Andy Higgins (PACE)

LGBT Youth OUT and Online in the UK A look at how the changing nature of online communication and access to information can impact on the choicesand decisions for LGBT young people asthey begin to come out or explore their sexuality and/or gender identity

PACE is Londons leading charity promoting the mental health andemotional wellbeing of the lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgendercommunity.• Established for over 25 years, PACE was founded by pioneering campaigner Julienne Dickey, as a response to the discovery of HIV and AIDS in the early 1980s. The service initially provided information about HIV/AIDS and emotional support to gay and bisexual men in London who were affected by HIV/AIDS.• Since 1985 PACE services have continually developed, now working with lesbian, gay and bisexual women, Children, families and young people, gay and bisexual men, trans people and those exploring their sexual or gender identities.

LGBT young people are starting from a base of hostility

The problem(s)(1) Choices available to LGBT or ‘questioning’ young people when coming out/exploring sexuality and seeking access to ‘the gay community’ using IT/Social networking(2) Unlimited access to questionable/inappropriate information; adult-orientated internet sites at a key stage of sexual, social and emotional development

Choices available to LGBT or ‘questioning’young people when coming out/exploring sexuality and seeking access to ‘the gay community using IT/Social Networking

1. Why is this a problemRisk that LGBT young people: – Will access no support – Will access inappropriate/adult-oriented services – Are very likely to engage in risky and potentially harmful online behaviour – Decide to move out of home and cut ties with family and local community• The dis-connected

1. What are the causes – Will access no support: • Fear of rejection – lack of social acceptability – family, faith, community etc. lack of confidence, lack of contact with peers, lack of opportunity to learn experientially from other lgbt/supportive peers – Will access inappropriate/adult-oriented services • Media culture – Opportunity for access - Mythical notions; Stereotypical assumptions and sometimes unrealistic expectations about what it means to be part of the LGBT community – i.e. being a ‘proper gay’, body image, sexual expectations etc. poor self esteem, sexual urges, desire for acceptance, need to meet others. – Are very likely to engage in risky and potentially harmful online behaviour • ‘Incitement’ to risk-taking behaviour whether online or ‘real life’ - peer pressure - Overwhelming/casual exposure/access to pornography from a very early age – increased sexualisation – further risk of potential for sexual and social exploitation via hook ups, web camming, modelling sites, cults/sub-culture, religious conversion, extreme pro/anti sites etc. – Decide to move out of home and/or cut ties with family and local community – their past • Negative reactions that can follow them throughout their transition to adulthood - based upon actual or perceived sexuality – fear of rejection, family conflict, class, culture or faith – The transient nature of LGBT young people

1.1. What are the causes:• An inability by schools and other generic services to address the specific social and developmental needs of LGBT young people• An inability by all of us to take a zero tolerance approach to homophobia

1. What can be done about it? a) Ensure a duty to provide local support/information services – peer support services – creating choice to access appropriate help b) Better education and creating opportunity to access information and support from ‘reputable’ sources – teacher training – parents awareness campaign - better local/regional provision for LGBT children and young people – and their parents. Further teacher training – Better policing of dubious sites and an ethical code of conduct for suppliers of adult ‘entertainment’ - esp. those that openly promote and publicise the selling of sex/services. c) Investment in ‘Youth friendly’* awareness campaign and reporting systems – support for parents/professionals - high visibility support and information services – ‘child friendly’ awareness campaigns about online dangers and responsible web use – better regulation of extreme sites and helping children and young people understand the consequences of their online actions. - Cyber bullying* d) Zero tolerance approach to homophobia and discrimination at school, and in further education - Better access to information and support for professionals/teachers/parents (of lgbt youth) - better monitoring of the numbers of young people who experience family conflict – work with schools and communities towards tolerance and understanding.

1.1 What can be done about it?• An inability by schools and other ‘generic’ services to address the specific social and developmental needs of LGBT young people – Better regulation – monitoring of LGBT pupils – Enhanced community links - utilising LGBT professionals and local/regional support services – Compulsory teacher training – A whole school approach – creating a safe space for all pupils. – Zero tolerance approach to homophobia in schools and FE/sixth form and universities – a tougher ‘safer schools’ model. – Curriculum based activities and better education around difference and diversity. – Higher visibility – Acceptance of personal responsibility

Unlimited access to questionable or inappropriate information; adult-orientated internet sites - at a key stage ofsexual, social and emotional development

2. Why is this a problemAccess to questionable/inappropriate information; adult-orientated internet sites and theinfluence of pornography at a key stage of sexual and emotional developmentYoung people have never had so much access to information - and misinformation. This can result in:• Exposure to inappropriate content/images - Influence of pornography on young men• Unrealistic expectations about what it means to be gay• Unrealistic expectations around sex and relationship - early sexualisation• Confused feelings of worth (or worthiness)• Impacts on mental health and well-being

2. What are the causes “The Internet is a useful and relatively anonymous way of finding out about lesbian and gay youth contacts. However many families, schools and local authorities (including libraries and statutory youth services) have a net screening or ‘nanny’ that makes it impossible for young people to search using the words ‘lesbian’ or ‘gay’. (HIND 2004)• Unregulated internet access – The ‘PC in your pocket’ phenomenon• Internet/online advertising – Lack of parental/professional supervision – lack of awareness around rights and responsibilities – better awareness of impacts on development – youth friendly reporting systems* – Media responsibility - the ‘pick me’ culture – low self esteem – high self esteem* - peer pressure – a need to please – Stereotypes perpetuated by certain parts of the gay press and media more generally – need to fit in – virginity – influence of pornography and access to it – Distortions around hopes and aspirations – self medication – – Poor self esteem – lack of confidence to access support – lack of high visibility services and lgbt peer support - cultural/religious ideals

