A gay man claims he was bullied and belittled by Hume council youth workers at an event for people attracted to the same sex.
The council denies the claim, which stems from incidents at Glitter Ball, a council-based initiative established late last year to replace the Same Sex Attracted Friendly Environment (SSAFE).
The SSAFE program, which promoted safe places for same-sex-attracted people aged 14-25 to interact and meet their peers, had closed because of funding cuts.
Craigieburn man Harley Merson, 20, told Star Weekly that youth workers had “belittled and babied” people who attended last year’s Glitter Ball.
“I wasn’t treated very fairly,” Mr Merson said.
“There were two youth workers. One treated me like I didn’t know anything and the other one didn’t pay me and my ideas any attention.”
Mr Merson said that after struggling with “coming out” during high school, he had hoped the council’s new initiative would bridge the social gap and dissuade the community from hurling homophobic slurs.
But he alleges the youth workers “acted like high-school kids”.
“I felt very uncomfortable and unwanted,” he said. “I wanted to make a change, but the youth workers were not trained or equipped to deal with same-sex-attracted people.”
Mr Merson said he had had a lot of personal difficulties around his sexuality during the time he was involved with the Glitter Ball.
Being bullied, harassed and belittled by youth workers only added to his sense of isolation, he said.
Mr Merson claimed the verbal harassment continued during this year’s youth services forum.
He said he was refused speaking rights and forum leaders “spoke horribly of [him] in front of everyone in the room”.
The youth workers concerned would not comment.
But a council spokesman, Michael Sinclair, said Mr Merson’s complaints had been followed up and treated at all times “with the utmost seriousness and confidentiality”.
He said a mutual agreement had been reached by both parties.
But Mr Merson denied there was a mutual agreement. He said he was told he would be considered for positions with the council’s youth services program should any become available.
