Rainbow Youth Inc

General information

Rainbow Youth is an organization established in 1989 run by youth for youth. Rainbow Youth’ vision is universal acceptance of the diversity of sexuality and gender in Aotearoa New Zealand. Its mission is to provide unbiased information and education regarding sexuality , gender, and identity to everyone in the community, in order to foster understanding and acceptance of diversity, while providing support, information, and advocacy services to queer, trans, MVPFAFF and questioning youth, their friends and Whanau.
Rainbow Youth is unique as it is governed entirely by youth (under 27) for the advancement and advocacy of youth. The Rainbow Youth Executive Board consists of 10 youth, who sequester Advisors as needed to assist. Rainbow Youth operates an office and drop-in centre in the heart of Auckland’s CBD, where it offers social/peer-support groups, information, resources, referrals and education services. Rainbow Youth also offer education to any organizations, schools or youth orientated social services in the Auckland Region.
Currently Rainbow Youth is running eight youth social/peer-support groups where youth can meet, socialise, and find information in a safe, friendly environment. All Rainbow Youth groups, events and premises are totally alcohol-free, drug-free, and smoke-free, and there is a strong and determined commitment in provided safe environments for youth. Rainbow Youth’s drop-in centre provides resources, information, books, DVD’s and friendly staff and volunteers whom youth are able to chat with.
Rainbow Youth has a strong reputation in the community for providing a unique, highly sort after, and valuable service. There are still significant hurdles and hardships for queer and questioning youth and those around them in Aotearoa New Zealand today. Queer and questioning youth are significantly over represented in drug abuse, alcohol abuse, and suicide statistics throughout the country, and additionally have higher risk of facing discrimination in the form of homophobia/transphobia and a higher risk of suffering from mental illness such as depression as a result. Rainbow Youth has been working hard for the last 22 years to fight homophobia and discrimination in every form, and to help keep New Zealand’s youth safe, healthy, and happy.