from YAPRap October 2007
by Melanie Conlon, YAPA Feature Writer
GLBT. What does this mean? Even if you say Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender it doesn't really explain what GLBT really means. Even for people who identify as GLBT, many of them are still trying to answer this question themselves. Does it mean they have to wear funky clothes? Does it mean that the boys have to like shopping and the girls have to look “butch”? Of course it doesn't. But for some reason, many of the general public still stereotype GLBT people this way, whether they realise it or not.
Meredith Turnbull, from Twenty10 (see below) believes that GLBT people are not as widely accepted as people think. She believes acceptance has come a long way over the last 20 years but it still has a long way to go. Meredith says that it seems much better in the city areas but the further out into the country you go, the worse homophobia seems to get. She also reported that many of the young people that she deals with state that their sexual identity becomes a problem wherever you live and it can be related to religion, conservative parents or many other reasons. She believes it is a myth that it is widely accepted in today's community because “kids are still getting kicked out just because they are gay”. She said that it is hard to keep GLBT issues on the political agenda as other important issues come up such as child care, so everyone thinks the crisis is over, however there is still a stream of young people coming into Twenty10 who say that everything is not OK.
Meredith says that homophobia can be subtle, it's usually by exclusion or omission and it is not usually seen as abusive unless you are the victim of it. It seems as though if the community don't see homophobia personally, they think that it does not exist, however there is evidence to the contrary.
When asked why GLBT young people experience increased levels of homelessness, physical violence, mental illness, alcohol and drug issues, Meredith says that some research has shown that GLBT young people are often told that they are different and that different is bad. This leads to a perception by the young person that this is true, which can lead to low self esteem, drinking and drugs, and then when these issues worsen they feel unable to access services due to fear of homophobia.
To overcome this, Meredith suggests that young people start off with checking out the internet. There is a wealth of information on the net and it is information that young people can process at their own pace. She recommends not to “come out” just because there is a realisation of being gay, but to first know the answers to the questions that will be asked, such as:
- Why are you gay?
- How long have you known for?
- Will you ever have children?
Meredith says that if it is hard for young people to answer these types of questions then it becomes a problem for them and increases confusion. She says once young people have the information, the next step could be to call a counsellor or talk to someone about it. She said that research suggests young people are realising they are GLBT at a younger age and verbalising this, which can be difficult for parents who perceive them to be too young to make this decision. If this is also a time that young people are at school then, it can be a harsh place to be different to the crowd.
What does the research say?
Recently The Leader, local newspaper in the Sutherland Shire, reported “the average Australian community to be among the most anti-gay places in the western world”. This came from the report Love thy neighbour: How much bigotry is there in western countries?, co-authored by Professor John Mangan from Queensland University, in which more than 36,000 people were questioned from 26 countries.
Another report found that the southern suburbs of Sydney were the most homophobic part of NSW with more than “40% of the population [in the southern suburbs] considering homosexuality to be immoral”.
Research has also found that homophobia can have dire psychological effects on homosexual couples and consequently up to 45% of young homosexuals have attempted suicide, with up to 85% feeling suicidal. These figures are startling.
In 2005, a La Trobe University media release, Schoolyards a battleground for same sex attracted young people outlined results of the report Writing themselves in, conducted in 1998 and Writing themselves in again: 6 years on, which was conducted by the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society at La Trobe University. Dr Hillier commented that “since our first report 6 years ago there has been no change in the levels of violence experienced by these young people”. The results suggested that almost 1 in 2 young people had experienced unfair treatment and verbal and physical abuse due to their sexuality. One positive to come from this research however, was that it appeared that adults had become more supportive compared to 6 years ago.
It may not be fancy…
Twenty10 conducted research and released a report in 2007, It may not be fancy…: Exploring the service needs of homeless gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender young people. This report identified that GLBT young people are “more likely to be homeless or at risk of homelessness compared to their heterosexual peers due to the potential for family estrangement or breakdown of support relationships as a result of GLBT identity”.
