American girl group will headline fundraising concert in Sydney to put the spotlight on Australia’s spiralling LGBT youth suicide rate.
It Gets Better Live is the brainchild of It Gets Better Australia which campaigns to show young lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Australians the levels of happiness, potential and positivity they can achieve if they can just get through their teenage years.
The statistics surrounding suicide and LGBT Australians are chilling with 42 per cent of those aged between 16-27 reporting having contemplated suicide (2012-2013) and same-sex attracted youth considered six times more likely to attempt suicide than the population as a whole.
The tragedy of youth suicide sadly strikes a chord with the members of G.R.L whose fellow performer Simone Battle took her own life in September 2014.
The two-hour, multi-performance concert will raise much-needed funds for It Gets Better Australia’s innovative work which includes the development of an app to enable at-risk youth to find local mental health services and support services – due for launch later this year.
It Gets Better Australia Chief Executive, Jamison Parker, said securing G.R.L was the culmination of 18 months of incredibly hard work to create a very different event that will resonate with people of all ages.
“It Gets Better Live will bring together music, dance, comedy, drama and digital media all to an It Gets Better narrative.
“Over the coming weeks we will be announcing an amazing array of Australian singers, comedians, actors and musical theatre stars who will be joining G.R.L in an effort to highlight one of the most serious and heartbreaking issues facing our community,” he said.
Acclaimed dancer and choreographer, Leah Howard, has taken on the role of Creative Director for Its Get Better Live and said audiences won’t be disappointed with the show which will be fun, fabulous and full of pop and roll!
“It really is all about our young people. They need to know we are here to get them though the hard times with no judgements but love and hope,” she said.
“Our message is that it does get better so please stay around for your family and most importantly for you to get the most out of your life,” she continued.
It Gets Better Live
Location: The Big Top, Luna Park Sydney
Date: Sunday 3 May
Cost: From $92.40 including BF. VIP packages are available.
Call 1800 BIG TOP or visit www.bigtopsydney.com
For more information on It Gets Better Australia, visit www.itgetsbetter.org.au.
If you or someone you know is in need of crisis or suicide prevention support, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit www.lifeline.org.au/gethelp