Lack of training on youth sexuality
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender young people in Scotland are neglected due to a lack of knowledge and training among professionals, a report claims.
The Our Journey report by LGBT Youth Scotland asked young people and professionals working in health, the police, social care and schools about support for gay teenagers. It found young people find it difficult to "come out" to professionals and that staff feel there is a lack of training and information on sexuality.
Staff also told the charity there is no focus on gay and transgender young people in child protection policy and practice.
Sara O'Lean, research manager at LGBT Youth Scotland, said professionals were unclear about what gay young people needed. "Professionals felt it hadn't come up in policy or in practice," she said. "They said it would be useful to have more general information about LGBT issues and to have training."
- www.cypnow.co.uk/doc.