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The DEFGLIS Military Pride Ball was a spectacular and glamorous celebration of LGBTI inclusion in the Australian Defence Force. Images from the evening are now available inside this article, with more to follow including speeches.

The ball recognised LGBTI diversity and inclusion achievement from throughout the Australian Defence Force.

DEFGLIS launched the its new women's facebook networking group which aims to better provide for the needs of gay, bisexual and transgender women. The separate group will aims to encourage a greater level of engagement, mentoring and support.

The Defence Pride network was launched by Ms Nikki Curtin, Director - Centre of Diversity Expertise and Major General Gus Gillmore, AO, DSC - Commander of Forces Command on behalf of the Senior Leadership of Defence.

Human Rights Commissioner Tim Wilson provided the key note address speaking about his recently launched "Resilient Individuals" Report and efforts to remove state-based discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex status.

The entertainment during the evening was provided by the Royal Australian Navy Band Sydney.

SX Magazine images | Star Observer images Part 1 | Star Observer images Part 2

To purchase images: Deep Field Photography for SX magazine images | E-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.for Star Observer images

Images below: (c) Copyright 2015 De Leggo for DEFGLIS Defence LGBTI Information Service Incorporated

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OPENING ADRESS BY SQUADRON LEADER VINCE CHONG – PRESIDENT OF DEFGLIS TO THE MILITARY PRIDE BALL AT THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM SYDNEY ON 05 SEPTEMBER 2014

Acknowledgements:

• Major General Gus Gilmore, AO, DSC - Commander Forces Command
• Commodore Lee Goddard, CSC, RAN representing Chief of Navy
• Group Captain Michael Jansen representing Chief of Air Force.
• Mrs Nicki Curtin – Director of the Centre of Diversity Expertise
• NSW SES Commissioner Adam Dent

Tonight represents the largest gathering of LGBTI members of Defence, their families, and our allies since the ban on gay members was lifted in 1992 or the ban on transgender member was lifted in 2010.

The Defence organisation over the past 20 years has moved from conducting witch hunts to ferret out “the gays” to encouraging a culture of respect and inclusion.

DEFGLIS was created because to be gay in Defence meant combatting not just the enemy -- but harassment, ridicule, and isolation.

There was no means of support, information or communication for LGBTI people.

Mistreatment of personnel, poor handling of LGBTI matters, and on the spot policy invention and mythical regulations that only existed for LGBTI personnel.

Tonight is a celebration of where we are now, and how Defence is evolving. But we should remember why we are doing these things.
We undertook a history project, called Reflections.

Dr Noah Riseman and Dr Shirleen Robinson -- who are here tonight -- interviewed numerous current and former Defence members, and you’ll see some of those quotes throughout the evening.

Of course, many of us have been meeting up each year in March for Mardi Gras...

But a formed march down Oxford Street doesn’t give us an opportunity to let our hair down, enjoy each others company, network and be able to hear directly from the Strong Strategic Centre of Defence.

This military pride ball, brings together the Defence LGBTI community and inclusion advocates - in somewhat of a subversive way.

Subversive... only because our protocol and traditions really struggle with the idea of a black tie, mixed ranks event.

Sorry to all the soldiers who don’t have jackets to wear.

Captain Dominic Lopez set the cat amongst the pigeons with an article in Australian Army Journal about coming out in the modern Australian Army.

It highlights there is a tendency for people who have had a trouble-free run in Defence to not notice where problems can still occur...

And it’s really convenient to bench some of the more difficult aspects of coming to terms with your sexual orientation and gender identity when those things are well and truly behind you.

This is why it’s important that DEFGLIS continues to exist and enhances what it is we do.

When you volunteer, you should know that you are directly helping Defence to become more inclusive and to create a supportive culture where it is easier to be your genuine and authentic self.

Being visible and engaged is key to an inclusive culture -- if you’re hiding, nobody knows to include you.

That’s why I’m so thankful for the volunteers who organise and run our events. People like Brandon King for annual Ski Trip, Tom Mylne for Beach Trip, and also Rob Brown for the Hunter Valley Wine Trip.

You’ll notice that we have massively expanded the number and variety of events we hold, reflecting the different lifestyles of Defence members, families and their diverse interests.

• Some of us are more active, so we do sporting activities like beach and skiing.
• Some of us prefer the finer things like wine trips and pride balls.
• And others like the social aspects which come from our smaller local community events organised by local co-ordinators.

Much appreciated support and expertise also comes from outside Defence.

Pride in Diversity and Dawn Hough who we have had a long standing relationship ship with -- through Defence since its foundation -- also helps us to achieve this goal...

