Thu 14 Apr 2011 In: Our Communities View at Wayback View at NDHA
Seb Stewart (left) with Q-Youther delivering letters to the PM Dear Mr Key, I am writing to you in my capacity as the Executive Director of Q-Youth in Nelson. I am also writing to you as a gay man who spent his youth feeling lonely, confused and sad. I dream of a world where young people are accepted and celebrated for who they are. I acknowledge your courage in being our Prime Minister. In these uncertain times you have worked hard to maintain stability for our nation. A few months ago, I was with a young person who had experienced bullying when he was at school. He had since dropped out of school because he found the bullying unbearable. This is common story. He expressed his desire to tell his story to someone who might listen. This was where the idea to give people the chance to write to you arose. Fast forward a few months, add a gay Olympian to the mix, and we have a nationwide campaign that asks you, as our Prime Minister, to make a stand against homophobia in our schools, in our communities and in our country. Homophobia is an irrational and mistaken mind. It perceives a queer person to be less worthy of respect and it strips thousands of New Zealand students of their fundamental right to be treated equally. Safety in schools is necessary if we want young people to become happy and successful adults. Homophobia in our schools ensures that queer students are not safe. Acceptance is something that must be modeled by our leaders if we wish to bring about a shift in society. This shift can start with you, Mr Key. You have the opportunity to show New Zealand your concern about the disproportionate amount of bullying that is heaped on queer students. If you do this publicly, in response to the letters that you are receiving from around the country, you can start a snowball that will lead to the safety and inclusion of queer youth. Queer youth number around 8% of students throughout the country. There have been many successful campaigns in New Zealand that show we are a caring nation. John Kirwan led a wonderful campaign to normalize depression. It meant that people could finally admit to their sadness and get help to become happy. It is high time that we normalize sexual and gender diversity. It is not a sin and it is not abnormal. We are born this way and we deserve the human dignity to live happy fulfilled lives free of discrimination. Mr Key. I am requesting you to heed our call for freedom and support. I will soon be calling your office requesting a group meeting with you to discuss a way forward that supports our young people to be free to live without fear and discrimination. I hope you will find the time to meet with us. Thank you and best wishes Seb Stewart Executive Director Q-Youth Inc. Seb Stewart - 14th April 2011