Do you have a passion for getting loud about issues that are important to you? A new advocacy group called the Youth Pride Network is launching in Perth to give LGBTQIA+ young people the opportunity to come together to shape a better Western Australia.
The network, auspiced by the Youth Affairs Council of Western Australia (YACWA), will be made up of LGBTQIA+ people aged 12-25 who have a passion for making WA a better place to be out and proud.
The group has formed in the hopes of addressing the systemic inequality that is still faced by LGBTQIA+ young people in Western Australia.
Co-founder of the group, Kai Schweizer, has said that while the group will get to decide what issues and projects they tackle, problems like homelessness, mental health, discriminatory legislation and intra-community discrimination will be top priorities.
“We’re really excited about YPN because at the moment there is no avenue for LGBTQIA+ young people to come together and advocate for the issues that are important to them”
“After the marriage equality vote, we saw a huge amount of energy coming from young LGBTQIA+ people who wanted change. We’re hoping to find a way to make sure those young people have the opportunity to keep making changes in WA.”
Senior Policy Officer at YACWA and co-founder, Mason Rothwell, said that YPN was a fantastic opportunity for young LGBTQIA+ people to develop a collective voice to shape a better Western Australia.
“As a group that continues to face discrimination and stigma, it’s so important that we provide spaces for young LGBTQIA+ people to feel safe, connect with like-minded individuals, and feel like they’re making a difference.”
“There is so much room for improvement when it comes to making Western Australia a better place to live for the LGBTQIA+ community. Young LGBTQIA+ people are the experts in the issues that affect them, and they have a unique role to play in addressing them.”
The group is currently in the recruiting stage and has a number of different ways that people can get involved.
If you are a person aged 12-25 and identify as LGBTQIA+ you can register to be a part of the group here.
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