One of the beautiful things about Wollongong is our diversity.
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We celebrate across many wonderful, vibrant events around this community all year round. As a community we welcome people from other cultures as well as pay respect to those that are the traditional owners of the land upon which we stand.
Thankfully this community, particularly in terms of community integration, we have not had to suffer through some of the divisive rallies or protests that other communities in regional Australia have had to ensure. We have a large population with a rich ethnic diversity.
You need not look far to see how we celebrate and support all in our community. We are an inclusive community and we need to cherish that.
On Monday night the Wollongong City Council voted in the majority to support a motion by new Greens councillor Mithra Cox to raise the rainbow flag in front of the city’s headquarters over the next couple of weeks.
The motion was not unanimous and debate was passionate. Yet ultimately, it was voted through.
The same-sex marriage postal survey the Turnbull Federal Government has forced upon the community has been the source of much debate over the past few months. Some of it has been less than constructive.
But ultimately, this issue only impacts broadly on one group of people. The group who are not considered equal and are being asked to vote on their own rights.
The survey asks whether they deserve to be treated as equals, that is all.
By choosing to fly the rainbow flag, this council is doing nothing more than showing it stands for a strong, inclusive and supportive community. For all people.
Councillor Tania Brown has long wished and campaigned for her son Nathan to be given equal rights.
‘’This means a lot to my family,’’ she said.
‘’It means a lot to the LQBTQI community that we can show that we see them and we understand that this has been a trying time.
‘’And, for our city to then have this symbol to show that compassion is just amazing.
‘’I can see the emotion of my son's face and I've already had calls this morning from other families saying how much it meant to them, and if we can make a difference in a young person's life, it's all worthwhile.’’
Thank you to the Wollongong City Council for showing this city’s true colours.