Social Inclusion, Exclusion and Resilience: A Social View of Health

Culture, Religion, Sexuality

KEY MESSAGES:

• GLBTQI people have a range of identities beyond their sexuality that need be recognised
• Religion, ethnicity and culture offer both challenges and protective factors in the lives of queer people. The positive aspects of religion need to be remembered
• Faith and culture do not provide 'valid' justification for discrimination

Saturday 11:00-12:30 'ARE MY CULTURE AND RELIGION MORE IMPORTANT THAN MY SEXUALITY?': SYNERGIES AND TENSIONS BETWEEN ETHNIC, RELIGIOUS AND SEXUAL IDENTITIES

Demetry Apostle, Australian GLBTIQ Multicultural Council

Contact: contact@agmc.org.au; www.agmc.org.au

PRESENTER’S BIO:

Demetry is a counsellor with the Victorian AIDS Council, Melbourne, and is completing his doctorate in psychology researching on issues of sexual diversity and the impact of homonegativity. Demetry is also a Board Member and Founding Member of AGMC Inc (Australian GLBTIQ Multicultural Council), which is a member of FECCA (Federation of Ethnic Communities Council of Australia).

ABSTRACT:

This workshop will acknowledge and discuss the significance, tensions and positives of three main issues of identity and belonging (sexuality, culture and faith) and determine where and why there is conflict between the three for individuals: internalised within themselves, and within their religious, ethnic and queer communities and organisations. The mental health concerns that arise from bridging and bordering these three core facets of identity and belonging will be discussed. In addition we will explore strategies within queer, ethnic and religious communities and organisations to resolve these conflicts at policy, program and personal levels. In particular, the work of the AGMC, (Australian GLBTIQ Multicultural Council), a member of the VECC (Victorian Ethnic Communities Council) and FECCA (Federation of Ethnic Communities Council of Australia), will be introduced as a valuable resource and umbrella organisation.