*Age Of
Consent & Legal Sexual Activity for the State of
28th February 2011 Email to Premier Anna Bligh and new Attorney-General Paul
Lucas Regarding the Sunday Mail online article 27th
February 2011 “Queensland homosexual youth still find it a battle to
'come out' " - in which esteemed local psychologist
Paul Martin discusses the very real risk
of suicide for homosexual youth caused by Government refusal to treat homosexuals with genuine equity. I state that equity in age of consent is
one thing that the Queensland Government can do to reduce the suicide risk.
From: John Frame
[mailto:jvframe@ozemail.com.au]
Sent: Monday, 28 February 2011 2:15 PM
To: Attorney - SMTP; The Premier
Cc: (jvframe@ozemail.com.au); Linda Petrie
Subject: Bligh Labor reponse to SM article
"Queensland homosexual youth still find it a battle to 'come out' " ?
To
Hon. Premier Ms Anna Bligh and newly appointed Attorney-General Hon. Mr Paul
Lucas
Dear
Premier and Attorney-General,
Yesterday,
27th February 2011, the Sunday Mail's website featured an article titled
"Queensland homosexual youth still find it a battle to 'come out' ".
In that article, which I have included in full further below, esteemed
local psychologist Paul Martin discusses the very real risk of suicide for
homosexual youth caused by Government refusal to treat homosexuals with
genuine equity.
The
Queensland Government has the unique power to dramatically improve legal
equity for all youth, including homosexual youth, by bringing our state into
line with all of the rest of Australia in regard to age of consent laws -
specifically by making the age of consent truly equal for all youth.
Queensland
is the only state or territory which sets a higher minimum age
for intercourse between male youths. That anomaly was enacted in 1990 when
sex between males was otherwise decriminalised". It was either a token
effort to appease conservative MP's who had feared
that male youth would be seduced by older men, or an ill-informed effort
to stop male youth from seducing each other. The anomaly was
enacted against the very specific majority recommendation (No 7)
of the 1990 PCJC Report No 2 (which was also supported by Committee
Chair Peter Beattie).
This
month marks exactly eleven years in which I have been actively organising
community support for equal age of consent reform, and in which I have
maintained regular correspondence with Premier Beattie, with your self
Madam Premier, and now with six Attorneys-General. I maintain an internet
resource for public access, with full details of all correspondence, media
articles, interviews, legislation references, legal history and all
actions at:
http://www.queerradio.org/AgeOfConsent.htm
I
know that Queensland Labor's Policy Platfform includes written support for equity in laws
related to age of consent. I also know that several Queensland branches of the Labor Party have passed motions calling for you to
act urgently on this reform.
So,
once again, I beg for your Government to show due care and compassion for
Queensland youth, including those who are homosexual, by enacting equal age of
consent reform. All you need to do is remove Section 208 of the Criminal Code -
the Section which made all sex between men illegal before 1990, and which
continues to actively discriminate against homosexual youth in
particular.
I
welcome your response and any equiry.
I
especially welcome the realisation of reform action.
Yours
sincerely,
John
Frame
82
Main Ave., Wavell Hts 4012 Australia
Ph:
(07) 3350 1562 / 0409 501 561
http://www.queerradio.org/AgeOfConsent.htm
---"There
is no substitute for equality"---
Queensland
homosexual youth still find it a battle to 'come out'
- by Jackie Sinnerton
- From: The
Sunday Mail (Qld)
- February 27, 2011 12:00AM
(Picture
of 2 young women)
COOL WITH IT: Shelby Dinan-Ouston (right), who has "come out" with the support of her family, is one of the happy exceptions to Queensland gay youth. Pic: Jono Searle Source: The Sunday Mail (Qld)
SCRATCH
away some of the glitter of this week's Mardi Gras
festival and there is a darker element to the celebrations.
While
the focus is on the costumes, parade and parties of the homosexual community,
many gay youths will be wrestling with their sexuality and finding the strength
to 'come out'.
Homelessness,
depression and suicide are often the fallout of their struggle.
"Unfortunately,
Queensland doesn't fare well when it comes to embracing people's sexuality.
There is still a lot of homophobia and conservatism that weighs heavily on a
teen who is scared to reveal themselves. And
ultimately when you have to hide who you really are it will eventually have a
massive impact on your mental health," according to Brisbane psychologist
Paul Martin who was this month named one of the top 25 most influential gay and
lesbian Australians by SameSame website.
