Living Proud’s story is one of decades of community-led care, advocacy and resilience. It begins with the Campaign Against Moral Persecution (CAMP) and Phone-A-Friend. Both were grassroots initiatives when services for LGBTIQA+SB people were scarce. They created vital connection and support for our community in Perth. These beginnings were the foundation for what came next. The Homosexual Counselling Service of Western Australia was established in 1974. This marked the first formal support services for the community.
As the community grew and evolved, so too did the organisation. In 1984, it became the Gay Counselling Service of WA (Inc). This reflected both incorporation and a strengthening of its role. By 1990, the name changed again to the Gay and Lesbian Community Services of WA (Inc). This shift recognised a broader, more visible community. It also reflected an expanding range of services beyond counselling.
More than two decades later, a new project began: the LGBTI Suicide Prevention Project. This project was funded by the OneLife WA Suicide Prevention Strategy (2011–2013). The initiative marked a significant moment. The project brought together community voices, leaders, and organisations. They worked together to address mental health and suicide prevention. They did this in a targeted, culturally informed way. A community-led steering committee chose the name “Living Proud”. This became the name for the project, but also a vision for the future. Our organisation adopted the name Living Proud Inc. after the projects’ success. This change reflects a continued commitment to inclusion, growth, and community responsiveness. Today, we support the health and wellbeing of our community. This includes Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer, Asexual, Sistergirl and Brotherboy people. The “+” acknowledges the diversity of identities and experiences that extend beyond these terms.
We include Sistergirl and Brotherboy in our acronym. These terms refer to trans women and trans men who are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander. Sistergirl and Brotherboy are unique cultural identities. We include these terms as a form of cultural respect. We recognise that inclusion must be culturally safe and community-led.
Living Proud’s history is more than a timeline of name changes. It is a reflection of a community shaping its own support systems. We have moved from grassroots activism to structured service delivery. Our core purpose is to help people feel connected, supported and empowered. We have done this for individuals and communities for over 50 years. We exist so that people can truly feel they are “Living Proud.”
