Rainbow group here to help

A group in the Manjimup area is providing support for people in the LGBTQIA+ community.

The Southern Forests Rainbow Faction is a community group for LGBTQIA+, non-binary and gender non-conforming people to meet, share, learn, support and be happy.

There are youth and adult meetings held regularly, with the support of the Manjimup Family Centre as a venue.

Centre volunteer Kim Crotty said the group, which had been run since September, was the only LGBTQIA+ group in the region outside of Bunbury and Busselton.

“There have been wonderful things happening ever since,” he said.

“It is important because, in addition to LBGT youth being a marginalised group, there’s also the issue of us being in an isolated town.”

Mr Crotty said the centre, in addition to the Manjimup Shire Council and Manjimup Senior High School, had been supportive of the group’s formation.

Centre manager Ruth Phillips said interest in the group had built slowly but was important to the community.

“Even if LGBT youth don’t want to come along, even knowing there is a group like this can make all the different,” she said.

A LGBTQIA+ peer support camp will be held in Manjimup in December.

Visit the Southern Forests Rainbow Faction Facebook page or contact the Manjimup Family Centre to learn more about the group.