Support group for LGBT Galway teens

‘That’s so gay’ is a phrase often uttered which may not intend to cause offence.

But for a young person who is unsure about their sexuality or if they have a sibling who has come out, it can be very damaging.

“It’s such a loose term that is really popular right now,” reflects Ann-Marie Hession, a youth worker with shOUT!, a support group for young people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) or who may be questioning their sexual identity.

“Pupils in national school can use it without knowing what it means but it’s being used in a negative way. It could be about pink football boots and you’re buying into that stereotyped idea that gay boys like pink. Just don’t use those terms. It’s a form of discrimination, it’s a form of bullying.”

Language is one of the things focused on in workshops conducted by Anne-Marie at schools in the city and county, the only full-time LGBT youth worker in Galway.

After securing funding from Galway County Council before Christmas, shOUT! has completed 20 workshops aimed at raising awareness of LGBT issues in country schools already this year. In the past four months students in six city schools have undergone the programme.

“We look at what is the correct terminology, what is not appropriate. We examine what homophobia and transphobia are, what ways it comes across either directly or indirectly. We look at the process of coming out and how difficult that can be. Then we go through how to change a few things that might make it less difficult for people who identify as LGBT,” explained Anne-Marie.

Statistics show that one in ten people identify as LGBT. That means no matter which class or group you are in, the likelihood is at least one person is not straight, or at least not sure if they are.

“If that person sees their friend John or brother Paul is not laughing when somebody makes a homophobic remark, that can create a space for them to go and talk about what they’re going through, maybe even come out.”

Another exercise classes engage in is what is involved with the “coming out process”.

“It can either be positive, negative or neutral. We ask them to prepare a few lines and practise them to help make it a positive experience. Maybe inside you’re shocked but that’s for you to process later. Instead maybe say, ‘thank you, you obviously think I’m a very good friend, you trust me, I know how hard it must be to say that’.”

A Gort Community School Leaving Cert student came out to his best friend in January of last year.

“All my friends were 100% behind me. Once people see your friends are with you, they back off. I knew I was gay when I was twelve. I just wanted to be like the rest of the lads but it just got too much,” he recalled.

It was on his suggestion that the workshops were held in the school, where there are several openly gay students.

“It was one my main aims before I left here. I didn’t want anyone else to go through what I did. I had nobody to talk to. I was afraid to. At least now any new student is aware of what LGBT means and you can talk to people about it.”

The workshops have also been well received by the entire school community. The school’s social education teacher Carmel Neylon said the school is a lot more open since all students underwent the programme.

“There’s been absolutely amazing feedback from students and parents and the school management, in fact some LGBT students approached me as a result and it spearheaded another project.”

Applied Leaving Cert students have created a mosaic to signify that Gort Community College is an LGBT friendly school.

“It’s going to be hanging in our assembly. It’s a positive response to what we see as a human rights issue,” Ms Neylon remarked.

Schools who hold the workshops have reported a noticeable reduction in homophobic comments.

Last week was Stand Up Week, a national campaign launched by Belong To, a LGBT youth group in Dublin, and supported by the Department of Education to encourage young people in schools to stand against homophobia and support those who identify as gay or lesbian. A family day was held in Eyre Square to mark the occasion.

Research from 2009 found that 58% of young people experience homophobia in their schools, with 34% of that coming from teachers. In the local workshops, students talk about hearing homophobic remarks at least once a day.

Same sex relationships have never been so much to the fore with the upcoming Equality Referendum, reflects Anne-Marie. Yet they are being bombarded with negative comments about homesexuality.

“The lives of our local young people will be affected by this referendum, yet they have no say over it.”

In the three years Ann-Marie has worked with shOUT!, she has noticed the age profile of those using the services decline.

“Young people are definitely coming out younger. Research has found that twelve is the average age when they first realise their sexual orientation whereas 17 is the average age they come out. That’s dropping because it’s starting to become normalised.”

ShOUT! organises drop-in sessions for young people in the community – on Saturdays, midday-1.30pm for 14-17-year-olds; for 18 to 21 year olds on the first Friday of the month. The groups feature a host of different activities – drama, art, film, cooking.  ShOUT! also organises summer camps as well as one-to-one talks with teens not ready to come to a group.

For further details email shout@youthworkgalway.ie or call 087 773 8529