WHEN Michael Young bought a house in Werribee with his boyfriend seven years ago, he never imagined the quiet life in the suburbs he longed for would make him feel isolated.
The couple weren’t interested in going to pubs or clubs, and with no gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, transgender, intersex or queer support groups in Wyndham they didn’t feel part of the community.
That changed earlier this year when Wyndham Council held a family fun day for the GLBTIQ community as part of the Midsumma Festival.
There, Mr Young met other members of the GLBTIQ community living in Wyndham and began thinking about starting a social group.
“I’d hoped some kind of social group would appear for the GLBTIQ community in Wyndham, but we couldn’t even find gay news publications.”
Mr Young met with the council’s diversity officer Kylie Hayes who helped him organise a lunch for the GLBTIQ community on April 15.
He says it’s a chance for people to meet like-minded neighbours and feel part of a community.
“Above all, this group is about diversity, acceptance and integration. We aim to work together to overcome the sense of isolation and lack of safety that impact many GLBTIQ residents of Melbourne’s west.”
Details: neighbours@tpg.com.au.
