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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-05-04 Daily Xml
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INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST HOMOPHOBIA

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (15:31): I rise to speak about 15 May, which is hurtling towards us, which marks the International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO). IDAHO is not only a chance to highlight ongoing discrimination against the LGBT community; it is also an opportunity to celebrate diversity. In September of last year a campaign directed specifically at LGBT youth was established. The 'It Gets Better' campaign offers young people coming to terms with their sexuality in a sea of homophobia a message of reassurance, acceptance and hope. The 'It Gets Better' campaign has gathered worldwide momentum.

Over 10,000 user-created online video messages have been generated, and these videos have been viewed over 35 million times. YouTube videos have been made by politicians, celebrities, organisations and activists. Some of the great videos include those by President Barack Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former speaker Nancy Pelosi, actress Anne Hathaway, television host Ellen De Generes, comedian Sarah Silverman, media personality Perez Hilton, the Broadway community and some of my favourites from staff members of The Gap, Google, Facebook, and Pixar to name to name just a few.

It is a universal truth that growing up is not an easy process. Many children and teens suffer at the hands of bullies. This is especially true for LGBT youth. Coming to terms with same-sex attraction in a bigoted world is tough. In many instances, gay and lesbian adolescents face rejection from family and peers and are bullied and abused, even tortured, both mentally and physically, and sometimes, as we know, raped and murdered simply for being who they are.

People aged between 15 and 24 are in the highest risk brackets when it comes to suicide—we know that. But if they are same-sex attracted, the risk increases fourfold. Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows that LGBT youth have far higher levels of anxiety disorders than their heterosexual counterparts and more than triple the rate of depression and related disorders. A 2010 La Trobe University survey of 3,134 young people found a significant jump in homophobic violence in schools since 2005. The research also found strong links between homophobic abuse and higher levels of self harm and suicide.

The University of Sydney's research 'School's out, homosexuality and bullying' found that parents of LGBT young people, and in particular fathers, seem likely to hold negative attitudes and are often unable to support their children. Teachers are also in a difficult position as they have limited time, feel unable to cope with the complexities surrounding same-sex attraction, often lack the specific skills and training needed and do not know where to refer young people who require additional support.

Research has found that support networks for same-sex attracted youth are sparse, which is why the 'It Gets Better' campaign is so important. It is also why I was concerned to hear that South Australia's only stand-alone support program for LGBT youth, the Inside Out Project, is facing an uncertain future. Run by the Children, Youth and Women's Health Service, the Inside Out Project is a gay youth support service unlike anything else on offer in South Australia, offering counselling, workshops, support groups, advocacy, HIV/AIDS counselling and testing, and valuable links to other support agencies.

I have been told that management has decided to cut the Inside Out Project's Friday night drop-in sessions and peer education training. Knowing the minister's strong support for such programs in the past, I sincerely hope that those concerns that have been expressed to me are misplaced. One of my constituents who approached me regarding this issue told me that the Inside Out Project has 'been most valuable in helping me come to terms with my sexuality, plus contributed to my physical, psychological and emotional health and well being'. The Inside Out Project has provided him with a feeling of belonging and a crucial network of support.

I have written to the Minister for Health to raise my concerns about the mainstreaming of this specialised service. In fact, I have written to the minister twice and I thank the minister for his ongoing support for the service, his timely response and his offer of a briefing with departmental officers. I trust that management, recognising the value of these services, will move swiftly to explain that the review that they are proposing is not designed to cut services to gay and lesbian youth. They certainly have not handled this issue well. There was an article that appeared in The Advertiser last week and three mentions in a recent edition of Blaze—the lead story, a letter to the editor and the editorial itself—all raising this issue.

Finally, I would like to end with a message of hope in the lead-up to IDAHO Day. I would like to read the closing sentence from the It Gets Better video of Vice-President Joe Biden. It states:

...I know for many of you young folks each day can be a struggle. I know for LGBT Youth it can be especially hard. And some days it seems almost unbearable. But when you feel that way think about what I'm saying to you. You have nothing to be ashamed of, you have every reason to be proud. Don't let them take your self-worth away. Things do get better.

Time expired.

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