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About Rainbow Youth

Know Who You Are, Be Who You Are

Rainbow Youth is an Auckland-based organisation providing support, contact, information, advocacy and education for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Takataapui and Fa'afafine young people and their families/whanau.

Rainbow Youth is an Auckland based Queer*/GLBTTFI** Youth Organisation. Run by Youth for Youth.

We provide support in the form of youth groups and a wide network of professional support, advocacy and resources. We have our own library of books and DVDs as well as other teaching materials.

We present our "Affirming Diversity" Workshops in schools and organisations throughout Auckland.

Our History

In 1989 a group of young people who wanted to provide a network of support and contact for queer youth established Auckland Lesbian and Gay Youth (ALGY). ALGY aimed to reduce discrimination and homophobia, and provide a point of contact, information and support for lesbian and gay youth. Primarily this involved the organisation of events and social groups for other lesbian and gay youth. ALGY also began an education programme, presenting workshops in schools with the same aim.

In 1995 ALGY became an incorporated society and was renamed Rainbow Youth. The constitution provided for an organisation run solely by gay, lesbian and bisexual young people under the age of 27. Rainbow Youth continued to provide support and social groups, along with educational workshops. Over this period Rainbow Youth employed part-time coordinators, one male and one female, to deliver core services. Workshops in schools about homophobia and sexual orientation increased, and the social groups flourished.

Today Rainbow Youth facilitates regular groups where Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Takataapui and Fa'afafine youth can meet, socialise, and gain support from others experiencing similar issues. These groups are a safe place to find answers to questions with supportive friends. Rainbow Youth also continues to facilitate workshops in schools to increase awareness of sexual identity and orientation, and share experiences of coming out. Workshops are designed to fit with the Health and Physical Education curriculum, and continue to aim to decrease homophobia and create safe, supportive learning and working environments for everyone. Currently Rainbow Youth is expanding their work in schools by setting up support groups and providing schools with the means to support their students.

© 2003-2008 Rainbow Youth Inc. All rights reserved.

ph~   09 376 4155   |   fx~   09 368 5596   |   281 Karangahape Road, Auckland

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