Ron Hughes talks to Glenis Crane of singing group, the Adelaide Gay & Lesbian Qwire.

Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras (SGLMG) held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) over the weekend with members of the not-for-profit community group largely pleased with the direction of the organisation as it seeks to diversify revenue streams for future Mardi Gras seasons.

Sydney Mardi Gras will receive extra funding to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the parade in 2013, with the City of Sydney announcing an increase in cash sponsorship for the annual festival celebrating the LGBTIQ community.

SYDNEY: The Reg Murphy Centre in Elizabeth Bay will continue as a venue for theatre and the arts with the City of Sydney now accepting expressions of interest from applicants willing and able to run the performance space.

Psychologist and gay Christian advocate Dr Stuart Edser will speak about the challenges faced by LGBTI Christians at an insightful presentation night in Sydney next month.

The Pollys Club celebrated its 48th birthday this month by giving grant money to a number of community organisations and charities.

The Sydney Gay & Lesbian Choir’s regular rehearsal space will see a $5 million redevelopment with Heffron Hall in East Sydney to soon provide for more multipurpose spaces for community hire as well as improved facilities for out-of-hours school care.

Michael Rolik will step down as CEO of Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras (SGLMG) after almost three years in the position, with his tenure coinciding with the aftermath of the controversial decision to split the Parade and Party as well the ignominy over last year’s decision to drop the words ‘Gay & Lesbian’ from the Parade title.

The BGF Bake Off will celebrate its Silver Anniversary at Slide Lounge on Sunday, with MasterChef’s Kevin Perry and Shauna Jensen from The Voice to be on hand to judge this year’s best cakes, some of which will be auctioned off.

Former High Court judge Michael Kirby was on hand this week to help the Inner City Legal Centre (ICLC) launch a charitable trust that will see donated funds used to help provide increased legal support for the LGBTIQ community in Sydney and across NSW.

Having recently been stood down over his support for marriage equality, Baptist minister Reverend Matt Glover will be one of the speakers at a special event organised by Freedom2b early next month to help improve the dialogue between the LGBTI community and churches.

While tens of thousands of Euro-pop fans are expected to descend onto the capital of Azerbaijan for Europe’s most eagerly awaited annual song contest this weekend, parties will also be taking place across Oxford Street to celebrate all the glamour of Eurovision.

Leading health groups and national HIV bodies have come to the defence of Queensland’s peak LGBT health and wellbeing organisation, Healthy Communities, after Queensland Health Minister Lawrence Springborg announced plans to have its funding gutted.

In what is described as a first for the aged care industry, UnitingCare Ageing has taken the step of appointing an LGBTI project officer to liaise with community and health organisations to help gain a better understanding of the challenges facing older LGBTI people.

Former NSW Premier Kristina Keneally will officially open an exhibition at Surry Hills Library early next month that documents the story of the world’s second oldest gay Catholic group, Acceptance Sydney.