Sexual Health On The Agenda
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Learning from the Past
October each year is Gay History Month worldwide. Working with homeless and at risk young people, it is likely that workers will encounter some young people who either identify as same sex attracted, or who are defining their own sexuality.
HOT would like to offer some of the history of the last 100 years of gay and lesbian history around the world to offer some insight into how hard it can still be for a person, young or old to ‘come out’.
There are positive changes happening, but it is up to everybody to ensure that homophobia, discrimination, assault and abuse are stopped, so that young people can feel safe to express themselves.
September 25th 1969 - London
Six teens armed with clubs beat a man to death. In the days following the event, an anonymous author known only as ‘fag basher’ is published in a newspaper, telling readers that bashing homosexuals is safe because they cannot go to the police.
September 4th 1984 – United States of America
A national task force finds that 10% of lesbians and 25% of gay men had been physically assaulted as a result of their sexual orientation.
September 1st 1935 – Germany
The Nazi government amends the Criminal Code, allowing for more punishment of lewd acts between men
September 20th 1996 – United States of America
President Bill Clinton signs the Defence of Marriage Act which defines marriage in the United States as a union between a man and a woman
September of 2008 sees a world that is both very similar and vastly different to the historical examples.
In the city of Sydney, preparations are beginning for the 31st Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras amidst continued homophobic violence. Studies are proving that young gay and lesbian young people continue to be over represented in the homeless statistics, and their levels of self harm and suicide are higher.
Stamping out homophobia and discrimination is the first step to making September 2009 a better year for young gays and lesbians. Start at the Community Action Against Homophobia Website www.caah.org.au
That’s news in Sexual Health for October 2008!