According to the services: Service providers were questioned and noted that GLBT young people faced discrimination from other young people and this was worse in rural areas. These service providers agreed that GLBT young people had high levels of associated alcohol and drug use, health issues, problems with acceptance and maintaining friendships, poor life skills and many family issues.
According to the young people: Young GLBT people were also questioned and the results were startling. The GLBT young people interviewed, reported facing many issues in their daily life that made it difficult to cope including:
- Mental health – Young people reported experiencing depression and anxiety which made it difficult for them to secure permanent accommodation or continue with schooling or employment opportunities.
- Relationships - Perhaps linked to this was that GLBT young people reported that they had stressful and unstable relationships which led to a feeling of being out of control.
- Alcohol and drugs – This was mentioned as a concern for young people as it was a popular means to cope with depression and their daily life.
- Family – Young people reported that they were often ostracized from their family or generally they were frustrated with family relationships.
- Education – Many young people claimed that it was difficult to pursue education if they were experiencing mental health issues such as depression.
- Employment –Young people said they were worried about their ability to find employment without being discriminated against and believed that they would not be able to secure certain jobs due to their sexuality or appearance.
- Ethnicity and Culture – 7 of the young people in this study were from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and they noted that they had experienced racial discrimination in Australia. This report outlined that there is currently a service gap when providing services to young GLBT people from these backgrounds.
- Social – Young people said it was difficult to meet other GLBT young people who were not using drugs or behaving anti-socially, and this was especially hard for young people who lived in rural areas.
- Sexuality – Again for the young people in rural areas, they reported that they had experienced discrimination and often felt deep guilt and shame.
What Shannon says
I spoke to Shannon who is 17 years old and identifies as being gay. He currently lives in a youth refuge in the Sydney area and was happy to discuss the difficulties he has faced growing up. Shannon reported that he was kicked out of home at the age of 9 due to reasons other than his sexuality but recalled that his older brother often taunted him and called him a “fag” from a young age. He said that his parents are currently OK with him being gay but that they are not willing to support him.
Shannon said that he knew he was gay from about Year 7 in high school but he denied this for some time and then came out when he was 16. He attempted to tell people that he was gay before this but found it very difficult. He said that when he did speak up, people were shocked but not really surprised. They asked him a lot of questions.
Shannon reported that he came out to his best friend first but was still worried about how she would react. He recommends discussing it with someone you trust first - someone you know well.
Shannon said that there is still a lot of homophobia around with young people and recommended that if you are being discriminated against, do not listen to it, “be strong and have pride in your sexuality”.
Shannon also recounted stories of other young people he was friends with. He knew someone else who was kicked out of home for being gay who ended up bulimic. He also knew someone whose parents took him to hospital once he came out as they thought he may be mentally ill! Shannon said it has been a hard time for him but he is now doing well. He has been stable in his accommodation for 5 months, he completed Year 10 and is enrolled to start a TAFE course soon.
In terms of accessing youth services, Shannon has been involved with GALAH, Twenty10 and other mainstream services (see below). He noted that dealing with the services and youth workers has been fine, but has found homophobic discrimination when faced with other young people in the services.
Twenty10
Twenty10 is an organisation based in Newtown, built to help young people under the age of 26 who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and gender questioning. They are there to help young people if they are having difficulties at home, have become homeless or are dealing with any issues that are causing concern. The staff at Twenty10 are supportive and help any young GLBT person through difficult times. Twenty10 can also support other youth services to help young people who come to their attention, and they do this by providing training and information to youth workers and youth organisations.
The name Twenty10 came from the postcode of Darlinghurst, 2010, which is where the organisation started some 25 years ago. It started when a group of youth workers noticed that GLBT young people were being kicked out of home and then getting caught up in the cycle of alcohol and drugs, unemployment, sex work and homelessness due to homophobia. Twenty10 started as a group of volunteers and began outreach to GLBT young people on the streets in order to combat these issues.