Helping connect our members with colleagues in the private sector and facilitating access to best practice for LGBTI inclusion.

For those of you who only attend our events, you may not realise that DEFGLIS has been a policy powerhouse in recent years...

Contributing to and pushing for development in a range of areas including research, policy development, education and supporting Defence as it seeks to evolve its culture to be more inclusive and more respectful.

Our board and specialists are engaged in a range of policy areas including:

• transgender personnel,
• health,
• family relationship recognition and
• culture change in Defence.

And of course we have been there hand in hand with the rest of Defence as we continue evolving Defence culture as part of the Pathway to Change Program.

Innovation and ideas have been key to the successes of our organisation.

• Beth Setter, came up with the idea to create a transgender network;
• Nathan Howarth, currently deployed, who put forward the idea to host a DEFGLIS ball;
• Stuart Martin, the commemoration of the contribution of LGBTI personnel on Anzac Day.

 

Please keep those ideas coming and keep volunteering so we achieve our objectives -- to support, strengthen and educate.

One of the biggest shifts for DEFGLIS is how we provide transgender support. Understand and evolving how we provide support.

The past five years has seen a significant increase in the visibility of transgender service personnel in all three services.

Three to five years ago there as an assumption was that transgender people should just stay go “stealth” and be invisible.

That is no longer the case but we still have work to do.

I’m not going to acknowledge any “firsts” here tonight because I think it is harmful because it diminishes the struggles and contributions of others.

There are a number of people of all ranks who are here tonight that have been working daily to improve the lives of all transgender people both in Service and in the wider community.

Thank you - and we need your continuing assistance as we work how best to meet the needs of the community.

I also know that many of you have really struggled to get your relationships recognised.

DEFGLIS and Defence Families of Australia are working to overcome the final hurdles in policy that stymie recognition of unmarried couples.

It’s been a case study in how a policy that appears fair and equal on paper, can have major blind spots when unconscious bias is present.

I’d like to thank DFA national convenor Robyn Richie who is also here tonight for her support.

Families are key part of our future work:

• Better support for same-sex partners and children, and
• Defence parents who have children with gender dysphoria, and
• Defence families with a member undergoing gender transition.

Expanding further into family support and encouraging member families to reach out to DCO to avail themselves of DCO services - which we know they are not. And to be connected through DFA - and look at what we can do to improve support in each local community.

We want to do better at bringing you interesting and vibrant Defence LGBTI News that highlights the achievements and contribution of LGBTI members - because visibility is what breaks down stereotypes.

ELLEN ZYLA – BOARD MEMBER

Since I was co-opted onto the DEFGLIS Board last year, we have been trying to find ways of engaging more with our members who identify as Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender women.

Tonight's ball has seemed to be the perfect event for this as it is the first event besides Mardi Gras, where we have a massive number of women in attendance.

To help us support you all and find out what we, as an organisation can do for our Lesbian and Bisexual women, we are tonight launching our Women's Network.

The network will be run as a closed Facebook group and you must already be a member of DEFGLIS to be added to the group. It will be a space to chat, support and throw ideas around about events that you would like to see us do and get involved in.
I urge all of you to get onboard and let's start talking about what is unique to us.

THE VICE CHIEF OF DEFENCE FORCE, VICE ADMIRAL RAY GRIGGS AO CSC RAN FORWARDED THIS MESSAGE TO BE READ OUT AT MILITARY PRIDE BALL SATURDAY 5 SEPTEMBER 2015

Delivered by Major General Gus Gillmore, AO, DSC - Commander Forces Command

I'm sorry I can't be with you tonight due to a conflicting engagement, but I am pleased that Defence Pride is being celebrated tonight and that excellence in LGBTI inclusion is being recognised.

I am totally committed to seeing an Australian Defence Force in which there is a culture of inclusion, not a culture of exclusion. One where prejudice, on whatever issue, is rare and where people are judged on their abilities and values.

I am proud of the contributions that LGBTI people make to Defence and I am proud to be in an organisation that has a senior leadership so committed to inclusion and diversity – we will continue to work hard on this.

The Defence Pride Network, which has been launched tonight, is an important initiative for evolving Defence culture. Defence Pride will provide a network for all Defence personnel who want to help create an inclusive culture and generate inclusive leadership. It will enable Defence to more effectively collaborate to support our LGBTI workforce.

I would like to thank DEFGLIS and congratulate you on the great work that you have done during the past 14 years in supporting our people, providing advice and creating a sense of community.
DEFGLIS and the Defence Pride Network will evolve together and provide a comprehensive support package for our LGBTI personnel and their families.

