Leaping for change
Taking the front foot, OUTthere Rural Victorian Youth Council for Sexual Diversity — with the help of WayOut project coordinator Sue Hackney — has sent a 23-page report to Youth Minster James Merlino, and the Office for Youth calling for state Government-funded FReeZA events to include codes of conduct to prevent homophobia. The report recommends FReeZA bands sign contracts to ensure no homophobic or other discriminatory language is used. The group will soon release a study of rural same-sex attracted young people and their coming-out experiences.