Country forum to promote safety and justice

The Anti-Homophobia Interagency Working Group will conduct its first regional roundtable forum in Lismore on creating safe and supportive environments in schools as part of Law Week.

Law Week, May 16 to 22, is a national event that promotes greater understanding of the law within the community and aims to improve greater access to the law.

How safe are schools in regional and rural areas for young same sex attracted people, parents or staff? Who do young people turn to when they feel unsafe or need to challenge discrimination?

A recent research study into homophobic abuse and violence in NSW suggests that schools are not the safe havens many of us expect them to be. "You shouldn't have to hide to be safe. But you have to be pragmatic," said a young focus group participant in the research. Young people reported a higher incidence of abuse, a lower rate of reporting and seeking assistance following an incident, and more frequent reporting of adverse impacts of abuse such as modifying behaviours, feeling worried, stressed or anxious, depression and hiding or feeling bad about their sexuality.

Over three-quarters of another sample of 41 young people experienced homophobic bullying at school. Those who had not experienced bullying said they were not 'out' or did not conform to common gay and lesbian stereotypes.

Increasingly, we hear reports that terms such as 'gay' are becoming common slang for bad, unfashionable, unlikable. "Poof, fag and gay [are] used all the time -- they don't know what it means half the time. I was called a dyke and they thought it meant the same as bitch," said one young focus group participant. And anyone could be targeted, just because they look or seem 'different'.

So what can schools do to respond to this kind of abusive behaviour? If you work in a school setting, there is a lot you can do. "When someone in my class said 'she's such a lesbian' my teacher really picked up on it and dealt with it -- it didn't happen again," said one young person.

The forum will examine what a safe and supportive environment means and present strategies of best practice.

All children have the right to feel safe and supported, to engage profitably in learning and to actualise their potential. However, many are dealing with everyday abuse and violence in and out of school.

The roundtable will run from 11am-4pm on May 21 and cost $20. Contact the Lesbian and Gay Anti-Violence Project (AVP) on (02) 9206 2066 or e-mail avp@acon.org.au for information and to register. This event is funded by the NSW Attorney General's Department's Crime Prevention Division.

Anti-Homophobia Interagency is a group that works together including the Attorney General's Department, Anti Violence Project, Police, Department of Education and Training, Federation, Streetwize, Family Planning Health and the AIDS Council of NSW.

For further information

May 2004 contents