Youth @ Pride have found that the services that have published their Equal Opportunities Policies all included statements against discrimination based on 'sexual orientation'.  However, the experiences of young LGBT people show homophobix bullying and a culture of discrimination prevail within these same organisations. 

Speaking on behalf of Youth @ Pride, chair, Lauren-Angela said:

"I've experienced and also hear from my friends, difficulties in getting involved in youth activities. Youth groups cna be really hostile environments for gay young people, and there's often little understanding from youth leaders of the difficulties we might face.  Stonewall's Research confirms this and that's why we are offering some great opportunities for London's LGBT Youth community."

As the GYC has reported in the past, the Youth @ Pride research also notes that young LGBT people find themselves drawn to bars and clubs at a younger age than their peers, when they find the youth organisations intending to support them are a far from comfortable environment.  This is despite the Government's Every Child Matters agenda to create positive activities for all young people.

There has been plenty of recent effort made on all levels to combat homophobic bullying in schools, however more should be done to assess and then remove the same problems in youth activities and organisations such as the Scouts, St John's Ambulance and many different Cadets organisations.  There is perhaps greater need to make these very groups accessible to the LGBT community in order to irradicate homophobia further up the chain and in the armed services and public sectors.

As Patrick Williams, a Director of Pride London notes:

"This important campaign highlights the unique lack of support often faced by our LGBT youth.  We are proud that our Youth @ Pride group have decided to take positive action.  They are inviting organisations to show young people that their support for all goes beyond just written policies."

If you would like more information on Pride London, or the Government report Every Child Matters then please follow the links below. 

Every Child Matters sets out the governement's framework for support for all young people from birth to age 19 and can be found at http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk

Pride London is on the 5th July 2008 and for more information please visit the website http://www.pridelondon.org

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30-06-2008 15:57

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