| Parenting Project Article |
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Over the last few years, research has demonstrated that young lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) people often have specific needs that are not being met: they are also increasingly likely to explore their sexual orientation or gender identity at an early age. Some of these needs are common to any young person exploring their identity; others are explicitly linked to being LGBT and can include things like homo/bi/transphobic bullying, the limited coverage given to LGBT issues in schools or a lack of role models. Since 2006, partly to address this, the LGBT Youth Council in London has been a way to make a difference to young LGBT people’s lives by empowering them to have their voices heard and have direct participation in policy development and service delivery. The LGBT Youth Council, as well as other initiatives across the UK, can provide a vital forum for young LGBT people to address some of the issues they face. Yet parents, who are also part of this equation, can sometimes be overlooked. This is not unique as parents – whatever their children’s sexual orientation or gender identity – can drop-off the radar. Recently however, the profile of ‘parenting’ has been on the rise with both the media and Government focusing on this issue. Predictably, there has been little mention of LGBT people and their families during these discussions. Fortunately FFLAG has (and is) raising these issues; in part because it provides such a valuable forum for parents to talk about their experiences. In a timely development, FFLAG and Families Together (the London group) have a new partner in the Capital. In January 2007, James Rowlands (Project Coordinator) and Rita McLoughlin (Parent Advisor) started at the Consortium of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Organisations. With financial support from the Parenting Fund, we will be setting up a Parenting Project. The Project will offering information and support to parents of LGBT and questioning people in Croydon, Greenwich, Hackney and Southwark, while also working with the Families Together across London. During the pilot period, we will be trying to find out what information and support people want, how best to deliver this and what other organisations need to be doing to better meet the needs of parents. There are differences between our organisations. For example, the Parenting Project explicitly works with the parents of trans people. But to avoid confusion, and to make sure anything produced in the four Boroughs can be used across London, most of our activities will be branded under Families Together. Depending on what sort of support or information is required, parents will be able to contact either Families Together or the Parenting Project. The first product coming out of this budding partnership is a new logo and some London specific publicity. Watch this space for more developments. In the meantime, for information on the Parenting Project contact Rita or James by phone on 020 7064 8383, email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or go online at www.lgbtconsortium.org.uk/parenting. You can contact Families Together by phone on 0845 652 0318. |