Dunedin-born LGBT advocate Nathan Brown has been appointed the new coordinator of Out There – a joint LGBT youth development project between Rainbow Youth and the New Zealand AIDS Foundation. The Out There project is designed to combat prejudice and provide safe and supportive environments for LGBT youth, particularly in schools. Brown brings considerable experience in youth outreach to his new role. He first started with Youthline Otago when he was 19 years old. Since then he has been involved with the Pride Dunedin Youth group, supported by the Dunedin City Council, and in late 2002 became head of Otago University's UniQ organisation. During his two years with UniQ he faced-off against protesters from local religious groups over the civil unions debate and fended off Destiny Church who challenged UniQ's right to exist as a support group for non-heterosexual students. He lent his face to the NZAF's Negative Gay Role Model campaign in 2004, which was designed to promote living free of HIV as a desirable lifestyle. He has been honoured by GayNZ.com in the 2004 New Year's Honours and was voted Dunedin Queer of the Year in 2005. Brown says he's looking forward to building on the work of his predecessors Amy Donovan and Sarah Helm, such as the "Safety in Schools Campaign and developing and supporting Diversity groups in high schools." "These programmes are invaluable for ensuring the health and well-being of at-risk LGBT youth," says Brown. He also aims to promote LGBT youth leadership and encourage youth activism. Brown will be based at Wellington's Awhina Centre.