LGBTIQA+ Ministerial Advisory Council
We advise the ACT Government on issues affecting LGBTIQA+ communities in the ACT.
What we do
The LGBTIQA+ Ministerial Advisory Council (the Council) is set up to:
- give advice to the government on issues affecting LGBTIQA+ communities
- keep the Chief Minister informed about new issues, risks, and opportunities
- consult with LGBTIQA+ people living in Canberra to hear different viewpoints and share these views with the government
- share updates and information with LGBTIQA+ communities about the Council’s work
- work with other ministerial advisory councils to ensure LGBTIQA+ voices and perspectives are heard.
We use the acronym "LGBTIQA+" to include many identities and experiences, such as lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, queer, asexual, aromantic, transgender, agender, non-binary, and intersex people. We know that there is no single experience that represents what it means to be part of the LGBTIQA+ community. The terms we use help us talk about the community, but they can't capture the full range of individual identities and experiences.
The Council is an advisory body. It does not have the power to change the laws or make other decisions on behalf of the Government.
The Office of LGBTIQA+ Affairs supports the functions of the Council.
Our members
- Alistair Ott (Chair, they/them)
- Shawnah Cady (Deputy Co-Chair, they/them)
- Gary Fan (Deputy Co-Chair, he/him)
- Cheyenne Cadence (she/her)
- Edie Sevigny (they/them, she/her)
- Gabriel Filpi (he/him)
- Gregory Robinson (he/him)
- Holly Hazlewood (she/her)
- James Fisher (he/him)
- Jaskiran Rekhraj (she/her)
- Kate Wood (she/her)
- Renee Dixson (they/them)
- Roxie Swart (they/them)
- Zev Aviv Orkin (they/them)
Our members are appointed by ACT Ministers to serve on the Council.
Our members are LGBTIQA+ people living in Canberra, many of whom are also Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, people with disabilities, and from culturally diverse or refugee backgrounds.
The Council includes members who represent different types of families and relationships, and has members who are parents or carers.
Terms of reference
The Terms of Reference is the document that guides the work of the LGBTIQA+ Ministerial Advisory Council. It explains:
- what the council is set up to achieve
- how members work together to achieve these goals
- what the role and responsibilities of members are
- how members are selected, and more.
Read the LGBTIQA+ Ministerial Advisory Council’s Terms of Reference [PDF 302 KB]
Publications
- LGBTIQA+ Ministerial Advisory Council Annual reports including the:
- Housing Stress and Homelessness in the LGBTIQ+ Communities in the ACT report
- 2024 LGBTIQA+ Ministerial Advisory Council Annual Report
- 2023 LGBTIQ+ Ministerial Advisory Council Annual Report
- 2022 LGBTIQ+ Ministerial Advisory Council Annual Report
- 2021 LGBTIQ+ Ministerial Advisory Council Annual Report
Community engagement
We welcome connections with LGBTIQA+ community members, including parents and/or carers of LGBTIQA+ young people and children.
If you want to share your concerns, alert us to any emerging issues for LGBTIQA+ communities in the ACT or invite us to attend your events, email LGBTIQACouncil@act.gov.au
You can also engage with us on our social media:
Contact us
Call
02 6205 1346