Transgender Victoria honoured at Human Rights Awards

TRANSGENDER Victoria’s dedication to achieving justice, quality health and community services for trans* people was recognised at the annual Human Rights Awards last night.

The organisation won the Community Organisation Award, beating finalists Refugee Advice and Casework Service, No FGM Australia and Settlement Services International.

Transgender Victoria executive director Sally Goldner was at the gala ceremony in Sydney last night to receive the award.

She told the Star Observer afterwards that the honour would not only “empower and encourage” her organisation to achieve more, it would have the same affect in its trans* members and their families, partners and friends.

“When they called out Transgender Victoria, I was almost not believing it,” she said.

“It’s amazing that after 15 years, it’s actually happened.

“It’s incredible that a transgender organisation has won an award.”

While Transgender Victoria was the only LGBTI group that won a Human Rights Awards last night, there were several other LGBTI identities in the line-up of finalists.

These included Tim Bishop in the Radio category for his work My Man and Me; Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby c0-convenor Anna Brown in the Community Individual category; and Noel Tovey for the Human Rights Medal — which was awarded to refugee advocate and Holroyd High School principal Dorothy Hoddinott.