Everyone has the right to feel safe from discrimination about their gender, identity, or sexual orientation. Each of us is entitled to live their lives according to our beliefs, and to access services that affirm their personal identity.

Most parents aren’t prepared for the words “Mum, Dad, I’m same-sex attracted”. Even if they knew or had a suspicion all along but denied it, the reactions are often shock and disorientation followed by grieve over losing an image of their son or daughter. They might feel like they did something wrong raising their child or even that someone “led” their child into homosexuality. They may even wonder if there is a biological cause for it. A parent’s negative reaction can have a detrimental effect on their child.

In response to identified gaps in direct service provision, barriers to participation, isolation due to stigma, and a general lack of acceptance by the broader Australian Greek community to lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) lifestyles, Pronia launches its own pilot project.

‘Diversity in Greek Families: Let’s Start the Conversation’ aims to develop culturally and linguistically sensitive marketing material, provide information, referral pathways, improved access to local services, to network with LGBTI sector leaders and organisations, and to consult with Greek LGBTI individuals through focus groups while connecting with businesses for the purpose of serving their LGBTI customers and clients.

For this project, Pronia is working in collaboration with the Greek and Gay Support Network; a volunteer-run organisation that has been operating in Melbourne for over 21 years. Greek and Gay offers support and runs social activities including picnics, dance parties, tavern and movie nights for gay and lesbian individuals of a Hellenic background.

The network’s mission is “bringing together the Hellenic gay and lesbian community with their family and friends to foster support awareness, acceptance and understanding”.