In honour of their 18th year supporting gay Greeks, the Greek and Gay Support Network is choosing to pay tribute to their migrant past.
For their annual birthday celebration, the network will be hosting an event staged at Station Pier, the first point of contact of many Greek migrants in the 1950s and 1960s.
“Australia and Melbourne in particular have been built on the hard work of all migrants, and the Greeks played an important role in enriching Melbourne’s cultural diversity,” the group said in a statement.
“From factory workers, professionals, tradespersons, artists, politicians, educators, academics and business proprietors, the contribution cannot be forgotten and must be celebrated.”
As well as celebrating their parents and grandparents’ past, the network is opening their doors to the new wave of migrants from Greece.
The network meets each month at the Victorian AIDS Council to assist guys and girls that need a safe place to discuss the issues affecting their sexuality specifically in relation to their Hellenic background. They bring special guest speakers like Greek doctors, Victorian police members and councillors to supplement the talks with expert advice.
Within the network, there is a guys group (GGG – Greek and Gay Group), a girls group (GALS – Greek Australian Lesbians) and support for any Greek that considers themselves part of the GLBTIQ community.
The event ‘Immigrate’ (eime-great) will be held on Saturday June 22 from 9.00 pm till late at S6 – Spirit Station Pier, 6 Waterfront Place, Port Melbourne.Entry is $20 and includes an ouzo shot on arrival. For more information visit www.greekandgay.com or email info@greekandgay.com