The rainbow flag will fly at Surf Coast Shire Council’s Torquay office throughout May to celebrate International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT).
The shire held a flag raising ceremony on Monday, where mayor Libby Stapleton and local students raised the rainbow flag in front of community members, councillors and shire staff.
The ceremony also allowed the shire to recognise the successful recipients of its IDAHOBIT grant program.
Grants of up to $1000 were available for events and initiatives that celebrated inclusion and spread the message against LGBTQIA+ discrimination.
The grants will allow Torquay Scouts to host a rainbow event, Surf Coast Secondary College to host a colour run and Q&A session with the school’s Stand Out group which celebrates diversity, Anglesea Community House will purchase age-appropriate inclusive books and dress-ups to celebrate gender diversity and SurfCoast For Equality will host a workshop for local businesses to learn and listen, and to create safe spaces.
IDAHOBIT is on Tuesday, May 17.
