Auckland-based LGBT youth support network Rainbow Youth are taking on more staff to increase its outreach to schools. Currently Rainbow Youth has only one full-time staff member - Executive Director Tom Hamilton - but its part-time Education Coordinator Priscilla Penniket will be employed on a full-time basis soon, and a third staff member will be found to assist both her and Hamilton, Board chairperson Toni Reid says. The announcement comes as the results of a study into gay/bi young people in New Zealand are published, showing that same-sex-attracted teenagers are more likely to run away from home, self-harm and attempt suicide. "Rainbow Youth's Education Officer gets into only a handful of the 90 schools in Auckland," explained Hamilton at the launch of the Youth '07 report this week. "And especially since this study has confirmed the need, we want to expand our services to schools in the hopes that more gay-friendly safe spaces and support networks can be set up." Funding for Rainbow Youth had been in short supply until a massive donation of $259,991 in August after TV gay weather presenter Tamati Coffey chose the organisation as his charity for TV's Dancing with the Stars.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News Staff
First published: Thursday, 22nd October 2009 - 2:28pm