Free seminars promote understanding

Gender and sexuality youth support organisation Twenty10 is hosting a series of free seminars on how parents can support children regarding issues of gender, sex and sexuality.

Families @ Twenty10 will present ‘Gender diversity and young people’ on Wednesday, August 18. The presentation will introduce families to the biological, psychological and social aspects of gender diversity, including what it can mean for a family member to explore or identify as gender questioning, transgender, trans or intersex.

“We established this program because we were getting a lot of calls on our support line from the parents and family members of teenagers, with big questions around gender and sexuality and their desire to support their family member,” Twenty10 managing director Rebecca Reynolds said.

“What we were hearing was that these parents were being challenged by their child’s emerging identity and they wanted to learn what things were like for young people today.”

This is the second seminar in the series. Other upcoming topics for discussion include relationships, culture and stereotypes, depression and anxiety, sexual health, and internet safety and bullying. All seminars are held at Twenty10’s Bedford St headquarters in Newtown.

“The first seminar on sexuality and young people went very well. We even had a couple who travelled all the way from Goulburn for the talk — they were that keen for information and support,” Reynolds said.

A representative from PFLAG was there to tell participants about ongoing support. Twenty10 recorded the talk which will eventually be podcast.

The organisation, which was established in 1982, is promoting the talk series through local newspapers, school counsellors and Relationships Australia. The seminars are a chance for attendees to discuss concerns and learn together with other families in similar situations, free of judgement. Each presenter is respected in their field of expertise.

“We thought these seminars would be a good place to raise those questions in a safe space and to share some of the things that young people and researchers have taught us,” Reynolds said.

info: To RSVP to any of the seminars, email [email protected], call 8594 9555 or visit www.twenty10.org.au for further information.