Combating Lesbian and gay Youth Suicide and HIV/AIDS Transmission Rates: an Examination of Possible Education Strategies in Western Australian High Schools in Light of Prevailing State Statutes

The authors review the legislation that particularly impacts on gays & lesbians in Western Australia. They then consider how existing laws may affect efforts to prevention youth suicide & to lower the rate of HIV infection amongst youth. It is concluded the West Australia criminal law & age-of-consent laws add to the isolation & exclusion experienced by young lesbians & gays while discouraging those best suited to alleviate this pain from doing anything about it. It is also suggested regressive censorship legislation leads to an educational system in which insecurity & ignorance about sexuality remains the norm. (62 notes).