High School Referendum: No to Homophobia! Yes to same sex marriage & equal love rights!

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Resistance, a socialist youth organisation, and Highschools Against Homophobia are initiating a high school referendum against homophobia and for same sex marriage rights from Aug 2 – Aug 6. The tragic case of Alex Wildman, a high school student who suffered intense homophobic bullying, in Lismore, who killed himself on July 25, 2008, indicates a great need for anti-homophobia campaigning on high schools.

Scheduled to help build for the August 14 rallies for same sex marriage, the referendum will open discussion around homophobia amongst high school youth. This Referendum will give students the tools to combat homophobia and bigotry on their high school.

There are high levels of homophobia and prejudice on high schools. In Australia, 68% of gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans and inter-sex people (LGBTI) experience homophobia in school. These statistics clearly show that action against homophobia is urgently needed on high schools. In all, 30% of gay youth attempt suicide, this is far above the rate of suicide attempts for heterosexuals. It makes queer youth 6 times more likely to kill themselves than their straight counterparts. (Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Hidden in the Crowd, 2003).   These statistics show that action on homophobia is urgently required on high schools.

“Suicide is now the leading cause of death by injury in Australia ahead of car accidents and homicide, and it is the largest single cause of death in Australian men”.  

In all, 30% of gay youth attempt suicide, which is far higher than amongst heterosexual youth.  Queer youth are up to 6 times more likely to kill themselves than their straight counterparts.

For young people, homophobia and bigotry are matters of life and death on high schools more than elsewhere. The federal Labor government has exacerbated homophobia. The same-sex marriage ban, created in 2004 sends a clear message that LGBTI people are second rate citizens.

Resistance is teaming up with High Schools Against Homophobia and other LGBTI rights groups to conduct this referendum on highs which will assist in combating homophobia and bigotry and fighting for full civil and marriage rights for LGBTI people.

Resistance would like your organisation to endorse the referendum and potentially be a contact point for the referendum. Ballot boxes will be staffed by high school students during lunch time. Resistance wants as many schools as possible to participate and will support students by providing resource packs to any student who wants one. These resource kits will contain all materials necessary to start organising the referendum on their high school.

Resistance and High School Against Homophobia are also calling on schools to become publicly recognized homophobia-free zones, conduct school wide anti-bigotry programs and support the same-sex marriage campaign.

www.resistance.org.au

High Schools Against Homophobia

Stewart Woolley 0419 330 750

Kate 0406 517 246

Karl 0438 108 691

Jori <joricko1234@hotmail.com>