View article

Almost four percent (3.8%) of young people reported being attracted to others of the same sex or both sexes in Youth’12. This proportion is comparable to that found in the previous surveys conducted in 2001 and 2007, suggesting that over the past 11 years there has been no change in relation to the number of New Zealand secondary school students who are same/both-sex attracted. Furthermore these young people are ethnically, geographically, and socially diverse, and attend schools from around the country. In 2012, the majority (53.1%) of same/both-sex attracted young people had ‘come out’ (i.e. told people close to them about their sexuality) whilst 31.3% of same/both-sex attracted students had come out in 2001. However, in Youth’12 only 14.4% of these young people said that they could easily talk to their family about their sexuality. Most same/both-sex attracted students reported feeling positive towards school and described caring relationships with their parents and friends. Same/both-sex attracted students were also generous with their time in that they were more likely (than their opposite-sex attracted counterparts) to work as volunteers in their communities. Although most same/both-sex attracted students are doing well, there are significant and harmful disparities when these students are compared to their opposite-sex attracted peers. Same/both-sex attracted young people are often exposed to environments that are challenging and discriminatory, and this in turn affects their wellbeing. For example, same/both-sex attracted youth are more likely to be bullied, be physically harmed, and to be afraid that someone would hurt or …