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Celebrities Help Launch National Education Campaign

Tue, 02/02/2010 - 5:02pm — admin

2 February 2010

Celebrities help launch Wear It With Pride on the steps of the Sydney Opera House.

Celebrities help launch Wear It With Pride on the steps of the Sydney
Opera House.

Image by Ann-Marie Calilhanna.

Australian celebrities have come out in force today on the steps of the Sydney Opera House to launch a new national education campaign. The celebrities have joined forces with members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community to educate all Australians about 85 law reforms that will positively affect the lives of same sex couples.

National LGBT Health Alliance Executive Director, Gabi Rosenstreich said the Wear it with Pride campaign fused human rights with arts to create a visually engaging and interesting campaign.
“Today’s spectacular art installation at the Opera House showcases some of the 85 t-shirts that form a part of our innovative education campaign. With the help of our celebrity campaign ambassadors, we hope all Australians and especially same-sex attracted Australians will inform themselves about these historic reforms.”

The celebrities, which include Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Todd McKenney, Ruby Rose and Kylie Gillies, have been joined by other grass-roots community members in a campaign called WEAR IT WITH PRIDE. To celebrate the 85 same-sex law reforms, 85 t-shirts inspired by the changes have been produced. The campaign ambassadors now want people to find out which ones fit them at www.wearitwithpride.com.au

The first of the eighty-five unique designer t-shirts were also unveiled today. Custom designed by some of the country’s hottest artists and top designers from Australia and beyond, they aim to spark conversations about the law reforms that give same sex couples equal rights in the areas of employee entitlements, privacy rights, tax, superannuation, child support and insurance.

Other campaign ambassadors include Kerri-Anne Kennerley, Richard Reid (Today show), drag identity Courtney Act, Prof. Kerryn Phelps (former Head of the AMA), media personality Julie McCrossin, Geoff Field from the Kyle and Jackie O show, Jess and Lisa Origliasso from The Veronicas, Indigenous Actor, Director, Choreographer Noel Tovey, performer iOTA, David Page from the Bangarra Dance Theatre, Air Commodore Tracy Smart and Adam Sutton, the man who was Heath Ledger’s inspiration for Brokeback Mountain.

Campaign organisers thank the Australian Government for the funding for the campaign, along with The Sydney Opera House, Hills Australia, Partridge Partners and creative agency M&C Saatchi for helping to take the WEAR IT WITH PRIDE to all Australians.

The campaign is looking for more people to become ambassadors for the campaign or to design a t-shirt for the campaign. Involvement is entirely voluntary and pro-bono. Each participant, whether they’re a designer or influencer, will play a vital role in promoting this human rights milestone for Australia.

For further information visit www.wearitwithpride.com.au