Minus18 Foundation

Well, that's a wrap on Queer Formal Melbourne – OUR BIGGEST ONE YET! 🌈 Thanks to your support, over 800 young people celebrated queer joy with their community. For many, it was their first event shared with queer community – and what an event it was! From the performers, to the activities, to all the new friendships formed – it was a truly magical night. As one of our attendees said: "The room felt like it was filled with love!" We want to say a big thank you to everyone who filled the room with love even before the event began. Following unfortunate attacks from conservative groups we received in the lead up to the event, you all rallied behind us, volunteered your support, and donated to help the event. We were absolutely blown away. And with all hands on deck, including a warm welcome from @rainbowcommunityangels outside the venue, we're so glad that 99% of attendees reported they felt safe at the event. Another one of our attendees said: "It’s such an open and accepting community which not only made it easier but also just had a smile on my face the whole time knowing that everyone was safe and welcomed there." This is what Queer Formal is all about – creating a space where everyone feels safe and welcome to dance, dress, and be exactly who they are. A big thank you to our incredible pals Bonds, Converse, National Gallery of Victoria, Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth), EACH, City of Melbourne, Queerspace Youth. This is one for the history books 🫶 And, did you know? We do three Queer Formals a year – one in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide. And Adelaide, you're next up in November! Stay tuned for details.

Hey schools and community groups – this one's for you! 👀 To celebrate Wear It Purple® Day, we're GIVING AWAY 300 💜 FREE 💜 PRIDE PACKS! They'll land on our online store Wednesday 17 July at 9am – and once they're gone, they're gone. Want early access? If you're from a school, you'll get a chance to grab yours the day before! All you have to do is download our free Wear It Purple® Day How-To Guide: https://buff.ly/3zeuI2D What's in the Pride Packs? An array of purple goodies to help you promote LGBTQIA+ inclusion in your community – including a pride flag, resource flyers, posters, stickers, pens and wristbands! These are snapped up very quickly every year, so be sure to set your alarms so you don't miss out! *Used under license from Wear It Purple Incorporated – wearitpurple.org.au

Want to celebrate Wear It Purple® Day, but still figuring out how? On Tuesday 23 July, we're hosting a FREE webinar to help out! Chat directly with Team Minus18 as we guide you through how to get involved, and share all our tips and tricks on how you can make it the best day possible. Whether it's your first time celebrating or not, we'll give you all the advice – and you can even hear from other people across the country also celebrating. Think of it as your purple lunch n' learn hosted by Minus18! We've all seen how queer young people have been attacked and targeted all over the world by anti-LGBTQIA+ groups. So if that's inspired you to take a stand – then Wear It Purple® Day is your chance! Free webinar registrations here: https://buff.ly/3WcQr49 *Used under license from Wear It Purple Incorporated - wearitpurple.org.au

Wow – a HUGE thank you!! 🤩🌈 Thanks to your support this Pride Month, we've raised enough to create 70 free workshops for schools right across the country! That means around 5,000 students and teachers will have access to identity-affirming education in their school! It'll help create safe spaces for LGBTQIA+ young people and adults, while also providing tools and resources for everyone to stand against discrimination. We already have plenty of schools lined up, so we can't wait to start delivering this education! If you're a school who wants to book in one of these sessions, get in touch today: https://buff.ly/45XGYRg Once again, a HUGE THANK YOU. This is all thanks to your support! 🫶

🏳️🌈 Exciting news! 🏳️🌈 Queer Youth Now: The National Survey of LGBTQIA+ Youth Voice in Australia is here: https://buff.ly/3Wbn0PK This national survey of LGBTQIA+ youth aged 13 to 25 aims to address the sorely limited up-to-date data that exists on the experiences of queer young people in Australia.  The goal? To empower the work of services, teams and organisations that support LGBTQIA+ young people around the country – and to inform entirely new projects all over the sector. This national survey was born of the clear need for data that captures the breadth of experiences of queer young people in Australia, today. The voices of young people matter, and we want to make sure they're heard. This survey will increase the capacity of projects and services supporting LGBTQIA+ youth across the country, by sharing what matters most to queer young people now. We can see how valuable this data will be to services, community organisations, projects, and the passionate folks on the ground making a difference in the community. Whether you work with young people directly, know someone who does, or perhaps you just want to share this news with your networks – learn more here: https://buff.ly/3Wbn0PK

Today is the start of NAIDOC week – a week in which we celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Held in the first week of July each year, it's an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth. The theme for 2024 is "Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud & Proud" It calls to honour the enduring spirit of First Nations cultures – standing tall, embracing heritage, and amplifying First Nations voices with unapologetic pride. Head to naidoc.org.au to support and get to know your local Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities through activities and events held across the country. You can also learn about the traditional owners of the lands you live and work on, and support First Nations organisations like Pay The Rent, Clothing The Gaps and BlaQ.

📢 Louder for the people at the back 📢 "ALL sexualities, genders, pronouns, identities, cultures welcome here!" We know firsthand of the impact that a welcoming poster - and an affirming message of LGBTQIA+ inclusion - can make in a classroom, service, or workplace. Available in A2 and A3! Grab yours: https://buff.ly/3RViLWe

Queer Formal® Melbourne is this Saturday! Hundreds of young people will pack the NGV for a magical evening of queer joy, as they celebrate their identity, their community, and connect with new people just like them. For many, this will be their first ever queer event. Their first time coming to a space that's dedicated to celebrating their queerness. We’ll have an array of activities, primed for making friends, sharing experiences and creating keepsakes to take home as a memento of this special night. These activities are all made possible by our legendary partners and community sponsors, all of which are incredibly dedicated to creating and championing LGBTQIA+ inclusion. We'll have: 🌈 Bonds Photobooth 🌈 Converse Customisation Station 🌈 NGV Guided Tours 🌈 VicHealth Zine Making 🌈 EACH Affirmation Wall 🌈 Queerspace Youth Friendship Bracelet Making 🌈 Games and Drawing Station We also want to extend a massive thank you to every single one of you who have shared our content, donated, or supported this event in any way. There are so many of you, and we couldn't do it without you. We are eternally grateful 💜 Stay tuned for pics after the event! Let's do this, Melbourne! ✨

Five tips for parents from us! Read more: https://buff.ly/4cNFVpz

Mark your calendars: Friday 30 August is Wear It Purple® Day! 💜 On the last Friday in August every year, workplaces, schools and organisations wear purple to stand proudly with LGBTQIA+ youth against the discrimination still faced by so many. Every young person deserves to feel safe. Things should be getting better for LGBTQIA+ young people but, alarmingly, in 2024 discrimination and hate speech is on the rise. How do you get involved? Download your digital 2024 How-To Guide: https://buff.ly/3zeuI2D Written by the Minus18 Team, the guide comes full of advice, handy tips for hosting an activity at work, conversation starters, and exclusive offers like a discount code for our pride and allyship shop! We can't wait to see how you go purple with your team, office, or organisation. Join us and proudly stand with queer youth in the face of discrimination. *Used under license from Wear It Purple Incorporated - wearitpurple.org.au