Did you know that young people who are same sex attracted or gender diverse experience higer rates of homelessness? Did you also know there are services out there that can help?
Youth Homelessness Matters day on April 18th aims to raise public awareness about youth homelessness, the factors that cause it and to convey a message that young people experiencing homelessness are homeless, not helpless! For more information about it go to youthhomelessnessmatters.net.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth are overrepresented in the homeless population. According to a growing body of research and study, a conservative estimate is that 1 out of every 4 homeless young person is LGBTI+. This is greatly disproportionate to the estimated percentage of LGBTI young people in the general population which is around 10 percent. (1)
How Far We’ve Come - A look at the past year for Freedom Centre.
The past year at Freedom Centre has marked some big milestones and changes for Perth’s LGBTIQQ+ youth peer support service. So as we hang up our superhero masks and capes from the annual Pride Parade and start dreaming about fruit mince pies and the beach, it’s a great time to reflect on the past year and what’s to come in the future.
FC in the Pride Parade
From January through to April, Freedom Centre ran a series of art workshops which was named the ExSIGHT Art Project by our visitors. The workshops were facilitated by local artists Martin Wills and Peter Farmer, and provided an opportunity for young people to be mentored and improve their skills. The project resulted in an exhibition which showcased the artwork of our visitors, as well as an amazing wall mural with the themes of space, land and sea. Since the workshops have finished, Freedom Centre has hosted a second exhibition during the Pride Festival at our annual Freedom Centre Open Day.
Freedom Centre held our second annual Epic Retreat at Ern Halliday Recreation Camp in July, as well as an additional two sleepovers in January and October. At these events, young people participated in a wide range of different activities, such as karaoke, an ‘amazing race’, art, volleyball, a talent show and film-making.
With It Gets Better Australia having launched last month, Freedom Centre has put out a one minute video to contribute to the project, featuring our visitors! The full-length version of the video will be available early 2012!
Suicide Prevention Strategy for LGBTI Community
Gay and Lesbian Community Services WA, in partnership with the WA AIDS Council's Freedom Centre has received a three-month contract to consult the LGBTI community for the One Life suicide prevention strategy.
GLCS as the lead agency has signed the contract and will be working to create a comprehensive community action plan which will then go before the Ministerial Council for Suicide Prevention for approval.
Consultations will start in January and community members are invited to have their say on initiatives and activities that would benefit the community. GLCS Chairperson Nadine Toussaint said she was looking forward to working with the community on this initiative.
1 Community against HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination
“Stigma is caused by fear, and the best solution is education” - Nic, Perth WA
The WA AIDS Council has launched a new campaign to address the issue of HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination. At Freedom Centre we've been getting behind the campaign and showing our support.
The 1 Community campaign encourages individuals to take an active stand against stigma and discrimination by supporting the message and making a public statement at www.1community.org.au
Trish Langdon, Executive Director said that many people living with HIV still continue to report unacceptable instances of HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination in their daily lives.
“Despite having some legal protection many people living with HIV do not feel safe to disclose their status to those around them. This burden of secrecy often takes a huge toll on a person’s health, wellbeing and freedom to engage in community life.”
Youth Homelessness Matters day on April 18th aims to raise public awareness about youth homelessness, the factors that cause it and to convey a message that young people experiencing homelessness are homeless, not helpless! For more information about it go to 
