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Once, not too long ago, I was a frightened pre-teenager, living in the shadow of a fear that my secret might one day ‘get out’. I feared would never find a group of people who would accept me for my sexuality, and allow me to be who I truly was.
That was until I stumbled upon Minus18 – an LGBTI youth organisation, run for and by young people, to unite queer teens. To give them a space to feel safe, to provide support, to feel appreciated, and to meet others like themselves who would otherwise have no avenue.
Minus18 conducted many wonderful events, but my favourite were the dance parties. They’d hold them once a term in the school holidays. I’d sneak out of the house to attend, lying about where I was going – “It’s just an underage club, Mum! Nothing weird at all!” – and, as the cliché goes, dance the night away.
“Late nights after Minus18 were an adrenaline rush of utter joy and happiness.”
I still remember walking into my first Minus18 dance party at fourteen years of age, and being utterly astonished. All those queer kids, all in the one place! A veritable gaggle of gays. So many friendly faces – and so many people, all just like me.
I kissed my first boy at Minus18. I made way too many friends, many of whom I still adore. I had a wild time, once a term break, gyrating on the dance floor to raucous noughties hits and setting myself free.
And when it was all over, I went home. Back to the suburbs. Back to my closeted husk. Maybe it was the free soft drink sugar kick, but late nights after Minus18 were an adrenaline rush of utter joy and happiness. A sense of belonging and self-love. In fact, I do recall crediting Minus18 with a renewed desire to keep on going.
Because living as a closeted early teen in the suburbs at a high school, one that neglected to teach the ins and outs of human sexuality – let alone educate that being gay is okay – was a hard slog. My thirteenth birthday was spent in first aid after someone beat the shit out of me because I was different.
Over a decade later, Minus18 is still kicking on, and have done wonderful things for the community on a national and international scale. Schools are now taking a firmer stance against homophobia, and all the other discriminatory phobias that plague the LGBT communities.
They’ve introduced a new program titled All Of Us, an “innovative new teaching and learning resource that aims to increase students’ understanding and awareness of gender diversity, sexual diversity and intersex topics.” It’s funded by the government and developed by the Safe Schools Coalition Australia and Minus18. It’s designed to change attitudes in youths and work at nipping the bud of phobic discrimination.
We never had that when I was in high school. I wonder if we did, would I have had the same experience? If students had been taught not to hate people like me, would I have so desperately clung to the queer underage dance parties of the mid-term break for a sense of support? And moreover, would I have spent my thirteenth birthday in the care of friends and not a nurse?
It’s wildly apparent that some people take issue with All Of Us and the improved Safe Schools program. As our commitment to providing safety for youth grows stronger, our opponents grow louder.
There are those who desire to stop the new Safe Schools program outright, like the Australian Christian Lobby and no shortage of traditionalist pollies and civilians – which include the members of a Facebook page, simply titled ‘Stop Safe Schools Coalition’. They are vehemently against All Of Us and the Safe Schools program, and in the mere days since their launch have accrued hundreds of followers.
This group would be considered your subpar Internet troll, hiding ill tidings behind skewed criticism; all bark no bite – if they weren’t planning on taking real action.
Minus18 will soon host another one of their esteemed Same Sex Gender Diverse Formals; a popular event amongst the newer generation of same-sex attracted and gender diverse youth. It’s a ticketed event.
The owners and followers of the hate group have decided to buy out the tickets to the event, in order to stop youth from attending – in the hope of ‘saving’ and ‘protecting’ these kids from the intangible horrors of Minus18’s Same Sex Gender Diverse Formal.
Heaven forbid we give these youth a place to congregate and be themselves! Surely there can be no greater horror than a poor confused child feeling comfortable in their own skin, surrounded by people who are just like them.
The idea that people are trying to stunt one of the main events run by Minus18 Рin the too-clich̩ and misguided spirit of saving the children Рmakes me want to brutalise a punching bag, or binge-eat McDonalds in spite of my waistline.
Because Minus18 gave me an escape. I’m forever grateful for that.
The fact that some people want to trash it – want to help ruin all the good that they and the Safe Schools Coalition are doing; want to take us back to a time where violence and discrimination were the norm in schools galore, all because they fear what they do not understand – fills me with dread.
Let’s not sit idle while these bigots scream their nonsense. Not while thirteen-year-old gay boys are being bashed in the schoolyard, and schoolkids must wait once a term to feel safe and secure.
