This document summarizes issues facing LGBT youth in accessing support and information online. It notes that unlimited online access at a crucial development stage can expose youth to inappropriate content and influence expectations. This can impact mental health, relationships and identity development. Suggested solutions include improved sex education, anti-bullying policies, increased visibility of LGBT support services, and regulation of harmful online content. Greater support is needed for both LGBT youth and their families navigating these challenges.

1. 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 choices
and decisions for LGBT young people as
they begin to come out or explore their
sexuality and/or gender identity

2. PACE is London's leading charity promoting the mental health and
emotional wellbeing of the lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgender
community.
• 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.

3. LGBT young people are starting from
a base of hostility

4. 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

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

6. 1. Why is this a problem
Risk 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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.

10. 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

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

12. 2. Why is this a problem
Access to questionable/inappropriate information; adult-orientated internet sites and the
influence of pornography at a key stage of sexual and emotional development
Young 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

13. 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

14. Crossing the
line…?

15. Get your bits out for the lads?
‘Short on a few quid? Get your wanger out on stage at
Heaven tonight and you could win a cool £100 cash
prize… £100 has never been so easy…”

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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 for
young people – (Methodology).
“I would not feel comfortable talking to teachers about LGBT issues because I’m not confident in teachers
feelings towards LGBT people”
“I may talk to my GP, would depend on which doctor, would need to be some one that would take my concerns
Seriously”
“There are not enough support services for LGBT young people. There is PACE and not many others like it. More
LGBT specific groups needed- instead of a section of a normal youth club. Need further support for over 18s-since
the 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 have
meant people have no where comfortable to go. Can’t get the advice needed, talking to others with shared
experiences and within a wide age range is important! PACE provided that. Without services people can become
Isolated”
“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.
Conclusions
It 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 Youth
Clubs particularly for over 18s.

19. 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.

20. Where to turn: A Review of Current Provision in Online and Offline Mental
Health 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