File Photo Auckland University’s Youth 2012 research team is looking for funding to allow it to create a full report into the state of life for same-sex attracted youth once more, and for trans youth for the first time. The Adolescent Health Research Group asked about gender identity for the first time in the third of its Youth 2000 studies, and one per cent of students reported they were trans. It says 96 per cent of students were not transgender, while three per cent were not sure. The results in regards to same-sex attraction mirrored the previous studies, with four per cent of students saying they are attracted to the same sex. Four per cent of students are not sure of their sexual attraction, or attracted to neither sex. In 2007, researchers were able to put together a full report on the issues gay and bi youth are facing, with the help of the New Zealand AIDS Foundation and Rainbow Youth. “We are really keen to do another same, box sex attracted report and a new trans report,” Principal investigator Dr Terryann Clark tells GayNZ.com Daily News. “Unfortunately at this stage we were only funded to do an overview report and Maori report. We are currently working with a few agencies who are keen on other reports, but to date funding is scarce.” Dr Clark says the Ministry of Education is interested in funding the report, but does not have sufficient funds, and is looking for partners to share costs.Dr Clark adds: “There is such important data for the rainbow community and it really needs to be shared."
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Friday, 2nd August 2013 - 9:53am