“Thank you Mum and Dad for making me just the way gay I am”.

These words, by Olympic gold medallist Matthew Mitcham, is just one of the many messages included in This Is Oz, a daring new online project that aims to promote social inclusion and equality for Australia’s GLBT community.

Launched in May, This Is Oz is an online photo gallery where people from all walks of life can upload images of themselves with written messages that challenge homophobia or celebrate diversity. Anyone can take part: gay, straight, lesbian, transgender, bisexual, queer, famous, not-so-famous – whoever you are, wherever you are, the project is open to all.

"As Australians, we pride ourselves on the principals of freedom and equality that have become hallmarks of our society,” said Stevie Clayton, CEO of ACON, the organisation spearheading the project. “However, unjust laws and unfriendly attitudes mean that GLBT Australians don’t always get a fair go.

“While the reforms that have been made recently at the Federal level are a step in the right direction, there’s still a long way to go before the journey’s over.” Thus, Clayton said, This Is Oz, with its messages of empowerment, hope, inclusion and dreams, is a timely and effective way to speak up for an inclusive Australia, to show support for the GLBT community or to just simply let the world know how one feels.  

The project, which takes its inspiration from a similar online campaign in the US called Faces of Us, is being presented in partnership with numerous government and community organisations, including the NSW Police Force, the NSW Attorney General’s Department, Diversity Council of Australia, Amnesty International, The Gender Centre, Twenty10, the National LGBT Health Alliance, Highschoolers Against Homophobia, SameSame.com.au and Evolution Publishing, publisher of MCV.

Already on board with their own images and handwritten messages are Senator Bob Brown (“Celebrate love in all its diversity”); Former High Court judge Michael Kirby (“Judge not”); television personality Ruby Rose (“What’s fear got to do with it?”); dancer Rhys Bobridge (“Do your dance for diversity”); and Federal Minister Tanya Plibersek (“Pride not prejudice”).

“We know that a great many Australians share our vision for an inclusive Australia. This Is Oz offers them a simple yet powerful way to speak up and show their support for a society that embraces diversity and accepts people on face value.””  

To find out more about the project or to get involved, go to www.thisisoz.com.au