*Age Of Consent & Legal Sexual Activity for the State of
7th September 2006 Email to Premier Peter
Beattie, Attorney General Linda Lavarch and my local Member Neil Roberts highlighting a 6th
September 2006 article in the Courier Mail which states the high risk of suicide in same sex attracted
youth. I suggest that, since we all do know the definite link between
oppression of same sex attracted youth and the drastically higher rate of
suicide for them, the very least the Beattie Government can do is to
immediately reform the one basic flaw in current Criminal Law which is known to
actively impede the acceptance and support of same sex attracted youth - namely
the unequal age of consent.
----- Original Message -----
From: John Frame
To: Nudgee
Electorate Office ; Attorney-SMTP
; Premier
Peter Beattie
Cc: cmletters@qnp.newsltd.com.au
Sent:
Subject: the Beattie Government and World Suicide Prevention Day
To: Premier Peter Beattie, Attorney-General Linda Lavarch, my local
Member (for Nudgee) Neil Roberts
Cc to the Courier Mail
There was a very good article in the Courier Mail yesterday (
I have posted my own comments to the article online at
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,20359169-5003426,00.html
For your convenience I have included the text of that article, including
my comments, further below.
I suggest that, since we all do know the definite link between
oppression of same sex attracted youth and the drastically higher rate of
suicide for them, the very least the Beattie Government can do is to
immediately reform the one basic flaw in current Criminal Law which is known to
actively impede the acceptance and support of same sex attracted youth - namely
the unequal age of consent.
I am very disappointed that your government has made no public attempt
to treat this issue seriously. It should at least have been presented as
an election promise for immediate action. If your government is returned after
this weekend, then I hope and pray that you have sufficient moral
fortitude to give this matter priority.
Yours sincerely,
John Frame
Ph: 07 3350 1562 / local mobile: 0409 501 561
Post:
----"There is no substitute for equality"----
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,20359169-5003426,00.html
Stop the deadly toll
by Jane
Fynes-Clinton Courier Mail
IT IS one
of the few areas that retains an air of social taboo, yet it takes more lives
than car accidents.
For those left behind, the grief it
causes is immeasurable.
Community Action for the Prevention
of Suicide is determined to bring suicide in from the shadows.
It is hoped that a community forum,
to be held on Saturday at
Australian Bureau of Statistics
figures show that 2400 Australian commit suicide each year. The figures for
attempts are not kept, but are believed to be 10 or 20 times that many. Last
year 350
Lifeline telephone counselling
supervisor Webb Lin says when a person calls who is contemplating suicide, most
often they reveal they are having suicidal thoughts. A minority have planned
suicide and may have had attempts.
"I think the reason they call
is because for one reason or another, they feel guilty or ashamed and do not
want to talk to someone they know," Lin says. "They can share what
they are feeling and the person they talk to will just listen.
"My understanding is there are
events that can trigger a person to think about suicide, but it is always an
accumulation of things. That trigger may not be a huge event; it can be
something that seems small to others." Lin says a ray of hope can make all
the difference to someone.
"Sometimes reality testing can
help," he says."Reminding them that they are loved can help."
Lin says those who have attempted
suicide describe the pain as being too great. They say they are unable to feel
anything but their own pain and cannot see the pain their death will cause
others. They feel so unworthy of living that they feel their families and
friends will be better off without them or that they will not be missed."
Inspire Foundation director of
programs Jonathan Nicholas says people under 25, and particularly those with
same-sex orientation, are particularly at risk.
"Young people who are same-sex
attracted attempt suicide at a rate of four to six times that of other young
people," he says. "When you consider 5-7 per cent of heterosexual
young people attempt suicide, the rates for same-sex attracted youth is very
concerning at 25-30 per cent."
Nicholas says the biggest danger time
for young people with homosexual attraction is between when they accept that
they are gay, but have not told anyone else.
"There is a period – and it can
be a long time – when a young person might have recognised and accepted that
this is how they are, but hate that about themselves and feel they would never
be accepted."
Nicholas says it is vital that young
people generally feel accepted for who they are.
"Young people always look for
cues they are accepted and that they are safe in their family or their group of
friends."
He says a big problem for gay youth
is the lack of modelling and that exploring sexuality is often done in secret.
Lin agrees that openness and honesty
are vital when someone is showing signs of considering suicide.
"The biggest way to help is to
be open when someone you are close to shows signs of feeling suicidal,"
Lin says. "Ask them if they are thinking of killing themselves. Ask them
if they have planned it out.
"Never minimise what they are
feeling. Ask what help they need and help them get it.
"Ultimately, though, it is up
to the person. They must choose to be open about their feelings or accept help.
"Some hide their feelings very
well and often the bereaved will never know why their loved one died or why
they didn't talk about what they were feeling."
World Suicide Prevention Day
is on Sunday.
A
Community Action for the Prevention of Suicide public forum will be held at
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Latest Comments:
"Stop the deadly toll" by
Jane Fynes-Clinton (CM 6th Sept) is a vital and praiseworthy eye-opener on the
dramatically higher risk of suicide for same sex attracted youth. This may be
news for many of the general public - but it is not news for Premier Peter
Beattie and his Attorney-General. They both know that
Since 2003
In July 2005 Queensland
Anti-Discrimination Commissioner Susan Booth advised both the Premier and
Attorney-General that this law should be reformed as a matter of urgency.
However they still refuse to make any commitment - because they say that it is
a "vexed" issue. Suicide is infinitely more serious than a
"vexed" issue.
In 1990, as Chair of the PCJC
Committee on Homosexual Law Reform, Mr Beattie wrote that he personally
supported the majority recommendation for an equal age of consent. There is
still time before Saturday's Election for Mr Beattie to rekindle his social
conscience and promise to enact equity for youth.
Posted by:
John Frame of Wavell Heights, Brisbane 3:17pm today