The Victorian Pride Centre was officially opened on the morning of Sunday 11 July 2021. The centre was officially launched by Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, Minister for Equality Martin Foley, and Mayor of the City of Port Phillip Louise Crawford and their speeches will be the subject of further podcasts on this channel. This podcast includes a short speech by Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and the extraordinary version of Over the Rainbow sung as the rainbow flag was finally raised over the centre by jazz singer, cabaret artiste & gender transcendent diva, Mama Alto. Mama Alto is a jazz singer, cabaret artiste & gender transcendent diva. She is a transgender & queer person of colour who works with the radical potential of storytelling, strength in softness and power in vulnerability. Visit the Victorian Pride Centre (which is, of course, JOY’s new home) website for more information an electronic guided tour of the building and much, much more. NOTE: Apologies for the poor audio in parts as the microphone obviously could not cope with Mama’s extraordinary singing range!