Mental health charity Beyond Blue surveyed 300 boys aged 14 to 17 for the study.

Orange business owner Scott Turner and Western Area Gay And Lesbian Support (WAGALS) coordinator Mark Bayliss said while teenage boys are still engaging in homophobia, communities such as Orange have become more accepting in the past decade.

“I hear ‘that’s gay’ a lot and I have issues with that and I don’t think they realise the hurt they cause by using terms like that. Unless someone pulls them up they won’t be aware of it,” Mr Bayliss said.

Mr Turner came out in his mid 20s after years of being bullied at school but his situation has changed since he returned to Orange as an adult.

“I haven’t experienced anything myself for the past 16 years,” he said.

He said the issue could be partially due to boys of the surveyed age group trying to assert newly discovered masculinity by putting others down. 

However, he said strong school policies, support from teachers, councillors, friends and family and having confident gay people visible in the community helped increase acceptance.

He said the Beyond Blue Stop, Think, Respect: Left Hand campaign to end homophobia, announced at the same time as the study, was also a step forward for increasing acceptance and empowering gay teenagers. 

The campaign depicts a group of students bullying a left handed student for being different to highlight the absurdity of discriminating against people for being themselves. 

“I also think in this day and age it’s incredibly important for gay students that if you are gay be gay and be proud, people will respect you in the end for being you,” he said.

“Find some really great friends that will stick by you.”

Mr Bayliss said WAGALS, formed about 20 years ago to provide support and networking for gay and lesbian people in the Central West.

“I’ve tried to start up a younger group but they might be out to some people in the community but not to mum and dad, they might be a bit reluctant to hold a group,” he said.

tanya.marschke@fairfaxmedia.com.au