Same-sex attracted young people celebrate the launch of ‘Out West’.

Same-sex attracted young people celebrate the launch of ‘Out West’.

The Youth Action & Policy Association (YAPA)ʼs Western Sydney Project is proud to launch Out West – a project to support the health and well-being of western Sydneyʼs same-sex attracted young people (SSAYP) on February 2, 2011, at 11 am at Parramattaʼs Mars Hill Café.

NSW Minister for Youth, The Hon. Peter Primrose MLC will be attending the launch to present the YAPA Western Sydney Project with funds provided by the NSW State Government through Communities NSW to begin the project, which will include a support group for SSAYP based in Parramatta, in addition to capacity building activities to increase access to western Sydneyʼs mainstream youth services for SSAYP.

It is encouraging to see this project, which has been driven by young people for young people, receive funding. YAPA Western Sydney Project Coordinator, Leah Weber, is extremely impressed with both the young people she has worked with on this project, as well as the support from the NSW Government. She says, “Iʼm really looking forward to this project coming into fruition as a result of the hard work of western Sydneyʼs young people. Same-sex attracted young people from western Sydney are often forced to travel to Sydney City to receive services and connect with their peers, so it will be great for them to have an avenue closer to home. Many same-sex attracted young people struggle with the negative impacts of homophobia and homophobic bullying. It is time to act to support the health and well being of our same-sex attracted young people and it is encouraging to see the NSW State Government supporting initiatives such as Out West.”

Featuring guest speaker Alex Pittaway from Wear It Purple, as well as a performance from acclaimed Sydney singer/songwriter Sam Buckingham, with support from key LGBT organisations like Twenty10 and ACON, as well as attendance by the NSW Minister for Youth, the launch is set to be an exciting beginning to this important project.

For more information on GLBT youth services click here.