Australia welcomes first Oceania LGBTI network
Image: Joseph Sikulu and Ken Moana at the launch of the Oceania Rainbow Network. Photo: Facebook via Oceania Rainbow Network
SYDNEY’s Oceania Rainbow Network (ORN)聽has been officially launched in a stunning event at Paddington Town Hall.
罢丑别听 was set up to聽celebrate the sexual diverse gender community of all people from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, South Seas Islander, Melanesian, Micronesian and Polynesian origins.
“We felt the need to cater for the Oceania LGBTI people, the Pacific Islanders who have been coming to Australia since the 1930s,” said Ken Moala, event organiser.
“With regard to the LGBTI community, they felt they didn鈥檛 belong in the LGBTIQ聽framework, but because聽in the Pacific Islands we have our own identities, we are very community and family oriented.
“It鈥檚 a double whamer being LGBTI聽in those communities, they were shunned and discriminated against.
“So there was a need for them to be welcomed by this group.”
The event on Tuesday night was attended by members of the network and people from聽Sydney’s LGBTI community.
ORN’s new co-convenors,聽Bryan 鈥淐apri鈥� Lafaele and Joseph Sikulu were announced and the group also launched an new event that will be a first of it鈥檚 kind and that will aim to show true inclusivity amongst Pacific People.
鈥淚 commend Oceania Rainbow Network on providing services to promote access and equitable outcomes for members of the Oceania Rainbow community,”聽said Clover Moore,聽City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore.
“I appreciate your goal to provide a safe place for people to come together and support one another; share their stories, and celebrate their culture, traditions and religion without prejudice.鈥�
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