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Youth

Telephone Counselling; Suicide Prevention; Online LGBT Youth Community Sites; Local Support & Social Groups; Youth Health; School-related Resources; Advocacy Groups; Information & Resources

Telephone Counselling:
Kids Help Line

A National 24 Hour Telephone Counseling Service for Children and Young People in Australia. Phone 1800 55 1800
www.kidshelp.com.au

Gay and Lesbian Welfare Association (Brisbane based LGBT telephone counseling service)

Fully trained compassionate LGBT counselors will answer your call and offer non-judgmental basic support, comprehensive information and referrals to health services, community support groups, social groups etc.

Phone 3017 1717 (or outside local Brisbane area Freecall 1800 184 527) 7-10pm, 7days a week.

www.glwa.org.au

Suicide Prevention:

The Trevor Project

                        “A non-profit endeavour established to promote acceptance of gay and questioning teenagers and LGBT youth and to aid in suicide prevention among that group.”

                        http://www.thetrevorproject.org/

Youth Suicide Problems - Gay/Bisexual Male Focus (Alberta, Canada)

For a broad and comprehensive range of topics including gay youth suicide: http://www.youth-suicide.com/gay-bisexual/

"A Mother's Letter to Her Gay Son" This page and its attachments show the anguish of both the boy who died and of his mother, who was unaware of his reason for suffering: http://www.youth-suicide.com/gay-bisexual/news/gay-suicide-mother.htm

Local Support & Social Groups for LGBT Youth:

Open Doors (Fortitude Valley, Brisbane LGBT Youth Service)

Open Doors supports young people who are exploring, questioning or identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender between 12 -18 and their families. Open Doors is a holistic, innovative and dynamic service which works with young people in creative, accessible and culturally appropriate ways to enhance participation and connection to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender cultures and other communities. We work within the greater Brisbane area with young people who are homeless or experiencing difficulties at home or feeling isolated and confused along with their family members and support networks. Open Doors will also work with service providers and communities to raise awareness and understanding of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender young people’s issues, needs and experiences.

www.opendoors.net.au Phone: 3257 7660 email: opendoors@opendoors.net.au

2QT 2B STR8 (Logan area GLBT Youth Group) (re-launched April 2006)

2QT2BSTR8 is a support and information program that has a strong focus on being social and being fun. The program is run on a weekday evening for two hours each week and it’s a great way of meeting other young people in the Logan area.

 Young people who are interested in finding out more about 2QT2BSTR8 can call on (07) 3208 8199, SMS on 0403 587 708 or email  2qt2bstr8@yfs.org.au

Toehold (Brisbane gay & bi male youth support)

Young mens’ support group for those 26 and under. Discussion groups, workshops, social events. Contact QAHC during business hours on 3017 1777.

Email info@QAHC.org.au

Australian Bisexual Network

                        Based in Brisbane – support, information, fortnightly social meetings etc. For information call 07 38572500.

                        http://members.optusnet.com.au/~ausbinet/ 

University of Queensland Queer Sexuality Collective

This Collective is open to all Queer students and those questioning compulsory heterosexuality. The QSC initiates political campaigns, social events and workshops. Safe meeting/relaxation space “The Carden Room” in the Student Union Building at St Lucia.

http://www.uqunion.uq.edu.au/queer/collective

University of Queensland – “ALLY Program” (UQ Equity Office)  

What is an Ally? An Ally provides a ‘safe zone' for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT/I) students and staff. An official Ally will display an ‘Ally' sign in their work area. Their visible presence assists in combating heterosexism and homophobia. Lots of Ally members are on the St Lucia Campus, with several also at Ipswich and Gatton Campuses.

                        http://www.uq.edu.au/equity/?id=18629

Online LGBT Youth Community Site:

Mogenic

Progressive Australian based international gay and lesbian teen site with stories, articles, links, chatrooms, personals etc.

www.mogenic.com

Information and Resources:

Alsorts: A Sexuality Awareness Resource (by Victoria’s ALSO Foundation)

The link below presents a brief introduction to what is contained in the comprehensive 49 page pdf file of the Alsorts Sexuality Awareness Resource.

