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Same-sex attracted young people are being invited to participate in the third “Writing Themselves In” survey. The successful surveys have helped to bring the spotlight onto issues affecting LGBT 14 to 21 year olds, with questions covering aspects of sexuality, health and wellbeing. Dr Lynne Hillier and her team of researchers from the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society will document the levels and impact of homophobia on same-sex attracted youth as well as support mechanisms and how young people use them. They will also examine the effects of changes made since the last survey in 2004, such as changes to anti-discrimination policies in schools. The theme for this year’s survey is “Who pushes your buttons?” “We want to know who “pushes the buttons” of same-sex attracted youth, in all kinds of ways. Who attracts them, who supports them, who and what offends them?” Dr Hillier said. “This is a chance for them to get these things off their chest and share their feelings; and in doing so, to make a difference”. “We would like to know how youth who have sexual feelings for people of the same sex are going, whether or not they have ever acted on those feelings,” Dr. Hillier explained. “We are particularly interested in finding out how they are coping with things such as relationships, family and friends, school, abuse or violence and sexual health. The results of this research will be used to help make education and services better and focus more attention on how to make Australia a more supportive place for sexual diversity”. The survey will be online until April 2010 at www.wti3.org.au. Same-sex attracted youth aged 14-21 are encouraged to participate. For more information or to download previous reports, go to www.latrobe.edu.au/ssay
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