Gays’ Plight Highlighted (Press, 16 August 1983)

A report released in Sydney suggests that approximately 85,000 teenagers in the city identify as homosexual, many of whom grapple with issues related to drug and alcohol abuse. The study is noted as the most comprehensive examination of the Australian homosexual community to date, encompassing interviews with over 400 young homosexuals. Funded by a $30,000 grant from the New South Wales Drug and Alcohol Authority, the report was compiled with assistance from both homosexual and heterosexual volunteers. Virginia Chadwick, the Shadow Minister for Youth and Community Services in New South Wales, commented on the findings, emphasising the urgent need for professional counselling services for homosexual individuals and their families. The demographic breakdown of the 441 interviewed participants indicates that over half were under 21 years old, with 66.7 per cent identifying as male, 32.2 per cent as female, and 1.1 per cent as transsexual. Key findings of the report reveal that a significant majority of the respondents exhibited concerning substance use patterns. More than three-quarters of the surveyed individuals were identified as regular and heavy drinkers. Approximately 25 per cent reported having engaged in prostitution, predominantly out of economic necessity, with three-quarters of those involved citing financial reasons for their involvement. Furthermore, 60 per cent of the participants used marijuana, with frequency ranging from occasional to daily use. A notable one-third of the males surveyed were regular users of amyl nitrate, and about 30 per cent reported using pills for recreational purposes. The report also highlighted economic challenges faced by the young homosexual population. It revealed that 28 per cent were unemployed, with 24 per cent receiving unemployment benefits, while the remaining 4 per cent reported relying on illegitimate means, principally prostitution. In addition to these issues, over half of the respondents (52 per cent) reported experiencing harassment due to their perceived homosexuality. This harassment stemmed from various sectors within the community, including school, workplace, family, and even police interactions. Overall, the findings underscore the pressing social and health challenges confronting Sydney's young homosexual population, necessitating increased support and intervention strategies to address these issues.

The text on this page is created, in the most part, using Generative AI and so may contain errors or omissions. It is supplied to you without guarantee or warranty of correctness. If you find an error or would like to make a content suggestion please get in contact

The text on this page is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 New Zealand