[News] [Australia] ACT sex and gender diverse group gets gov't funds

[Stephanie Stevens]

Gay News Network, Australia


07 Jun 2012

ACT sex and gender diverse group gets gov't funds

Alex Dunkin


A Gender Agenda (AGA) has successfully obtained $200,000 worth of
funding over three years as announced in the ACT Government’s latest
budget.

The organisation had been operating solely on a volunteer basis to
provide support, advocacy and information to sex and gender diverse
people in the ACT.

Spokesperson for AGA Peter Hyndal said that without the funding the
organisation would no longer be able to operate.

“Demand for our services has increased exponentially over the last two
years to the degree that we are simply unable to respond to requests
for support, information and training,” he said.

“We have been operating as an unfunded organisation for the last eight
years… all of our work has been performed on a voluntary basis.

“AGA welcomes this ground-breaking allocation of funds which allows us
to continue to provide crucial support, assistance and other services
to some of the most disadvantaged members of the ACT community.”

Hyndal added that with this funding and an extra $67,000 in funding
recently awarded to them by the ACT Health Promotion Grants Program
they can guarantee that, as the only organisation in the ACT providing
such services, they will continue to operate.

“The budget allocation announced today signals a first, very
significant step towards reducing the marginalisation of transgender
and intersex people at a territory level,” he said.

“A Gender Agenda encourages the ACT Government to continue this work
across other portfolio areas.

“Notably, the ACT Law Reform Advisory Council has only recently
finalised its inquiry into the steps necessary to provide for legal
recognition of transgender and intersex people in the Territory.”


http://gaynewsnetwork.com.au/news/northern-territory/7003-act-sex-and-gender-diverse-group-gets-gov-t-funds.html