Horsham council Mayor Pam Clarke and chief executive Peter Brown will attend a dinner and meeting with Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and Intersex Equality Roadshow, along with business and community leaders from the Wimmera.

Councillors have also been invited to attend.

Mr Brown told councillors on Monday that a major part of meeting with the roadshow was to help our communities develop strategies to be more inclusive and welcoming of young people as they grow up.

Cr Clarke said that, as leaders, councillors needed to be inclusive for all community members.

“One of the big issues with young people in the LGBTI group is that they feel they are not supported by the community and they have to leave the area, which is a real shame,” she said.

“Young people in smaller communities can feel quite isolated, and the suicide rate and mental health issues for these young people is extremely high.

“If we can make them feel more included in the community, then I think that’s the goal as leaders in the community.”

Cr Josh Koenig said it’s a shame that such a pro-tolerance campaign was necessary, but he welcomed it.

“To reduce discrimination encountered by LGBTI communities, and to raise awareness of homophobia, transphobia, biphobia and intersex phobia, it’s an ongoing issue that we have to work together to stamp out,” he said.

“Through my work, I can definitely support the mental health issues that Cr Clarke touched on.

“Unfortunately it’s a very regular occurrence, people come through the Wimmera Uniting Care doors and some of the stories just break your heart.”

Cr Koenig said people needed to speak up against discrimination as the time when such behavior was accepted was long gone.

Cr Alethea Sedgman said it would be a good addition to the other youth services that have started in the region.

“I believe that in our community we need equality, and it is an issue that a lot of people are facing,” she said.

“I think that it shouldn’t be an issue as we are all regional, we are all equal.

“It just shouldn’t be happening.”  

The LGBTI Equality Roadshow will visit Horsham on March 16 and 17 as part of a tour of regional Victoria.

The roadshow visit will involve a free inclusion workshop free and open to anyone living, working or residing in the region will be held at the Wimmera Trade Training Centre on March 16, followed by a community dinner.

An LGBTI Equality Community Action Plan meeting will take place on the morning of March 17 at Wimmera Uniting Care. 

Switchboard Victoria, Victorian AIDS Council, Victoria Police GLLO Program, Victoria Local Government Association, Victoria Legal Aid and FTM Shed will also take part in the roadshow.

Horsham council is planning to review its Health and Wellbeing Plan this year in line with catering for the health of young people.