WHAT WE DO:

The Minus18 Crew (aged 15 to 21) run events for same sex attracted youth, to empower them and help them understand themselves. The events we run include underage dance parties every school holidays, weekend workshops, and monthly social gatherings. Since 1998, we’ve reached out to tens of thousands of Victorian youth, and that number continues to grow.

WHY WE DO IT:

Being gay isn’t always easy, and it can be even more confusing and isolating when you don’t know other people who are going through the same experiences as you. We know that the best remedy for social isolation is to provide a place where same sex attracted youth can make friends in a safe and fun atmosphere.
While Minus18 is promoted to young people as a social environment, it’s really so much more. We’re about improving the mental wellbeing of young people, increases their self-confidence and overall making their lives better.

WHO WE WORK WITH

The Minus18 crew work with a huge number of other organisations to ensure the upmost safety at events, and that further support is available to anyone who needs it. Primarily, we work with:
• The {also} Foundation
• Victoria Police Gay and Lesbian Liaison Unit
• The Victorian Government Office for Youth
• PFLAG (parents and friends of lesbians and gays).

SAFETY

A huge and very valid concern for parents is for the safety of their son or daughter attending a Minus18 event. Since we first started in 1998, Minus18 has NEVER had a major incident. Our partner organisations listed above have seen the work we do and truly believe in the benefit of Minus18 - enough to recommend us as safe and essential. These organisations also give us strict guidelines on how to run our events, to ensure the physical and mental safety of your son or daughter.
Additionally, our larger events all have:
• A youth worker is in attendance at all Minus18 events
• All Minus18 events are drug and alcohol free
• All Minus18 events are smoke free
• Registered crowd controllers are in attendance at all events in appropriate ratios to the number of patrons.
• All Minus18 volunteers and staff comply with the Victorian working with children laws and regulations.

HOW WE STARTED

The initial idea of Minus18 was formed in 1998 by parents who saw that their sons or daughters had nowhere to go for questions on their sexuality, or to meet other young people like them. Working together, with a number of event organisers, the first Minus18 underage dance party was created. Minus18 events now attract upwards of 400 youth each school holidays.

WHY WHAT WE DO WORKS:

A sense of belonging and inclusion assists the intergration of a same sex attracted young person into society and benefits their mental wellbeing.
Minus18 helps young people rebuild social networks and establish close, trusting relationships where they feel valued and safe, and is what is needed to address the impacts of homophobia in young people’s everyday live.
-Health & Well-Being of Same-Sex-Attracted Young People, Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University).

resources for parents

If you are a parent looking for more information, or dealing with the coming out of a son or daughter, then you are not alone. PFlag, (Parents & Friends of Lesbians & Gays) are a support group of proud parents who are in the same boat. PFlag chapters exist all around the world, and PFlag Victoria meet once a month, at 7:30pm on the forth Tuesday of the month, at the Toorak Bowling Club, Mandeville Crescent, Toorak. PFlag meetings often have a guest speaker, and they maintain a list of recommended reading, along with a library of books availabe for loan.

PFlag can be contacted as follows:

• Website: http://www.pflagvictoria.org.au
• Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Phone: (03) 9827 8408

Their website also contains a range of resources.

Other places you can turn include the Gay & Lesbian Switchboard, who provide free and confidential telephone counselling, referral, and information by trained gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender volunteers. Phone (03) 9827 8544 or 1800 184 527.

The ALSO Foundation is Minus18's auspicing body. They are also currently working to open a transitional housing service for GLBTI youth. You can contact ALSO at their website or by phoning (03) 9827 4999.

Gay Family Support is a website to give gay family support to parents of gay children. Helping parents and family members cope with their loved ones sexuality. You can visit their website here

Hares & Hyenas Queer Bookshop is Melbourne's queer bookshop, set in the heart of queer life of the city, Commercial Road on the Prahran-South Yarra border. Their website is also a secure online bookshop. They are located at 63 Johnston St, Fitzroy, VIC, or you can visit their website . Their contact number is (03) 9824 0110

 

Whether your child or loved one is gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or unsure, you have taken the first step to supporting them by reading this. You have opened yourself up to new information, and hopefully you will be better informed.  You can support your child or loved one by educating yourself as much as possible about sexuality or gender idenity.

Young people know that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people are marginalised by society.  Many children learn negative words for GLBT people, often before the reach the kindergarten playground.  They assume that all the people they know are heterosexual; and they may have no idea that some of the respected adults around them are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender.

As a result, many GLBT young people feel profoundly isolated. 'Surely I am the only person like this' is a common sentiment.  Unfortunately, some GLBT young people are viciously harassed and abused.

Whether or not they are labelled by others, these young people often;

• Fear being discovered and expect rejection
• Guard their feelings carefully in order to be accepted (or merely to survive)
• Have few opportunities to openly date, flirt or engage in sexual experimentation like other young people
• Lack accurate information about their feelings and experiences

The vast majority of GLBT young people are not depressed or suicidal.  However, Australian research has identified that same sex attracted young people may be up to six times more likely to attempt suicide than the general population.  These figures are believed to be even higher for young people with gender identity issues.

A young persons sexual or gender identity does not in and of itself cause them to feel depressed or suicidal.  What does impact negatively on their well-being is the experience of growing up 'different' in a society that often rejects difference, and that expects everyone to be heterosexual.  Education about gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people is an important step towards supporting young people and preventing depression and suicide.  Young GLBT people need the following kinds of support, to develop good self-esteem and skills to deal with what can sometimes be a hostile environment:

• Supportive opportunities to socialise with one another
• Resources that specifically address their concerns
• Sensitive, non-judgemental support as they come to understand themselves

There are services and programs throughout Victoria that provide support for same sex attracted and transgender people.  Contact the Gay and Lesbian Switchboard for details of services near you.