OUT THERE! is interested in new local research projects. Such research will contribute to our knowledge about queer young people within Aotearoa NZ and assist organisations and schools to better meet the needs of queer youth.

Beond the battle grounds: Affirmations of

     sexual & gender diversity in aotearoa/NZ youth

     Presented at 6th Aust & NZ Youth Health Conference Sept 2007

This paper by OUT THERE! is a formative piece that has arisen out of a wish to remap the logic for queer youth development in New Zealand. There have been several documents in recent years that have focussed on the place of schools to ensure they are an environment that is safe and inclusive of sexual and gender diversity. These include OUT THERE!’s Safety In Our Schools (2005) booklet, the Post Primary Teacher’s Association (PPTA) Guidelines for Affirming Diversity of Sexualities (2003), and most recently the revision of the Family Planning Association’s (FPA) resource, Affirming Diversity (2007). This paper will aim to build on these documents by introducing examples of new evidence around sexuality education and the needs of queer young people but also by beginning to incorporate a wider youth development context.

Download: Beyond the Battlegrounds

Affirming Gender & Sexual Diversity

     in a year 12 health classroom

     Quinlivan, K. School of Education, University of Canterbury. 2006

This research, commisioned by the New Zealand AIDS Foundation for the OUT THERE! Project, was aimed at developing, trialing and evaluating strategies that support gender and sexual diversity within the classroom. This study intended to highlight the benefit of improving the learning environment for diverse students by providing a classroom environment that is inclusive of and validates queer sexualities and gender identities.

A summary of this research is being drafted and will be posted here once competed.

NON-HETEROSEXUAL YOUTH:

     A profile of their health and well-being    

This research is the first of its kind in Aotearoa New Zealand. In 2003, the New Zealand Aids Foundation on behalf of OUT THERE! approached Auckland's Adolescent Health Research Group (AHRG) and requested an analysis of non-heterosexual data from the Youth2000 Survey.

The majority of the data analysed in this report is based on sexual attraction awareness of non-heterosexual students with some more specific analyses about same sex and both sex attracted students, their coming out, emotional health and family relationships.

The AHRG undertook Youth2000 in 2001 - It was a national secondary school student health and wellbeing survey. In total, 9699 students from 114 New Zealand secondary schools took part.

Please note this material is designed for professionals. If you are considering publishing this material please consult with the SPINZ (Suicide Prevention Information New Zealand) guidelines for the media.

Download Research Brief or the Full Research Report

OTHER NEW ZEALAND AOTEAROA QUEER YOUTH RESEARCH:

>>Human Rights Commision. Transgender Inquiry: Summary of Submissions. 2007

The Transgender Inquiry has looked at three key areas in the lives of trans people in New Zealand: personal experiences of discrimination; difficulties accessing health services; and the barriers transgender people face when trying to have their gender status legally recognised on documents like birth certificates and passports.

>> Smith, Leigh. Un/Silencing Lesbian and Bisexual Students: Some Women's Experiences of How High Schools Met Their Needs. A thesis submitted for the degree of University of Otago Master of Arts, 2006.

 >>Nairn, Karen. What Has the Geography of our Sleeping Arrangements Got to Do with the Geography of Our Teaching Spaces? University of Otago, 2003.

>> Nairn, Karen & Smith A B. Taking Students Seriously: There Rights to be Safe at School. University of Otago, 2003.

>>Dickson, N., Paul C., Herbison, P. Same-sex Attraction in a Birth Cohort: Prevalence and Persistence in Early Adulthood. University of Otago, 2003. (Dunedin Longitudinal Study)

>>Skegg, Shyamala, Dickson, Paul, and Williams. Sexual Orientation and Self-Harm in Men and Women. Department of Psychological
Medicine and the Injury Prevention Research Unit, Department
of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago Medical
School. 2003. (This research deals with issues of self-harm and suicide, it is available by request to the Project Coordinator