We need your participation to make this initiative a success, so I encourage you to participate and contribute to creating and shaping the new Defence Pride network.

I hope that you all have a great night tonight. Be proud of who you are, and be proud of the fact that you serve our nation in such a capable way.

Message from the Lord Mayor of Sydney

Delivered by DEFGLIS President Vince Chong

On behalf of the City of Sydney, I am delighted to welcome you to Australia’s first ever military pride ball.

Sydney’s LGBTI community contributes a great deal to our individuality and vibrancy as a city. I have long advocated for greater acceptance and support of those who identify as LGBTI, and it’s fantastic that an event like this is taking place.

I commend Defence LGBTI Information Service for the vital work that you do in supporting personnel and their families and encouraging diversity within the Australian Defence organisation.

Our armed forces are stronger for the involvement of committed LGBTI personnel, and it’s wonderful that this is finally being recognised. The Australian Defence Force’s commitment to the LGBTI community was recently demonstrated by your placing in the Top 20 Workplace Employers in the Australian Workplace Equality Index. This is truly something to be proud of.

The military pride ball sounds like a great way of bringing people together to celebrate the achievements that the Australian Defence organisation and community have already made towards diversity and inclusion. It’s also a celebration of the incredible contribution made by LGBTI personnel to the armed forces.

I hope everyone has a wonderful time this evening, and hope this is the first of many military pride balls in our city.

Message to the Australian Military Pride Ball from Ms. Catherine Phuong, Acting Regional Representative, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Regional Office for the Pacific Sydney, 5 September 2015

Delivered by Ms. Julia Dean, National Information Officer, UN Information Centre for Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific

Dear participants of the Australian Military Pride Ball,

Dear friends,

On behalf of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, it is an honour for me to address you during this night of celebration of equality.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the United Nations in 1948, proclaims in its first Article that “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” This is worthwhile repeating: All human beings – not some, not most, but all.

Yet, around the world, far too many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people continue to face discrimination because of who they are, how they look or whom they love.

In 76 countries, same-sex relations are still criminalized. Eight of these countries are among Australia’s neighbors in the South Pacific. In many more countries across the region and the world, homophobic and transphobic attitudes are common, even in places like Australia. This condones violence and discrimination, and breeds a culture of silence and ignorance in regard to the lives of LGBTI people.

That silence must be broken. The important work of DEFGLIS is a great example of how it can be done even within the military, which in many societies is considered the last outpost of sexism, homophobia and transphobia.

One of the international historical milestones of LGBTI rights started here in Australia. In 1994, the UN Human Rights Committee found that Australia was in breach of international law because Tasmania criminalized same-sex relations. The decision initiated a quiet revolution and established the foundation of the following decades’ work to hold States accountable for rights abuses targeting LGBTI people.

Much has happened since then. LGBTI people have become more visible than ever before, demanding their rights. There have been extraordinary shifts in attitudes in many parts of the world. A great number of States have reformed their laws to decriminalize same-sex relations and protect LGBTI people from discrimination. Leaders have spoken out in the defence of LGBTI equality, including the Secretary-General of the United Nations Mr. Ban Ki-moon, who is a passionate ally of the cause.

In July 2013, the global UN campaign for LGBTI equality - Free & Equal - was launched in South Africa by the then United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. The campaign’s core message is simple, yet essential: human rights are for everyone, no matter who you are or whom you love.

The Free & Equal campaign seeks to raise awareness and promote respect for LGBTI rights everywhere. The campaign has reached more than a billion people across the world, also thanks to the support of several celebrity UN Equality Champions, including the hiphop duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, pop star Ricky Martin, Bollywood actress Celina Jaitly, and the band fun.

Exactly a month ago today, the Pacific region celebrated the regional launch of the UN Free & Equal campaign for LGBTI equality. The launch took place in Suva, Fiji, with people coming from more than 14 countries across region to show their support of LGBTI equality, from civil society activists and UN officials to Government representatives and religious leaders.

The Pacific UN Free & Equal campaign has produced two videos featuring LGBTI people from the region and their allies, including the President of Fiji, calling for action to protect the rights of all people, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or intersex status. I hope you will watch them online.

Although the fight for equal rights for LGBTI people in Australia is not won, you have come very far. This Ball is in itself a sign of it. As you celebrate, please take a moment to also think of those whose voices are not heard. Think of those who still have seen too few victories for the protection of their human rights.

I wish you a splendid evening and a joyful celebration of love and identity, and I hope that DEFGLIS will continue its important work.