diversity.

In the past, our community did not show these values. Our municipality and region were
notorious as one of the most homophobic regions in the country.

In those dark days, many people, especially young people were so excluded from our
community that they moved away, or felt they had no other option but to take their own lives.

The mental health impacts and family breakdowns were a result of this lack of acceptance,
exacerbated by the shameful public statements by community leaders of the day.

As a community we needed to do better, we had to do better for our LGBTI community.

Through the efforts of many people, but perhaps best known among them is Rodney Croome,
support for our LGBTI community has grown. Rodney and people like Sharon Jones and Annie
Whitehead have been standing up for the LGBTI community for decades.
I was so very proud of this community when the results of the marriage equality survey were
announced, showing a majority of people in Braddon voted YES. We have come so far since
those dark and divisive days of the early 1990s.

Our young people are better supported through our local public high school which is a Safe
School. Should this motion pass, I will be so very proud that we, Central Coast Council, stand as
one with our LGBTI community.

In addition to cementing the values we hold dear, this motion shows people who may have left
our municipality that they are welcome to return, and they are more than welcome to come
back here to marry the loves of their lives amongst their family and friends in their home town
municipality. It shows LGBTI artists, investors, professionals and tourists that they are welcome
here.
I have consulted with the LGBTI community who support this motion and would welcome
Council support of community events and activities such as those listed in the motion.

Each of the four elements of the motion are symbolic and come at little to no cost. But to the
LGBTI community, OUR Community, they will be priceless.

Our community will be one that LGBTI people locally, nationally and internationally know is
welcoming, tolerant, modern, progressive, vibrant and inclusive.

I commend this motion to Council.