The Alsorts Resource is valuable for people of all ages, genders and sexualities.

http://www.also.org.au/discover/projectsandservices/alsorts2ndedition.htm

Youth Resource Centre

A United States based site dedicated to LGBTQ youth. Has a huge range of supportive sites and information.

www.youthresource.com 

Youth.org

USA based "service run by volunteers, created to help self-identifying gay, lesbian, bisexual and questioning youth. YOUTH.ORG exists to provide young people with a safe space online to be themselves. "

www.youth.org

Evidence In Support of an Equal Age Of Consent

This detailed paper entitled “AGE OF CONSENT FOR SEXUAL ACTIVITY - Findings from the scientific literature to support equality of age of consent for same-sex and different-sex sexual behaviours” was prepared in May 2001 for the Committee on Gay and Lesbian Law Reform (W.A.) by Dr Vivienne Cass, Ph.D., M.Psych., B.Psych., Teach.Cert.  www.queerradio.org/Age_of_Consent_for_sexual_activity.pdf (27k file)

Source: From the website of West Australia’s Gay And Lesbian Equality ( GALE) www.galewa.asn.au/.

In March 2002 the age of consent in West Australia was equalised at 16 for all genders and for all consenting sexual activities – before that it was a minimum of 21 for any male to male sexual contact. In the lead up to the most recent West Australian election a declared policy of the state Liberal Party was that they would, if elected, raise the homosexual age of consent to 18 (clearly imitating the conservative politics which persist in Queensland). The West Australian Labor Party was returned with an increased majority – proving that the oppression of homosexuality is not a vote winner with a compassionate public.

La Trobe University (Melbourne) "Same Sex Attracted Youth" Research Project

In Melbourne a group of queer-friendly researchers at La Trobe University's Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society (ARCSHS) are interested in the many issues affecting the lives of same sex attracted youth (SSAY). Their research aims to learn about the problems faced by young people who are exploring their sexuality. 

In 1998 La Trobe University published the first national Report on same sex attracted youth – titled Writing Themselves In (go to http://www.latrobe.edu.au/arcshs/wti.html  -  includes very brief description and link to the pdf file of the report).

The follow-up Report titled “Writing Themselves In – Again” drew a much larger sample and was published in May 2005 (go to http://www.latrobe.edu.au/arcshs/wtia.html -  includes brief description and link to the pdf file of the report).

www.latrobe.edu.au/ssay/

XY Magazine 

USA based magazine specifically for young gay &/or queer men. Doesn’t panic at showing affection and desire between young men. Great articles, wonderful photographs and totally honest support. This magazine has struggled without major advertising support for at least four years – and yet it is exactly what many young men need to see on our newsagents’ shelves. Not in store in Australia, or cheap to subscribe to – but well worth the money. Take advantage of the new website.

www.xy.com 

Minus18 (Melbourne)

Minus18 is Australia's first and only underage nightclub dance party for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth aged under 18.

www.minus18.org

Youth Health - including Sexual Heath (see our Health Links for queer-friendly Medical Services):

I Stay Safe (Queensland Health’s official youth site)

After several years of being hetero-specific, this website has been amended (~October 2006) to clearly include same sex attracted youth – and in a very positive manner. The site has also been amended to include mention of anal intercourse – unprotected anal intercourse (anal sex without a condom) is one of the highest risk activities for HIV.

Current Queensland Criminal Law defines that even “protected” anal intercourse is a serious crime for 16 and 17 year olds, punishable with up to 14 years imprisonment.

Research has proven that most youth simply don’t even consider the law when they’re choosing to do sex, however for the sake of their own health and that of their partner they should always use a condom and  water based lubricant when doing either vaginal or anal sex (or when sharing sex toys). Condoms are also recommended for oral sex because there is a very real, although significantly lower, risk of HIV transmission. Regular sexual health checks are important because having any other sexually transmitted infection will dramatically increase the likelihood of HIV transmission.

