Over the past 20 years New Zealanders attitudes towards New Zealand’s queer community has changed substantially. Protective laws have been enforced, queer support groups have been established and flamboyant parades and festivals now joyously sweep New Zealand’s streets every year allowing New Zealand’s queer people to be louder and prouder than ever.

But this isn’t enough to protect our young queer people from prejudice taunting and bullying within our schools, “Words like ‘homo’ and ‘faggot’ are heard in schools and classrooms hundreds of times a day” says Nathan Brown, National Coordinator of Out There (now curious.org.nz).

Investigating, questioning and experiencing ones sexuality is an everyday part of growing up and it’s important that young people have “the space to talk and express sexuality and gender diversity in a safe and meaningful way” says Laressa Donaldson, Queer Youth Leader from Out There.

Now, with the recent conclusion of the Annual Behaviour Summit held in Wellington we decided to talk to Laressa about the attitudes and dangers facing New Zealand’s young queer people in today’s society.

What do you feel are the general attitudes toward young queer people in New Zealand?

I feel that New Zealand has a long way to go in regard to accepting the diverse sexualities and genders that there are. I feel we’re a very conservative country, with strong traditional values which sadly leaves leave little room for difference.

Is this an attitude that changes and matures with age?

I feel that this is an attitude that stems across all ages and experiences throughout Aotearoa. I feel that exposure to queer people and representations of queer youth in the media and throughout mainstream society is what is useful for all types of people to be accepting and inclusive of queer people. And this possibly explains the widespread homophobic and transphobic bullying inherent in our culture.

What are the major problems facing young queer New Zealanders today?

I think that having the space to talk and express sexuality and gender diversity in a safe and meaningful way is a huge challenge for young queer people, and we need to continue to collectively create those spaces. I feel that the more open and embracive we all are about sexuality and gender differences as a society the more room there is to move for everyone, not just queer youth.

Also having role models and older people queer youth can talk, relate and look up to is a challenge, as like I mentioned before there is little queer representation in the media and mainstream society which can be pretty isolating for someone that is questioning their sexuality or gender. We need roles models, and high profile people that are willing to get up and say “yes I’m queer and I’m damn proud of it!”.

Does this create any serious dangers?

It absolutely does; findings from the Youth 2007 same/both sex attracted youth data revealed that queer youth are significantly more likely to be bullied in comparison with their heterosexual counterparts. Of those that had been bullied, a third had been bullied because they were gay or people thought
that they were gay, and one in five continued to be afraid that someone would hurt or bother them at school. Additionally, more than half (54%) of queer youth had been hit or physically harmed by another person at school.

Sadly depression, self harm and suicide still continue to be significant issues for queer youth which I feel is ultimately a result of the homophobic and transphobic culture that is inherent in many of our schools. I think that many schools do not take responsibility for their queer and questioning students, and they should providing queer spaces and opportunities for all young people to actively question and express their sexuality and gender.

How does the gay community in New Zealand battle homophobia and prejudice behaviours?

The community holds a strong political presence; a lot of queer youth development is also about empowering young queers to feel safe and strong within themselves. As a community we are very embracive of support from outside of the community- in order to challenge the homophobic and transphobic culture of this country we need to work together, queers, their friends and supporters are what is needed to change the culture and work toward a more safe and embracive society.

Would you say that the general attitude towards queer people is improving?

I feel we’ve come a very very long way! I recommend to any one interested in queer youth and the community take a look at our history here in Aotearoa. It was not long ago, barely 20 years, when it was illegal for two men to have sexual relations with each other, take a look as us now! As a community we have really worked hard to pave the way and create the space needed to express our diversity, which I think has been really positive and liberating for all of society, whether other people realise that or not. Sexuality and gender diversity is a positive thing for everyone in society, it loosens the boundaries around what it is to be a man or a women, to be straight or queer. Essentially we all have more room to move, and the ability to challenge the mainstream ideas and expectations around how to think, act and behave.

For more information visit www.curious.org.nz

Resources on the website include:

Action Kit for Transgender Young People
Coming Out to your Parents
For BOYS who might like boys
For GIRLS who might like girls
Questions and Answers for Queer Youth
Transgender – What is it?
What is Gender Identity?