Over the years, the focus of Twenty10 has changed. Meredith Turnbull is the Executive Officer and talks proudly about Twenty10 and what it has achieved. It took some fighting over the years to get GLBT issues on the political agenda, however some funding came through for a pilot project in 1983 and Twenty10 rose from there.
After the early days of outreach and voluntary work, Twenty10 was able to secure their first funding from DOCS (Supported Accommodation Assistance Program) to become a refuge for homeless GLBT young people. At this time, the focus was on the Sydney metropolitan area and dealing with crisis accommodation which left little time to deal with the wider issues. Over the last 25 years the focus has changed dramatically to a more holistic service designed to cater for a wide range of issues from medium term accommodation, to providing case management and a space that young people can hang out and feel comfortable. It seems that Twenty10 is a one stop shop to cater for the needs of GLBT young people, however Twenty10 also focuses on empowering other youth services to deal with the issues themselves. This means that they can cover a broader range of areas over NSW, and young people from anywhere can access GLBT friendly services.
Twenty10's vision is to lead the community towards being safer for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, same sex attracted or gender questioning young people. Their strategy also includes increasing acceptance of GLBT issues in the community so that services such as Twenty10 will no longer be required. To do this, Meredith Turnbull has dedicated herself to keeping the issues in the media to continue the funding for this important work.
Twenty10 services for young people
Support Line: For many young people, this is the first point of contact. Anyone including young people, parents and community workers can call to find out more about the service for information, support or referrals. If young people have questions about their health, sexuality, gender, homophobia or anything else, Twenty10 can help find the answers. They have contacts with GLBT friendly youth services all over NSW and can refer to those services or help young people via internet or phone. 02 8594 9555 or 1800 65 2010 (outside Sydney).
Drop In: Twenty10 provides a drop in service each week day and possibly on Saturdays shortly. This provides a safe place for GLBT young people to hang out, access services and be themselves without fear of homophobia.
Accommodation: Twenty10 provides medium term supported accommodation for young people aged 16-24. They currently provide 6 one-bedroom units in Sydney's inner-west but often there is a waiting list. Young people pay 20% of their income, but they need to have been living out of home for at least 3 months with a crisis agency prior to their application.
Counselling: Counselling is provided to GLBT young people, their families or anyone that has a concern related to GLBT youth. This is a free and confidential service, however there is often a waiting list for this great service.
Groups and activities: The key reason Twenty10 run groups is because it brings together young people who often feel isolated. The groups are focused on the young people having a good time and being able to socialise without fear of homophobia. These groups can be rewarding for young people as it is often the only time that the participants can “just be gay” and be themselves. Currently groups run at Hornsby, Manly and Newtown and they are planning to start a new group in western Sydney later this year. For details of all groups call the group worker on 02 8594 9563:
- GALAH (Gays and Lesbians at Hornsby) meets fortnightly near Westfield. The group has discussions, workshops, outings and more.
- GLAM (Gays and Lesbians at Manly) runs fortnightly. The group goes on outings as well as hanging out at RUSH.
- QUEER ELEMENT runs weekly but for women only every fortnight and a mixed group every other fortnight at Newtown. This group gets involved in special programs and focuses on young people making friends. Throughout the year special projects are run such as murals, short films, art, work shops etc which are often worked on by the Queer Element group.
Individual case management: There are Client Services Officers who can help GLBT young people on a case by case basis. Whatever their needs, Twenty10 can help to support and encourage young people to reach their potential.
Rural support: Just like it sounds, surprisingly Twenty10 can help young people all over the state. This is mainly achieved through the use of the internet and by phone contact with young people. Any young person can call on a toll free number – 1800 65 2010 to speak to a youth worker at Twenty10. From there they can be referred to GLBT friendly services and/or maintain contact via the internet and telephone. It depends on the young person and the support they desire.
Twenty10 services for families and the community
Family support: Families of GLBT young people are supported through case management. Meredith Turnbull says that the young person is the main client, however Twenty10 will work with the family independent of the young person as well, if this will help. The Counsellors and Client Services Officers will work with whoever is important in the young person's life. Meredith said that parents often call asking to be helped to understand, or for advice on how to talk to their child. It seems that many families try to understand their children and the issues they face, however they are not sure how to go about it and this service can help them with that.
