from YAPRap May-June 2004
by Al Bingham, YAPRap Feature Writer
If you are a young person who is attracted to other people of the same sex, and you live in the city of Sydney, there are many organisations available to assist you with just about any issue you have. If you live further afield, in a rural area or the western suburbs of Sydney, it can be much more difficult to access services.
When Emma Beh began her employment as the Rural Youth Suicide Prevention Officer for TraXside Youth Health Service (Campbelltown) and Macarthur Area Health she came face to face with this issue. Emma knew from research that same sex attracted (SSA) young people fall into a high for youth suicide. From requests made by young people accessing TraXside she also knew that many SSA young people in the Campbelltown area were looking for space where they could meet and share experiences with their peers, in a comfortable setting.
Previously TraXside had operated a Sista Program for lesbian young woman and a Fun and Esteem project for gay young men under 26 years of age. However, both of these groups had stopped running by the time Emma's position had started. Now, from listening to the young people visiting TraXside, it had become apparent that it was time to provide something new for SSA young people.
To find out more about what these young people wanted, fliers were put out around the Campbelltown area, including schools, asking SSA young people to contact TraXside and say what they wanted to happen for them, in their area. As a result of these fliers five people turned up to a working party to thrash out ideas.
The working party came up with some clear ideas of what they needed in their area. Firstly, they wanted a group to be formed that would provide a safe space for SSA young people. Secondly, they wanted something to provide them with social support. Thirdly, they wanted access to services that supplied specific information and support for SSA young people. Finally, they wanted education to meet the specific needs of SSA young people. This education would include learning about places that could provide accommodation or counseling, Queer specific sports news, sexual health information, knowledge about the coming out process, and ways of being able to identify and feel connected to the community.
It also became apparent that this time, instead of running separate groups for women and men, the young people wanted to meet together. The idea from the outset was one of inclusiveness not exclusiveness, recognising that same sex attraction is an issue of community, not gender.
Like any group the participants soon realised that they needed a name to crystalise just who they were. They wanted a name that could be identified with the local area, as well as indicate that the members were same sex attracted. Eventually they arrived at the name "Camp Queer". "Camp" very much identified people as being from Campbelltown. At the same time it had the double meaning of being used as a word to often denote behaviour of SSA people. "Queer" was seen as demonstrating the inclusive nature of the group. It wasn't just for gays or lesbians or bisexuals or transsexuals. Camp Queer was for anybody who had ever been attracted to someone from the same sex.
With taking on the name of Camp Queer in November 2002, SSA young people made the statement that Queer people exist in Campbelltown, not just in the city. The metropolitan Queer identity can sometime disadvantage SSA people living in other areas, because it may serve to invalidate their own experience. If you are Queer in a suburban or rural setting, and the only time you see images of SSA people is in a city setting, you can start to feel very alone. Camp Queer gives SSA young people in the Campbelltown area something on which to hang their own identity. It is a name that exemplifies where they come from.
Once Camp Queer had been named the members wanted to work out what they would actually do. They began by sorting out boundaries for group conduct, making it clear up front what was or wasn't acceptable for people coming to Camp Queer activities. Next, realistic short, medium and long term goals were set. These included having a presence at Mardi Gras by marching with Generation Youth, which also allowed networking with other relevant organisations.
TraXside also used a minibus to transport Camp Queer participants to Queer youth discos run by ACON West (AIDS Council Of NSW, Western Sydney). Youth Health Workers were able to provide support for young people at these dances, and at the Mardi Gras, which made both experiences more comfortable to attend.
Eventually Camp Queer decided that it was time for them to create their own project. The group wanted to do something that would showcase the resilience and self esteem of its members, and utilise the really talented selection of young people that had joined the ranks. Hence came the idea for Very ... Cabaret!
What an amazing idea it was. A night that included performances of song, dance, poetry, drama and acting from various Camp Queer members, along with a recital by the renowned Sydney Gay and Lesbian Choir. Drag Queens Miranda Fair and Sandy Toggs also leant their inimitable talents by co-hosting the evening, and other groups such as SPACE, Young and Proud and Twenty 10 contributed to the festivities.
Forty five young people from Camp Queer were involved in staging the event in one form or another and they drew a crowd of 140 people. Parents attended along with the local Police Gay and Lesbian Officer, a Camden Police representative, school counselors, and local Council members. Even businesses got in on the act by donating prizes to be given away on the night.
Young people involved in staging Very ... Cabaret! found the night to be an incredible experience. Putting it on gave them a real sense of purpose and allowed identification of a Queer community in their local area, as well as enhancing self esteem and getting their issues on the local agenda.
The process of designing and running the night set up the dynamic of the young people owning a worthwhile process, which in turn made them eager to get on with another project. Next in store for Camp Queer is an education program they have called "Queer I", the "I" standing for "Information".
The idea of Queer I is to provide information to SSA young people over a ten week period. Organisations will be approached such as the Police, the Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project, the Gay and Lesbian Legal Service and other Queer specific organisations. These different services will provide education on discrimination, bullying, legislation, the coming out process, and Queer history. Through this process it is hoped that SSA young people in Campbelltown will learn a little more about why it is so important for them to keep holding events like Very ... Cabaret!
Tips for setting up a group for SSA young people in your area
- Find out if there are any SSA groups already being run in your area to avoid duplication. Other groups can be used as support networks for SSA people or to assist you in setting up a group to meet SSA needs not being met.
- Lobby other local youth services to assist you in setting up a group eg. financially, logistically.
- Contact your local council about any support they can provide for a group.
- Contact SSA young people in your area through pamphlets, fliers, posters, etc.
- Listen to the experiences and needs of SSA young people. Often their needs aren't heard and they end up falling between the cracks of services.
- Give SSA young people the chance to hear that they are not alone, and that others have similar experiences and feelings.
- Confidentiality is extremely important.
- Respect of others' opinions and sexuality is important for members of the group. This can be achieved by educating young people on the reality of their community and the distinction between gender and sexuality.
- Some groups may work best by having SSA workers running them, but this isn't always the case. All that is really needed is a commitment by workers to the issues of SSA young people.
- Workers can equip themselves for running a SSA group by attending workshops and training run by services such as ACON, Family Planning Association and the Albion Street Centre.
- Forming partnerships with Queer specific services can assist in empowering SSA young people.
Snapshot
Who
80 young people aged 12 to 25 living in the Macarthur Local Government Area, calling themselves Camp Queer.
Tasty Fact #1
There is a fairly even distribution of young men and young women in Camp Queer.
Tasty Fact #2
SSA = Same Sex Attracted. Young people who are SSA may also be referred to as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, homosexual and/or queer.
Replication
Most services would be able to set up a similar group using the tips given by Emma in this article.
More information
Emma Beh
Rural Youth Suicide Prevention Officer
TraXside Youth Health Service (Campbelltown NSW)
02 4625 2525
