Youth advocacy group Out There is to hold a national conference in June focussing on safety in schools for LGBT youth. Spokesperson Sarah Helm says this "is one of the next big human rights issues facing the queer community. 12.9% of non-heterosexual secondary students report that they are bullied at least once a week. 9% say they don't feel safe at school, and a further 25% only feel safe sometimes." The conference aims to mobilise our communities to ensure educational institutions are safe, inclusive, and supportive for LGBT people, and insist the government and schools start to treat the issue seriously. Out There, a youth development project jointly run by the New Zealand AIDS Foundation and Rainbow Youth, is also launching a nationwide campaign against homophobic bullying. The conference will be held 11-12 June at St Andrew's on the Terrace in Wellington. More information is available on the website http://www.outthere.org.nz/.