Information for parents: Twenty10 works with and can refer family to PFLAG - Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. PFLAG has monthly support meetings and an information line and can liaise with parents about issues of sexuality or discuss any confusion and questions they may have.
Research and practice mornings: Twenty10 regularly holds morning meetings about emerging GLBT issues so that researchers and youth workers can get together and discuss what they can do to improve the services to GLBT young people.
Community partnerships: Twenty10 works with many youth services in the community to raise the awareness of GLBT issues or provide training to youth services who would like to make their service more GLBT friendly.
As a youth worker, how can I help?
If you are a youth worker and you are now wondering what you can do to help GLBT young people then you can follow some simple steps. Meredith Turnbull has some suggestions to get you started:
- put up a gay-friendly poster
- have Twenty10 information around
- put up a rainbow flag and/or stickers
- make sure policies cover GLBT issues
- intake forms should ask for "partner" rather than girlfriend/boyfriend
- intake forms ask for gender rather than male/female, so they are inclusive of transgender.
Another good idea is to give Twenty10 a call and they can customise something to suit your service's needs. Twenty10 currently runs training with youth services all over NSW called “Ready or Not”. They will complete a needs assessment with you and focus on what your service needs. This can be delivered as training to all of your staff at Twenty10, delivered to you at your service or it can be an informal discussion with management and/or staff about what the issues are and what can be done at your site to help.
Thanks: Obviously organisations like Twenty10 can not manage without the help of government, business and the local community. Thanks to organisations such as NSW Department of Community Services, Department of Family and Community Services, Aurora Group, Northern Sydney & Central Coast Area Health, IRIS Group Production, Salesforce Australia, The Hon. Clr. Penny Sharpe, Gay and Lesbian Counselling Service NSW, Sydney Gay and Lesbian Business Association, Toybox Parties, Sydney Star Observer, Maxxx Black and local councils such as Hornsby, Manly, Marrickville, Sydney and Leichhardt. Let's hope that Twenty10 receives support and funding to continue with this brilliant work for the future.
Without the help of volunteers, Twenty10 could not be what it is today. Meredith proudly reported that just about everything they have has been donated, which includes musical equipment, lounges, ice hockey, computers and internet, X-Box and games, art work, projectors and heaps more. Even the renovations were completed by volunteers.
So what else is out there?
Youthblock Health & Resource Service ran a social support group called SPACE for same sex attracted and gender diverse young people from 1999 to 2005 in Camperdown. They have recently completed a local GLBTQ youth health needs assessment and are working with youth services in the Inner West and Canterbury to support young people questioning their sexuality and/or gender identity. Youthblock also publishes a monthly newsletter for GLBTQ young people and local youth services. For more info call Sam on 02 9516 2233.
B'SSAY (Bankstown Same Sex Attracted Youth) is run by The Corner Youth Health Service. The group runs fortnightly for young people aged 12 – 25 years and is a social, educational and support group for same sex attracted young people living within the Bankstown/Canterbury area. B'SSAY meets every alternate Thursday. Sekneh Hammoud has also produced the “Invitation to come-in to my life” card which invites therapists and community service providers to explore and acknowledge diversity within the GLBTIQ communities by having a list of questions that encourage people to explore coming-in, when coming out is not feasible. For more information, please ring The Corner Youth Health Service on 02 9796 8633.
GLYSSN – Gay Lesbian Youth Social Support Network is a safe and supportive meeting place for same sex attracted and gender diverse young people aged under 25 in the St George and Sutherland Shire areas. The project aims to improve access to services for young people and delivers community education to address homophobia and discrimination. For further information contact the project officer on 02 9570 6743 or email glyssn@stgeorgeyouth.org
Camp Queer is a group for same sex attracted, bi or curious young people aged 12-25 years old in the Macarthur area. The group meets on a fortnightly basis, with one fortnight of peer education and one fortnight being a social night. The peer education group covers topics chosen by the young people and include: queer history, sexual health, drugs and alcohol, relationships and homophobia. For further information please call 02 4625 2525.