Also
on the list were young comedians Josh Thomas and Tom Ballard, politicians Bob
Brown and Penny Wong, media personality Ruby Rose, and theatre producer John
Frost.
Mr
Martin, of Lutwyche, Brisbane, received the gong for his tireless work helping
young gays in the 'coming out' process.
"The
work is my passion as I have lived the trauma. I was brought up in a deeply
religious family where I was taught it was an abomination to be homosexual. I
lived in deep personal conflict for years.
"I
became something I was taught to hate. I joined a Christian group called Exodus
that promotes heterosexuality. So you could say I did my best to stay well hidden
in the closet. But I saw the light. By then I was an adult and had wasted many
years fighting something I just could not help.
"I
think my background helps me relate to these young teens. When they hear my
story they are more trusting."
Mr
Martin counsels teenagers as young as 14 in these matters.
"I
once asked a young gay boy why he had attempted to take his life and he said
that he had just watched the Prime Minister on the television saying that gay
marriage was not an option. He felt that the future offered nothing for him if
he was unable to live in a loving relationship. How sad," Mr Martin said.
Statistics
show that young gays whose parents abandon them are almost 10 times more likely
to commit suicide.
"It
is traumatic for young gay people who do not have their family's support.
"There
is a deep need for parental approval," he said. "From the age of 13
many of them find themselves homeless. That is hard to take when you are
already going through much inner turmoil and probably prejudice from other
sources."
Thankfully,
said the Brisbane psychologist, the attitude towards homosexuality was slowly
changing. He believed hit TV shows like Glee were saving lives.
"Gay
kids watching the turmoil faced by homosexual teen character Kurt Hummel are bolstered
by the idea that they are not alone. Suicide can be a big problem in gay youths
who feel their situation is hopeless. A prime time television character like
Kurt can reach out to kids in a more effective way than any lecturer or
professional," he said.
Support
group Open Doors in Brisbane city offers a helping hand to Queensland youth. It
helps build resilience in young people with diverse genders and/or sexualities.
Three
quarters of these kids have experienced some form of depression.
Julie
Ouston of Holland Park West in Brisbane is horrified
that any parent would turn their back on a child because of their sexuality.
Her
daughter Shelby 'came out' this year at the age of 17.
"I
knew for years that Shelby may be gay. I suspected as far back as when she used
to play with Tonka trucks.
"There
was something about her that was different from her sister," Mrs Ouston said.
"I
waited until Shelby was ready to tell me and I immediately offered my support
as did her step dad. The transition has been smooth sailing. I am very proud of
her," said the Brisbane mum.
"Of
course I had the usual thoughts of any mother. Will she get to be a mother?
Will her life be hard? But in this day and age a family is possible and I know
that she will be happy.
"Maybe
it was easier for her because she grew up in a family that showed no
homophobia."
Shelby
is heading off on her first trip to the Sydney Mardi Gras this week.
Joe
Diskett, 18, of Jindalee, in Brisbane's western
suburbs, understands the difficulties of being young and going public with
their sexuality.
"My
mum kind of made it easy for me, she pulled me out of
the closet. I suppose I knew for definite that I was gay when I was 13.
"We
were living in Scotland then but I wasn't ready to come out to my friends. Only
my best friend knew.
"When
we came to Australia and I started at Indooroopilly State High, I was a little
older and was ready to be open about it. The school was great.
"Of
course, there were the usual comments and bad attitudes but generally I was
very well accepted.
"Mum
and Dad have been rocks. They have been with me every step of the way.
"I
know of kids who have been forced out of home because they were not accepted
for who they were. It is awful for teens to find themselves on the street.
"There
must be the feeling if my parents don't like me then who will? That's
tough," he said.
Joe
believes that Queensland lags behind the other Australian states when it comes
to homosexuality. But with each decade things will improve.
This
year the Sydney Mardi Gras Festival has 80 events running over two weeks,
culminating in the world famous Parade and Party on Saturday.
The
gay community in Brisbane has its sights set on the Big Gay Day on March 13.
The
Biggest Gayest Party/Charity Fundraiser of the Year is held at the Wickham
Hotel and surrounding streets in Fortitude Valley.