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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
www.kidshelp.com.au
Gay and Lesbian Welfare
Association (
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
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 (
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 (
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
www.opendoors.net.au Phone: 3257 7660 email: opendoors@opendoors.net.au
2QT 2B STR8 (
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
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
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/
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
http://www.uqunion.uq.edu.au/queer/collective
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
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.
Information
and Resources:
Alsorts: A Sexuality Awareness
Resource (by
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
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
In
March 2002 the age of consent in
La
In
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).
XY Magazine
Minus18 (
Minus18
is Australia's first and only underage nightclub dance party for the gay,
lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth aged under 18.
Youth
Health - including Sexual Heath (see our Health Links for queer-friendly
Medical Services):
I Stay Safe (
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
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
http://www.health.qld.gov.au/istaysafe/content/letsTalk/sameSex.html
Queensland
The
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
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).
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
Just a reminder that
you can reach the PFLAG
www.pflagbrisbane.org.au/ (local