Gen Q Café, Gosford is a safe, relaxed and non judgemental space for young same sex attracted and gender variant (GLBTLQ) people 24 years and under. Recently Gen Q Café presented ‘Chill Space'. An open invitation to young same sex attracted and gender variant people (24 years & under) to come and be yourself, be entertained and meet new people. Gen Q is a drug and alcohol free space. For more information, contact Regional Youth Support Services on 02 4323 2374.
The Diverse Sexualities Access Project, auspiced by SPYNS, is a 4 year project which works with youth and community services in the Penrith, Hawkesbury and Blue Mountains local government areas in order for them to be more accessible to young GLBT people. The project worker has provided training and resources around best practice when working with GLBT youth. He also works closely with local youth interagencies and local councils. In 2005 he set up a GLBT Interagency for services and stakeholders with an interest in GLBT issues. This interagency fosters collaborative action and advocacy on needs and issues that arise for the local GLBT community. Contact Robert: outsidein@pnc.com.au or visit SPYNS website www.spyns.org.au.
ACON provides an anti-violence report line where the community can call if affected by abuse. Call 1800 063 060 or from Sydney 02 9206 2116. ACON also runs a lesbian and gay anti-violence project which ran workshops to reduce the impact of homophobic abuse and violence in schools in 2005/2006. ACON also run projects such as:
- Fun and Esteem for young gay and bisexual men - running for the last 18 years.
- Start Making Sense is a peer education workshop that runs over 6 weeks for guys 26 and under to meet new people and find out information.
- School's Out is a 10 week workshop for young gay and bisexual men in High School. This project focuses on sexual health, social support, self esteem and anti-gay bullying.
- Ins and Out is for young same sex attracted women. It includes a 6 week workshop program for young women similar to Fun and Esteem for the men.
- Queer Peer Project provides health education and leadership training to groups of GLBT youth across NSW to implement local projects. This has been implemented in Sydney, Newcastle and the Mid-North Coast.
This is by no means a comprehensive list of all the services out there - just some of the services that were available to be contacted about their GLBT information. If you are interested in accessing services in your area, why not try researching with your local council or youth organisation to find out more?
More information
Resources
- Opening the Doors: A "do it yourself" access and equity manual for working with young people has a chapter on GLBT young people www.yapa.org.au/openingdoors
- Youth Facts and Stats www.youthfacts.com.au – Click on focus on: Gay/ lesbian/ bisexual/ transgender youth
- Same Sex Attracted Youth (SSAY) website - Research information for same sex attracted young people, workers, families and friends. www.latrobe.edu.au/ssay
Services
- Twenty10 02 8594 9555 or (outside Sydney) 1800 65 2010
www.twenty10.org.au - Gay and Lesbian Counselling Service – 02 8594 9596
www.glcsnsw.org.au - Gender Centre – 02 9569 2366
www.gendercentre.org.au - Sexual Health Centre at RPA Hospital – 02 9515 3131
- Satellite Sexual Health Youth Clinic - free, confidential clinic in Bondi Junction for people under 25 (no Medicare card required). satellite@sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au (02) 9388 9455
- Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays – 02 9294 1002
www.pflagaustralia.org.au - Sexual Health infoline - Experienced sexual health nurses provide general information and advice to the community and health professionals on STIs, HIV and general sexual health including contraception, sexual function, relationships etc. 1800 451 624
- Generation Q – network of young people, welfare workers, & welfare services who work collectively to provide young same-sex attracted and gender variant people with support
www.ryss.com.au/Generation_Q - Fun & Esteem Project - for gay and bisexual guys 26 years & under
www.acon.org.au/youth - GLYSSN - showcase of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Intersexed, Transgendered, Curious and Queer youth services & information www.glyssn.com
- Diverse Sexualities Access Project www.spyns.org.au