NB: In Australia Hepatitis B vaccination is free for “men who have sex with men” as a high risk group – but consider consulting a known LGBT friendly health centre, or any sexual health service, to ask for this vaccine (my local generic medical centre was less than helpful). Hepatatis A vaccination is also recommended for any sexually active person – it should cost you around $100 (that’s cheap insurance against several weeks off work and being very ill).   

http://www.health.qld.gov.au/istaysafe/content/letsTalk/sameSex.html 

Queensland Association for Healthy Communities (formerly Queensland AIDS Council – name and focus changed June 2006)

The Queensland Association for Healthy Communities (QAHC) promotes the health of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Queensland. QAHC is engaged in the areas of LGBT Health, Sexual Health, Indigenous Health and fosters community capacity building and development.

www.qahc.org.au

Queensland Positive People (QPP)

Queensland Positive People (QPP) represents the interests of people living with HIV/AIDS (called PLWHA) in Queensland and is part of a national and international network. We help each other to take charge of our lives, care and destinies. Also involved are our partners, family, and friends who can join and support QPP as well. Our vision statement is "All people living with HIV/AIDS living a full life".

www.qpp.org.au

School-related Resources:
Pride & Prejudice (Australian school-based 6 week anti-prejudice, anti-homophobia program)
A formally evaluated, school-based approach to sexual diversity and homophobia.  A six-week program with easy-to-follow session plans, handouts and evaluation tools.  A six-part, complementary video
featuring young gay and lesbian people discussing their lives and experiences. Do you work in or with a school where homophobia is an issue? Sick and tired of hearing students say "that's so gay"?

Know something has to be done but not how to do it? Shown to have significantly changed student attitudes toward gay men and lesbians after 6 weeks. (Health Promotion Journal of Australia, Dec 2001)


www.prideandprejudice.com.au

Open Doors “EdNet” (LGBT Education Network)

The Open Doors Education Network provides an opportunity for teachers and other school based workers to join together in a safe and confidential way to share information and support. The network aims to identify common concerns, highlight issues and explore responses. They meet approximately every 6 weeks.

Contact Pauline Coffey, Sector Development Worker for Open Doors by email: pauline@opendoors.net.au or by phone: (07) 3257 7660

http://www.opendoors.net.au/education_network.cfm

Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) (USA based)

Especially valuable in support of all education system members, including teachers and students. See their advice for establishing a “gay/straight alliance” student group at your school (“Jump Start” program): http://www.glsen.org/cgi-bin/iowa/all/news/custom/jump.html   .

http://www.glsen.org/cgi-bin/iowa/home.html 

Advocacy Groups:
Young Workers Advisory Service
YWAS can assist regarding specific workplace issues faced by LGBT youth. Give them a call on 1800 232 000 or 3211 1447 email ywas@ywas.org.
                        www.ywas.org
Youth Advocacy Centre

An accurate source of some information, especially age of consent (under “sex” in the list of topics).

www.yac.net.au

Queensland Police Service LGBT Liaison Unit

Queensland’s Police Service has proven its commitment to provide courteous and sincere support to LGBT’s. Trained LGBT Liaison Officers are located throughout the state and all police stations will have an officer who has agreed to handle LGBT-specific matters. Not all LGBT Liaison Officers will be gay themselves, but all will be informed and compassionate.  It is important to have confidence that the police service knows our issues and supports us without prejudice. Make sure you report incidents of threats or physical assault and ask for assistance even in cases of domestic violence. Go to the site below for specific contact details:

A liaison officer can be contacted on 0419 768 732 - 24 hours a day in the Brisbane metropolitan area.

                        www.police.qld.gov.au/pr/program/lgbt/lias_off.shtml

PFLAG (Parents, families & Friends of Lesbians And Gays)

"Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) is here for you. We hope to help you understand your loved one's sexuality or gender identity and its meaning to you and your relationship. Our members are parents, families and friends of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered (GLBT) people. We most likely have been through much of what you are now feeling. We understand."

The local chapter has a burgeoning social atmosphere and is anchored by Shelley Argent through her part time work at Qld Association for Healthy Communities. Shelley has been a regular and inspiring guest on Queer Radio. She marched with husband Don in the huge PFLAG entry as part of the 2006 Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade (having previously marched with gay son James and his partner Michael).

Contact: Shelley Argent from 9am to 12 Midday, Monday to Wednesday at Queensland AIDS Council offices 3017 1739, mobile 0409 363 335, email pflagbris@hotmail.com

Just a reminder that you can reach the PFLAG Brisbane helpline on 0400 767 832.

www.pflagbrisbane.org.au/ (local Brisbane chapter) www.pflag.org (USA base site)

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