Supporting LGBT+ Youth in Response to Israel Folau

I’m Simon Dunn, former member of the Australian Bobsleigh Team, rugby player with the Sydney Convicts Rugby club but more importantly a proud openly gay athlete. Over the last few years, I’ve publicly spoken out about and debated Israel Folau’s continued posts regarding my community. 

In response to Israel Folau’s recent gofundme seeking legal fees to fight his dismissal from ARU for these continued homophobic posts I’ve created this page. 

This GoFundMe will donate 100% of all donations to Twenty10, a charity supporting LGBT+ youth. In their own words:


http://twenty10.org.au/ 

“Twenty10 incorporating GLCS NSW works with people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and gender diverse, intersex, questioning, queer, asexual and more, LGBTIQA+ people and others of diverse genders and sexualities, their families and communities.”

Let’s not forget  that studies have found that the mental health of LGBTQI+ people is amongst the poorest in Australia:

“Between 24-36% of LGBTQI+ people filled the criteria for a major depressive disorder in 2005, which is 4-6 times greater than the general population.

For transgender women (male to female), this statistic reaches almost 60%.

55% of young LGBTQI+ women, and 40% of young LGBTQI+ men are likely to experience psychological distress, compared with 18% and 7% in the general population respectively.

The LGBTQI+ community are almost twice (31%) as likely to experience anxiety disorders

It is more than three times (19%) as likely to experience affective disorders.

A Beyondblue study conducted in 2011 showed 80% of the LGBTQI+ community experienced an anxiety attack within the previous year (Rosenstreich, 2013 ).

LGBTQI+ Australians also have the highest rates of suicide in Australia, with 20% of transgender and 16% of lesbian, gay and bisexual Australians having suicidal ideations.

A UK study found that 84% of trans participants wanted to complete suicide at some point in their life, and alarmingly, 50% of the Australian transgender community had attempted to do so.

Same-sex attracted Australians have suicidal ideations that are 14 times higher than the general population, and six times higher amongst younger LGBTQI+ members.

The average age of suicide is 16, often just before they ‘come out’ – be open about their sexuality – to their friends and family.

When you donate to Twenty10, you make an impact in the lives of young LGBTIQA+ folks across Sydney and NSW. From housing to social support, counselling to groups and events, Twenty10 creates spaces where young people can be themselves, free from judgement. Join us in making people of all genders, sexualities and intersex variations affirmed, secure, healthy and connected, living in a society without oppression, persecution or violence.

With the support of DNA magazine and Twenty10 let’s fight homophobia within sport and support LGBT+ youth.