Gai Brodtmann (Canberra, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I recently had the great honour of officiating at the opening of the Diversity ACT Hub in Kambah. I am a very strong supporter of the work that Diversity ACT does, and it has done some great work in establishing a community centre and support service for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex community here in Canberra. The Hub has gone from a great idea and something of a personal vision of Ian Goudie into an active centre for the LGBTI community.

Canberra has a very proud history of promoting equal rights, diversity and tolerance. In 1976 we became one of the first jurisdictions to decriminalise gay sex. In 1994 the ACT recognised gay partnerships. In 2003 we sanctioned same-sex adoption, and in 2008 we moved to institute civil partnerships. Yet, despite landmark reforms and history of being an open-minded and tolerant place, there are still people who face intolerance. This is why the Diversity ACT Hub is such a great initiative.

Canberra has, until now, been without a specific community space where LGBTI people can go for professional advice, to access support services and to meet and socialise with friends and supporters. Through much hard work and the dedicated efforts of Ian Goudie and his team, we now have the Diversity ACT Community Services. Diversity ACT is a vital part of our community. It exists for the betterment of everyone in the ACT. I congratulate Diversity ACT for what it has accomplished.