Our friends from Rambling Women Media have been working hard over the last year on their documentary film “The Cure”, and they have just announced that the premiere will take place during the 2012 Mardi Gras Film Festival.

Our next Sydney meeting will be a Special freedom2b BBQ the evening before we march in the 2012 Sydney Mardi Gras. It will be a time for all local, interstate and overseas freedom2b’ers along with family and friends to come together and celebrate the message we are about to send.

We are also privileged to welcome Anthony Venn-Brown along as our special guest speaker for the night who will be talking on “Behind The Scenes Of freedom2b’s First Mardi Gras”.

Anthony was a leader in the Assemblies of God and a high profile preacher in Australia’s mega-churches. In 1991 he resigned from the ministry and came out. After publication of his bestselling autobiography ‘A Life of Unlearning’ 1,000’s of gay and lesbian people from Christian backgrounds were enabled to find resolution of the perceived conflict between their faith and sexuality.

Freedom2b was co-founded by Anthony in 2005 and quickly became Australia’s leading organisation for people from LGBT backgrounds. His work during this time contributed to the decline in ‘ex-gay’ programs in Australia.

Following his departure from Freedom2b, Anthony founded and is now directing Ambassadors and Bridge Builders International (ABBI) which is committed to ending unnecessary suffering resulting from ignorance and misinformation about sexual orientation and gender diversity. He continues to empower LGBT community members, build bridges with the Church and provide resources.

Who can come?

* ALL freedom2b Parade participants who have registered to march (Essential as this is when you receive T-shirts and instructions for marching in parade the following day.)
* freedom2b regulars and others in town for MG
* Guests who are interested in knowing more about Freedom2b

What do I bring?

* Nothing, The night has been catered for.

How much will it cost?

* There is a small cost of $10 per person. This covers catering and venue hire.

When: Friday 2nd March 2012

Program:

7.00pm – People start arriving and dinner is served.
8:30pm – Anthony’s talk, Mardi Gras breifing, Mardi Gras marching packs collection
9:30pm – Socialising
10:30pm – Close

Where: Redfern Oval Community Room, Redfern Park (Chalmers Street side, above the café next to the grandstand)

Google maps:

http://maps.google.com.au/maps?q=redfern+park&hl=en&ved=0CBcQpQY&ei=TmvgTOWbMJa-vAPGmKTxAw&vps=3&jsv=293b&sll=-33.894545%2C151.206237&sspn=0.268418%2C0.700052&ie=UTF8&view=map&cid=1081283275369091040&iwloc=A&sa=X

Is it too late for me to register to join the parade group?

Registrations close on Friday February 17th 2012. If you are still interested in marching with Freedom2b in the Mardi Gras, please visit http://f2bmg2012.eventbrite.com/

For further queries please email events@freedom2b.org or phone 0409 243 009

* Registration is now closed.

Everyone at freedom2b has had a different experience in coming to terms with their sexuality and how they let those around them know about their struggle. Some have faced rejection from church or family members, some have had conditions imposed on them based on out dated beliefs. These experiences can be torturous and cause a person to feel like they are worth less than they are.

In 2012, freedom2b (a network of people from Christian backgrounds) will be sending a message that all you need is love as we march for the sixth time in the Sydney Mardi Gras.

Love lays the foundation for acceptance, it helps people to feel like they are worth something and it builds trust. But most importantly, it saves lives. Only through love can we rise above common heights and see the hurt that others go through.

Our message is a positive one being sent out to those who would imprison us through their ignorance. It’s time to teach those who would listen that all you need is love.

To secure your spot to march with freedom2b, please follow this link:

http://f2bmg2012.eventbrite.com/

The cost to march will be $55 (or $35 if you are a student or on benefits).

For more information, please email events@freedom2b.org or call Shane on 0409 243 009

Photos of 2007: http://avb7.multiply.com/photos/album/1
Photos of 2008: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=8803252341
Photos of 2009: http://www.freedom2b.org/gallery/?album=all&gallery=11
Photos of 2010: http://www.freedom2b.org/gallery/?album=all&gallery=13
Photos of 2011: http://www.freedom2b.org/gallery/?album=all&gallery=16

Many people find themselves wishing that they had done something differently in the past.
Have you ever wished that you could change a decision?
Or done something differently?
Or made a decision earlier?
Could I have come out earlier?
Can take that step sooner?
Or do something different?
Or turn back time?
Or make something right?
Regret can really effect people. But what can we change? And what can we do to make the changes that we really need or make us happier?

Where: Health Communities Training Room

When: 7pm – 9th March 2012

Join freedom2b youth at MQFF (Melbourne Queer Film Festival) this year in seeing a new Australian documentary, “The Cure” which investigates reparative programs (ex-gay ministries) and the mental health implications of trying to change one’s sexuality.

Interviews with Freedom2b members Anthony Venn-Brown, Ben Gresham and Hannah Pia Baral are heavily featured in the film as is Freedom2b’s entry in the 2011 Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras. Others interviewed through the course of the film include psychologist and advocate for equality Paul Martin and the leader of Living Waters Ron Brookman.

Please join us at this ground breaking documentary – the first to focus on ex-gay programs in Australia. Make sure you get in early to buy tickets, will update with the details as soon as the program is released.

Join us for Q&A with the filmmaker Heather Corkhill after the session.

Hope to see you there!