Publishing self-esteem

A lack of information and services available for young gay people in Western Sydney has inspired ACON to create a magazine suitable for distribution to schools, health centres and counselling clinics.

Sticks & Stones‘ unobtrusive cover is designed to allow young same-sex-attracted readers to easily and discreetly pick up a copy, without being embarrassed.

The magazine covers a broad spectrum of issues including coming out, sexual health and religion, of particular relevance to young people in Sydney’s suburbs.

Everything that doesn’t happen in the 2010 postcode, nobody knows about it, ACON’s Education and Community Development officer Matthew Vaughan told Sydney Star Observer.

We need to distribute the information for those kids who are isolated and feel like they’re the only ones out there.

Sydney’s outer suburbs can be scary places for young gay and lesbian people, Vaughan said, particularly for those in migrant communities.

[We’re looking at areas] where conservative and religious ideologies from varying ethnicities would infringe on gay youth from coming to terms with their sexuality, he said.

The magazine has been funded by New South Wales Health, and is part of an ongoing project.

The magazine coincides with the launch of ACON’s Start Making Sense program, which will be located in the Fairfield and Liverpool areas.