04/22/2002 "Same-sex centre attracts youth award"

Same-sex centre attracts youth award By Kate Gauntlett
THOUSANDS of WA young people who are attracted to the same sex or confused about their sexual orientation have found sanctuary at a Northbridge drop-in centre.

The Freedom Centre is believed to be the only one of its kind in Australia.

It provides information, support, referral, advocacy and recreation opportunities for people under 25. Last Thursday, centre coordinator Midge Turnbull and dozens of volunteers were recognised at the WA Youth Awards when the centre won the Youth Citizenship (Group) category.

Ms Turnbull said about 1500 young people each year came to the centre, which is staffed by almost 100 volunteers.

"There are people who just want to meet other people like themselves and others have some quite serious issues, like homelessness, to deal with," Ms Turnbull said.

Homophobic behaviour was still common in the community, despite the increased awareness about same-sex relationships.

"Sometimes schools won't do anything about abuse, they even blame the victim and get them to leave the school rather than deal with systemic homophobia," Ms Turnbull said.

The centre opened in 1994 on the initiative of a group of gay men, with the support of the WA AIDS Council, to provide information on sexual health but soon provided social and emotional support for men and women.