Brisbane’s Rainbow Hub initiative has launched a new video campaign to promote the city as a welcoming destination for LGBTQI+ international students and promote the services available to them.
“I want their story to be told because education is key”
The We are the Future campaign, which launched in late November, aims to celebrate LGBTQI+ international students and show Brisbane as an open and accepting city.
“It’s important to show not only the students that are here that they have this space to come to, but to other queer international students to show them that Brisbane is a queer-friendly space and that they are accepted here,” said RH founder Louise Kane.
“The Rainbow Hub is here for them to be a part of.”
Officially launched in May 2018, the Rainbow Hub aims to provide a safe space for international students within the LGBTQI+ community to meet and receive information and shares space alongside Brisbane’s Student Hub.
Jointly supported by Study Queensland, Study Brisbane, Navitas, English Australia and accommodation provider Student One, the project is also run by international students, with oversight by Kane, who told The PIE News she wanted to empower them to be leaders in their community.
“For me, they’re just people, and they’re inspiring, amazing people and I want their story to be told, because education is key. Education is what this is all about,” she said.
The launch of the video comes just over a year after Australia voted in favour of marriage equality in a postal plebiscite.
Earlier this year, EAIE also announced an LGBTQI+ taskforce to promote diversity in international education.