Who we are.
About Us
Australian GLBTIQ Multicultural Council (AGMC Inc) is a volunteer-run community organisation advocating for the rights and inclusion of multicultural and multifaith LGBTIQ communities. We believe that no one should be discriminated against based on their race, ethnicity, faith, religion, and LGBTIQ identities.
What We Do
As a small organisation, we continue to advocate for change. We do so by:
- Giving expert advice to government and community organisations;
- Conducting research to learn about the lived experiences of multicultural and multifaith LGBTIQ communities;
- Providing education and training on intersectionality, inclusion, and belonging;
- Organising regular social events that foster social harmony and cross-cultural interactions;
- Speaking at conferences, forums, and community events to promote inclusion and belonging.
Our History
A group of volunteers started AGMC in 2004 after seeing the need to discuss issues affecting multicultural and multifaith LGBTIQ communities. Our first conference, “Living and Loving in Diversity,” was held at St Kilda Town Hall in October 2004 and attended by 250 community members, activists, academics, and policymakers. It was considered the first conference in Australia specifically dedicated to multiculturalism within the LGBTIQ communities. The following conferences in 2006 and 2018 were also important as they brought diverse members of the communities together to discuss issues while celebrating our unique identities and lived experiences.
We continue to advocate for the rights and inclusion of multicultural and multifaith LGBTIQ communities. Our members include:
- People from migrant communities (new, emerging, and established);
- People of color;
- People of faith communities.
As a small organisation, we continue to make an impact to influence change. In 2018, we published the book “Living and Loving in Diversity: An Anthology of Multicultural Queer Adventures.” This book explored the complexities and richness of multicultural and multifaith voices as part of Australian society. It also celebrates our unique identities.
Through AGMC training, we have trained many agencies on the following topics:
- LGBTIQ awareness;
- Multicultural and multifaith LGBTIQ communities;
- Intersectionality;
- Inclusion and Belonging.
Our social events, “United We Feast,” provide a safe, inclusive, and welcoming space for diverse members of the LGBTIQ communities, allies, and accomplices to get together and celebrate the diversity that exists within the LGBTIQ communities and beyond.
Intersectionality
We use the intersectional framework in our work. Intersectionality means a combination of two or more identities that help to shape who we are as a person. These identities can include two or more of the following:
- Our ethnicity;
- Our nationality;
- Our faith/religion;
- Our cultural identity;
- Our disability;
- Our age;
- Our migration history;
- Our sexuality;
- Our gender identity;
- Our intersex characteristics;
- And many more.
We believe that we don’t have to choose our LGBTIQ identities over our cultural and/or religious identities; we celebrate all of our unique identities.
How to Be Involved?
As we continue to grow, we are looking for enthusiastic people to be part of our family. We are looking for volunteers to help us run events, forums, and other community-based activities. Join us as a member and be part of an organisation that embraces and celebrates diversity, intersectionality, inclusion, and belonging.
How to Keep Up to Date?
To keep up to date with our activities, join our Facebook page:
https://facebook.com/multiculturallgbtiq
You can also sign up for our email list to receive news and updates:
Or, send us an email to find out more about the organisation:
We look forward to welcoming you into our AGMC family.