Read Jenny's speech in parliament acknowledging the Metropolitan Community Church in Petersham for their work supporting the LGBTIQ community.
Ms JENNY LEONG ( Newtown ) ( 16:14 :39 ): The Metropolitan Community Church in Petersham provides a welcoming space for all community members, particularly those from the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and questioning [LGBTIQ] communities who feel excluded elsewhere. I was pleased to attend the inspiring blessing of the Mardi Gras service at the church this year, to address the congregation and to inspect the works done to the facilities through the support of a New South Wales Government Community Building Partnership grant. Thank you to Reverend Gavin Ward and board members Brad Fisher, Raymond Holmes, PJ Dwyer, Joey Yung and Sara de Rooy for all that you do.
It was also my great pleasure to wave the rainbow flag at the Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby Rainbow Run this year with other members of the New South Wales parliamentary friends of LGBTIQ group. Congratulations to all the participants who came out to run in cold and wet conditions and congratulations to the lobby's Lauren Foy and Chris Pycroft, the many volunteers, the infamous Rainbow Run Drag Queens, Dykes on Bikes, DJ Sveta and emcee James Brechney for their fabulous contributions and to the Sydney Park Café, which kept participants pumped with coffee.