Fresh funding for gay youth
Victorian Mental Health Minister Mary Wooldridge announced fresh funding yesterday for community organisations to help young LGBTI people.
This will be the second round of funding for the Healthy, Equal, Youth (HEY) small grants of up to $40,000 each.
Organisations can use the grants to fund projects that improve the mental health and wellbeing of young same-sex attracted and gender-diverse people.
The scope for projects is wide and includes initiatives such as creating support groups, diversity campaigns, and youth leadership opportunities.
More than $210,000 is available for this round of funding.
Wooldridge said the first round of grants was incredibly competitive.
“I encourage any organisation or group with a project that will help eliminate stigma and discrimination, as well as promote strength and resilience in GLBTI young people, to apply for a grant,” she said.
“We want to strengthen and expand support services for GLBTI young people which also includes providing proactive and ongoing educational programs.”
Prahran MP Clem Newton-Brown said the announcement was an important step in supporting LGBTI youth.
“Young members of the GLBTI community are particularly susceptible to mental health issues,” Newton-Brown said.
“Suicide rates are significantly higher amongst this group as compared to the rest of the community.
“Something had to be done and I am pleased Minister Wooldridge has made this announcement.”
Organisations which received grants in the first round of funding in April included Brimbank Youth Services, the Centre for Multicultural Youth, and Mildura Base Hospital.
The grants are part of the state Government’s $4 million commitment to supporting projects that improve mental health and wellbeing of young LGTBI people.
Gay, then fuck off, we don’t want your kind here! Well what other message could be read from stripping workplace protections out of the Equal Opportunity Act, on the basis of identifying as GLBTI youth? Homophobia kills more than the road toll. I am just so stunned the LNP are saying “Here is some money, now shut the fuck up”. The Clem and Mary show just excluded GLBTI people from thousands of government funded jobs, simply because, well, they are same-sex attracted. Now what are they saying about equality, some are more equal than others? Some are more deserving of rights and protections if they are straight?