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2. What can be done about it?• Exposure to inappropriate content/images – Awareness campaign (in the first instance) – research in to exposure and sexualisation - education around rights and responsibilities• Unrealistic expectations about what it means to be gay – Ethical code of conduct on advertisers/media – mutual peer support – access to support services – social (and SRE) education for LGBT youth• Unrealistic expectations around sex and relationships – Improved SRE at school – zero tolerance to homophobia – promotion of difference and diversity – school/FE/workplace/community• Confused feelings of worth (or worthiness) – Integrated mental health services – local community inks – Improved awareness of support services – improved access to local LGBT support services – professional training – positive role models• Impacts on mental health and well-being – Improved online access to LGBT support services - access to safe spaces – targeted support – schools information service

Summary• Choice impacts on the transition to adulthood, confidence, mental health and sociability• Exposure to inappropriate content influences key development stages – Further research needed• Importance on ‘real life’ peer support – ‘proper’ youth work – visible, local support services and access to trusted adults• Improved SRE education and compulsory teacher/professional training – review of models of best practice – bringing it all together• Targeted online support for LGBT youth at risk• Support and information for parents/carers/professionals• Holding advertisers and the media to account – Tougher regulation• A.O.B: Act On Bullying: Wiping out homophobia in schools once and for all – ‘getting tough’ – monitoring of sexual/homophobic bullying - scrutiny of anti-bullying policies

PACE Youth Network SNAPSHOT: (Barnet Youth Shield initiative 2011)Feedback from an LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) focus group session:This focus group covered the areas of hate crime, mental health and support foryoung people – (Methodology).“I would not feel comfortable talking to teachers about LGBT issues because I’m not confident in teachersfeelings towards LGBT people”“I may talk to my GP, would depend on which doctor, would need to be some one that would take my concernsSeriously”“There are not enough support services for LGBT young people. There is PACE and not many others like it. MoreLGBT specific groups needed- instead of a section of a normal youth club. Need further support for over 18s-sincethe cuts over 18s support has disappeared”“In schools the staff are not involved enough in LGBT issues. Turn a blind eye to bullying and offensive terms”“People are put in danger because there aren’t adequate services health and mental health wise! The cuts havemeant people have no where comfortable to go. Can’t get the advice needed, talking to others with sharedexperiences and within a wide age range is important! PACE provided that. Without services people can becomeIsolated”“More awareness raising needed but more carefully done so keep services safe for young people”“Awareness of LGBT issues needs to start in primary schools- so that people don’t just have the stereotyped view of an LGB or T. The TV gives a bad image of gay people. With ridiculous characters being the face of LGBTs in the media”“It’s important to get different cultures involved in breaking down prejudices in communities. Government panders too much to different cultures in an attempt not to offend.. and in the meantime excluding the LGBT community. More government support in schools, home and work is needed”“More inclusive and open schools and a homophobic teachers report line. Teachers can be openly homophobic”• Some of the young people in the group had suffered abuse at home and at school because of their sexuality. This was due to ignorance and cultural differences. The point of cultural ignorance was brought up by two individuals who said their parents thought homosexuality was a new phenomenon! However most of the young people had been accepted within their families and cultures despite going against the “norm”.• Support is needed for parents and family members to ensure that they can support people in “coming out”. Services are available but not widely known.• Not being able to be open about their sexuality was the main issue affecting the level of safety for the young people.• They would feel safer having a KNOWN LGBT liaison officer. Every borough has one but they are “invisible”. One young person went to ask for the officer in the police station and the other policemen were clueless.• Only 4 of the Y.P knew about the existence of LGBT liaison officers.• Besides this the young people have no trust in their police, wouldn’t feel comfortable reporting abuse (domestic or otherwise) to the authorities. If help was needed they would talk to friends or to PACE.ConclusionsIt is obvious that these young people feel that LGBT issues are ignored-proved in the retraction of funding from different boroughs. More support is needed in Schools and in the form of YouthClubs particularly for over 18s.

The RaRE Study• Summary of the RaRE study• PACE is undertaking a five year research study funded by the Big Lottery in partnership with four universities. The study is called ‘Risk and Resilience Explored; Understanding health inequalities in sexual minorities’, or the RaRE Study for short.• The health inequalities the RaRE study is exploring are: suicide attempt in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth, alcohol problems in lesbian and bisexual women, and body image disorders in gay and bisexual men.• The study aims to identify whether LGBT specific health promotion interventions may be needed; to improve identification of those at risk and the targeting of services towards them; to inform the development of appropriate prevention initiatives; and identify effective support for those experiencing the problems under study.• The RaRE study is in several parts – a qualitative study currently taking place involving interviewing LGBT people with a history of the problems under study and a larger survey comparing LGBT with heterosexual people with the problems under study, due to begin next year.• The study is unusual in simultaneously exploring common factors between multiple health issues, and in examining resilience as well as risk.

Where to turn: A Review of Current Provision in Online and Offline MentalHealth Support for LGBT People Experiencing Suicidal Distress• This report grew out of “Mental disorders, suicide, and deliberate self harm in lesbian, gay and bisexual people a systematic review” by the National Institute for Mental Health in England published in 2007. That work reviewed the evidence base that LGB people are at greater risk of mental disorder and suicidal behaviour than heterosexual people. It concludes that: “LGB people are at significantly higher risk of mental disorder, suicidal ideation, substance misuse, and DSH than heterosexual people.” • Tim Franks, Elizabeth Peel & Peter Scott June 2010

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Andy Higgins (PACE)

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