Merri-bek council under heat for secretive queer event for kids

A progressive inner-city council has been slammed for not promoting a pro-LGBTIQ+ disco for kids over fears far-right groups could run amok at the event.

A progressive inner-city council has been slammed for not promoting a pro-LGBTIQ+ disco for kids over fears far-right groups could run amok at the event.

Merri-bek City Council is under fire for refusing to promote a sponsored drag queen event to celebrate Pride Month, and has been accused of banning the other organiser, youth group FreeZza, from promoting the event on its social media accounts.

The free event, which is meant “strictly” for youths aged 12 to 19 and has a capacity of 300, has so far only attracted 31 registrations.

Merri-bek council has copped flak for not promoting a council-sponsored queer event for kids. Picture: supplied/ Instagram.

Speaking anonymously to the Herald Sun one of the organisers said it was “truly disheartening” queer kids’ events were being “pushed into the shadows” during Pride Month.

They said the council had the duty to not only protect queer kids but stand up for them “in the face of bigotry” and the last thing they needed was to be “forced to fly under the radar” and let “amazing” opportunities of inclusion and connection to “slip through the cracks”.

Rainbow Local Government campaign co-lead Dr Sean Mulcahy said councils needed to “support and stand up” for the LGBTIQ+ community “now more than ever” despite “terrible attacks” like far-right groups storming council chambers.

“While threats of attacks do create safety risks, councils should work with the community and Victoria Police to have appropriate safety plans in place,” he said.

“Refusing to publicly promote events, out of fear, gives power to bigotry and hate groups”.

Last year, City of Monash cancelled a drag story time event after threats from neo-Nazi protesters.

Monash chief executive Dr Andi Diamond said the sold-out event was cancelled due to repeated threats of violence.

Woodleigh School in Langwarrin also cancelled the controversial event after receiving external security advice.

The school, while cancelling the event said the first priority was children’s safety and they did not want to put the community at risk.

Council Watch president Dean Hurlston said Merri-bek’s refusal to promote the drag queen event for young adults was “silliness”.

“Of course the event should be running safely, but if the council can’t openly promote the event and make it safe, then it (the event) should not proceed,” he said.

“Merri-bek council seeking to underground the event just reflects poorly on the council.”

The event is sponsored by Merri-bek. Picture: supplied: Facebook

Merri-bek city councillor Oscar Yildiz said the council needed to be “open and honest” about where it spent the ratepayers’ money.

“Whatever event it is, no matter the political, religious or ethnic background — it doesn’t matter — we need to be transparent,” he said.

“Whatever event we’re hosting, it’s the council’s responsibility to engage the community.”

A Merri-bek spokeswoman said the council promoted events “in a way that keeps our community members safe”.

“Council, through our LQBTIQA+ Action Plan, is proud to support community-led initiatives and LGBTIQA+ events including drag events,” she said.

Rainbow Local Government campaign co-lead and spokesman Dr Sean Mulcahy.

Dr Mulcahy also said young LGBTIQ+ people and rainbow families “deserved” the opportunity to celebrate their diversity and “be seen and included”.

It comes after Merri-bek councillor Oscar Yildiz was forced to take down a social media post criticising council-funded drag story time for kids earlier this year.

Cr Yildiz took to social media to voice his disagreement with a council-sponsored “Drag Family Storytime” but was told he “must delete” the post because it “offended and distressed some of the council staff”.