For many, it involves widespread experience of homophobia, particularly among teenage boys in the playground. The school environment can feel like one in which difference and diversity are not sufficiently protected, with many gay children and young people feeling a need to hide their sexuality to conform, to protect relationships and to avoid stereotypes. ChildLine has received nearly 2,800 calls in the past year about sexual orientation or homophobia. Sixty per cent of callers were 12- to 15-years old, while 34 per cent were between 16 and 18.
The Lesbian and Gay Switchboard was founded in 1974 to provide a listening ear to LGBT children and young people across the UK. While the service is open to all ages, a startlingly high proportion of callers are children and young people who are experiencing uncertainty and discrimination, often in relation to coming out, managing relationships and self-image.
The switchboard offers specialised training to operators on providing tailored support to callers, while signposting sources of more specialist advice.
In addition to the services available through telephone helplines and online resources, localised support groups can provide help and advice in a way that reflects and responds to local conditions. The Gay and Lesbian Youth Support Service (GLYSS) is an arm of Warrington Youth Service, set up to provide a range of support for young people as well as offer social spaces and education. These include weekly support groups, a monthly action group that offers advocacy and training, one-to-one sessions, counselling and access to a range of resources and information. The group links into regional networks of similar services and seeks to bring gay children and young people together from across the North West in a way that combats discrimination and builds confidence. The organisation provides support to hundreds of children and young people across a wide range of issues concerned with their sexuality, including coming out to parents, family and friends, relationships, confidence at school or at work and sexual health.
Discrimination on the grounds of sexuality is arguably the last form of prejudice that receives any real degree of tolerance in Britain. For too many children and young people, the questioning of their identity and the challenges that arise from issues concerned with sexuality is a serious problem. It demands higher levels of support, acceptance and encouragement from the community around them.
- Anne Longfield is chief executive of 4Children.Email anne.longfield@haymarket.com.
