City of Albany and Youth Advisory Council launch Allies Project for Albany Pride

Albany’s LGBTQIA+ community will be celebrating pride in February with the City backing a number of initiatives as part of the celebrations.

As part of Albany Pride, the City of Albany and Youth Advisory Council will be launching the Allies Project.

This project aims to collect stories from people who have been part of a regional LGBTQIA+ journey — friends, work colleagues, parents, siblings, partners or family members that have supported someone’s journey or been at the centre of one themselves.

Young locals will be at key events including Albany Pride Fair Day and the Pride Silent Disco to record these stories, which will be available via a podcast.

These young story collectors will also be able to participate in workshops with ABC reporter Katie McAllister and author and literary critic Beejay Silcox to brush up on their technical knowledge and interview techniques.

Community Development Coordinator Tammy Flett said the Allies Project aimed to benefit a cross-section of the Albany community.

“This project is for those who identify as LGBTQIA+, have been a part of an LGBTQIA+ journey, budding journalists, creatives and anyone who is interested in the content or the process,” she said.

“As we enter the post-production stage, one story collector will be offered a mentorship from ABC reporter Katie McAllister to develop their skills in audio post-production.

This is a vital project that supports our young people to feel welcome, heard and accepted in the city that they live in.

“Whatever their role, be it big or small, every ally has made a positive impact on someone else that will last a lifetime.”

The City is seeking expressions of interest from young people who want to be story collectors and contribute to the project.

To submit an expression of interest, residents can go to the City of Albany website.

Applications close on January 9.

For more information, contact community development officer Laura Saunders on 6820 3130 or laura.saunders@albany.wa.gov.au.