Breakfast event on learnings from LGBTQIA+ philanthropy
GiveOUT, Aurora and Equality Australia co-hosted a breakfast panel event on learnings from LGBTIQ+ philanthropy to coincide with the Philanthropy Australia conference in Adelaide. Thank you to Fay Fuller Foundation and The Wyatt Trust for your support in making this event possible.
We heard from community voices (including from Equality Australia, TransMasc SA and Rainbow Hub SA) and philanthropy voices (including from the Snow Foundation) about the the power of LGBTIQ+-led services, and the important role of philanthropy in meeting the needs of diverse and under-represented communities. Whether your philanthropy focuses on human rights, young people, mental health, housing, stronger democracy or social inequality of any kind, impactful change requires an intersectional approach.
Re-sharing below our CEO Em Scott's opening remarks at the event.
"I fell in love with the Olympics when I was 9 years old, making scrapbooks of newspaper cut outs of the Sydney Olympics. I injured my knee when I was 12 so the only sport I could do was waterpolo. After many 5am training sessions, I eventually made the Australian U18 and U20 team, and then the Australian senior squad. An Olympic dream began to feel possible.
Around this time I was also coming to terms with my sexuality. But I grew up in a world that told me loud and clear from a young age that being gay was bad and wrong. The darkness and shame ate away at me and I spiralled into severe mental illness. I became too sick to play waterpolo anymore and put away the Olympic dreams.
Watching the Paris Olympics, we see beautiful moments of queer excellence and visibility. But behind the scenes, we know there are thousands of untold stories of LGBTIQ+ people who never got their chance, because they were afraid, shamed or excluded.
We are also seeing play out the extent of the horrific and dehumanising anti-trans rhetoric and disinformation and a severe lack of understanding around people with variations of sex characteristics (also known as intersex) with Imane Khelif, the boxer from Algeria.
This duality is the reality for LGBTIQ+ people in Australia. We have come so far and we are so proud, yet we are still having to fight for all LGBTIQ+ people to be safe, respected and equal, particularly for trans and gender diverse people, intersex people, and LGBTIQ+ people with intersecting marginalisations.
As we have heard throughout the conference, impacted communities know best about what is needed to create a more equal future, but our rainbow community sector is chronically underfunded, receiving just 5 cents to every $100 philanthropic dollars (or 0.05%). This means our sector is small, mostly volunteer run and unable to meet demand for services.
As community-led funders, GiveOUT and Aurora exist to change this picture. We mobilise diverse philanthropy and community assets to ensure LGBTIQ+ organisations, such as Equality Australia, have the resources and tools to lead the way. We do this in many ways including the iconic Aurora Ball, an annual day of giving to over 90+ LGBTIQ not-for-profits called GiveOUT Day, and our grants programs - Ignite Pride and Amplify Pride Fund.
Our fight for equality is not in isolation - the path forward intersects with the fight for gender justice, mental health, a strong democracy and the valuing of community voice.
My personal story is a very privileged one, in that after coming out, I had the love and support of my family and access to inclusive services and a welcoming community. I do this work because I believe in a future where this is possible for all LGBTIQ+ people.
