Pride in Swan Inc. is proud to deliver Living the Rainbow with the support of the Western Australian Department of Communities, through the LGBTIQA+ Inclusion Grants 2025–26 – Tier Two Grants Program. This initiative celebrates diversity and empowers LGBTIQA+ people of colour, particularly first-generation migrants, by amplifying their voices, increasing visibility, creating culturally safe and inclusive spaces, and strengthening community connections.
Across the world, millions of LGBTIQA+ people continue to face discrimination, criminalisation and persecution because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, with consensual same-sex relationships still criminalised in more than 60 countries and punishable by death in some.As Australia’s multicultural population continues to grow, many migrants and refugees arrive from countries where diverse sexual orientations and gender identities are criminalised, heavily stigmatised or culturally unacknowledged.
For LGBTIQA+ people of colour, particularly first-generation migrants, navigating the intersections of culture, faith, family expectations and personal identity can present significant challenges to acceptance, inclusion and belonging.
Despite progress towards LGBTIQA+ equality, queer people of colour remain underrepresented in mainstream programs, community leadership, policy development and decision-making processes, with their voices, lived experiences and cultural perspectives too often overlooked. Many continue to experience social isolation, discrimination, cultural stigma and barriers to accessing culturally safe and inclusive services, while multicultural community organisations and service providers may lack the knowledge, confidence and resources to respond effectively to their unique needs.
Built around three key pillars of advocacy, inclusion and capacity building, the initiative aims to amplify underrepresented voices, strengthen community leadership, increase cultural awareness and build the capacity of multicultural and mainstream organisations to provide inclusive and culturally responsive support. Through community-led engagement, meaningful conversations and culturally safe spaces, the project seeks to create opportunities for LGBTIQA+ people of colour to connect, share their experiences, build confidence and develop a stronger sense of belonging.
Our goal is to bridge the gap between multicultural and LGBTIQA+ communities, challenge stigma, reduce social isolation and foster greater understanding, acceptance and inclusion, while empowering individuals to embrace and celebrate both their cultural heritage and their authentic identities.
To learn more about the project or explore opportunities to get involved, please contact Project Officer Himani at Pride in Swan Inc.
📧 Email: himani@prideinswan.org
📞 Phone: 0466 039 410