While the world was busy last week with the US elections, a small but sure rainbow wave was shooting across Victoria as the Victorian Electoral Commission announced local council election results in batches. Ultimately 29 openly LGBTQI candidates were elected to 20 local councils across the state, out of the 77 councils that had elections in October.

Over 132 openly LGBTQI candidates had contested the council elections this year in Victoria. With 29 elected, this is the best showing ever for the community – at the last election in 2016 around 11 openly LGBTQI candidates had made it to the council.

“I think it’s so important for LGBTQI people to run for local government, and I’m really pleased that there’s going to be a large number of LGBTQI councillors across the state for the next term of the council,” Polly Morgan, a first-time councillor elected to the inner city Stonnington council, told Star Observer. Read more via Star Observer