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Young Lesbian,
Gay, Bisexual and Transgender People face discrimination and
negativity A new
poll commissioned by METRO suggests that despite huge strides
towards equality in recent times, young lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender (LGBT) people are still not able to be completely open
about their sexuality and identity without fear of negative
reactions and that 59% of people in the North West have witnessed or
are aware of discrimination and abuse of LGBT people.
The same poll also shows that whilst awareness of discrimination
against LGBT people is high, 78% of people in the North West support
the need for more and improved services for young LGBT people.
The poll of over 1,000 people of all ages across Great Britain
conducted by Populus finds that nationwide:-
► 76% of people believe that young LGBT people experience negative
reactions when they are open about their identity at school
► The same proportion (76%) believe that young LGBT
people experience negative reactions in the street when they are
open about their identity and worryingly this figure rises to 84% of
18 to 24 year olds
► 66%
believe that young LGBT people experience negative reactions when
they are open about their identity at work
► Nearly 60% believe that young LGBT people
experience negative reactions from their parents when they are open
about their identity
These findings are perhaps not surprising when set alongside other
findings from the poll about discrimination and abuse of LGBT people
with 10% of people being aware of or having witnessed physical abuse
of LGBT people and 33% having witnessed or been aware of verbal
abuse of LGBT people – rising to half of all 18 to 24 year olds. The
poll also confirms that the use of the term 'gay' in the
negative is widespread.
The findings come as a national survey of 15,000 young lesbian, gay,
bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) young people is
launched. Youth Chances is the biggest ever social research and
influencing project of its kind, aiming to find out direct from
young people about their experiences of education, employment,
health, community and relationships. Over 5 years Youth Chances
is engaging service providers, service commissioners, policymakers
as well as young people themselves to identify the needs of young LGBT people and make recommendations to improve their lives.
One of the main reasons for the Youth Chances Survey is because
there is such little reliable data available about LGBT people
generally and young people specifically. Current estimates of young
LGB people in the North West area vary widely from approximately
19,700 to 65,700. There is no data about numbers of transgender
young people.
Youth Chances will be on the road over the summer at various events
to promote the survey to young people and will be making a splash at
Manchester Pride on 25 August 2012.
Dr Greg Ussher, Deputy CEO of Metro said:- "Metro’s expertise
in working with young LGBT people over nearly 30 years was the
catalyst for Youth Chances. There have been major steps forward in
LGBT equality and in understanding the needs of young people, but as
the findings of this poll show we still have a long way to go to
eliminating discrimination and ensuring that sexuality and gender
identity are not barriers to young people’s happiness and wellbeing.
The findings are perhaps not so surprising when we consider the
questioning of equality in current debates about equal marriage,
which must be bewildering for most young people. Youth Chances
offers us an opportunity to turn things around and make a real
difference. I appeal to all providers and commissioners of services
in the North West to get on board to make that difference and to
young people to make their voices heard."
Dan Baker, Youth Chances Project Manager said:- "These
findings really demonstrate the importance of Youth Chances and the
need for us to understand directly from young people themselves
about the challenges they face. It saddens me that when young people
need the most support and understanding, they still face
discrimination and fear because of who they are. I want to encourage
as many young people as possible to take part in the Youth Chances
online survey so that their experiences can be counted. There is
clear support in the general population for more and better support
for young LGBT people and I am committed to ensuring that Youth
Chances results in recommendations for change and a real difference
to young people’s lives in the North West and across England."
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The 6th North
Lancs Soul Festival
OVER 25 May to 27 May,
the
6th North Lancs Soul Festival wil be taking place within the resort of
Morecambe, on the Lancashire coast.
The North Lancs Soul Festival is brings you the finest cuts of soul
music, brought to you by a feast of top national soul DJ’s and
featuring the most delicious flavours of the cool 60’s to the hot
modern soul vibes of the current day and beyond. The
festival is part of Morecambe's "Festivals by the Sea" season, and will witness hundreds of soul music enthusiast’s descend
on to the North Lancashire coast to enjoy a free festival which
celebrates and honours this wonderful and historic music scene.
The centrepiece of the festival is Smokey O’Connor’s Temple of Soul.
3 floors of the finest cuts of soul featuring the finest in
Northern and rare soul from the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s & 90’s right
through to the current modern monsters of this year, all brought to
you by a passionate collective of over 40 collectors and UK club and
radio DJ’s who give their time and energies to make this happen.
So take note... The celebrations commence at Smokey O’Connor’s with
our Welcome Party from 12 noon on Friday, 25 May 2012 and continue for the rest
across the weekend.
In this our 6th Year we are joined over the weekend by arguably the
country’s leading London based soul music station "Solar Radio" to
broadcast 3 live shows from the festival across the weekend. The
station has a significant presence within a large national and
worldwide soul scene broadcasting on both the web and Sky TV Digital
channel 0129.
Other attractions and events for the weekend include:-
► Morecambe Superbowl; will be hosting the inaugural NLSF
10-pin Soul Bowl on the Saturday afternoon where teams of locals and
visitors will do battle against a backdrop of soul cuts by UK soul
radio DJ’s. A few lanes are still available at reduced rates call:-
(01524) 400974
► The Platform Music & Arts venue; in the heart of Morecambe
will host the festival and a 4 hour soul show on the Saturday
afternoon from the outdoor arena. In co-ordination with the festival
and later in the evening the Platform will be hosting Clem Curtis
and The Foundations from 7.30pm. It is the only payable music
element of the whole weekend with tickets at a reasonable £15.
Go to:-
clemcurtis.com for more information. also Clem Curtis and the Foundations
are best known for their 2 biggest hits, "Baby, Now That I've
Found You" and "Build Me Up Buttercup"
(a chart topper in
the Billboard Hot 100)
► The Apollo Cinema; will also be joining the festival in the
late afternoon on the Saturday 26, with a 4pm showing of a must see
soul film; Standing in the Shadows of Motown -- The Funk Brothers.
The film recognises the people behind all of the hit records
produced by the Motown label of the 1960’s, captured through live
performances and interviews. The film won Best Non-Fiction Film
Winner 2002 at the New York Film Critics Circle, and It was also a
2003 Grammy Award Winner for Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance:-
"What's Going On", Chaka Khan, when The Funk Brothers were also
awarded Best Compilation Soundtrack Album.
► The Midland Hotel; the centrepiece of the Morecambe resort
has also agreed to become a partner of the Festival at this year’s
event, hosting a 2 hour soul show from 12 noon until 2pm on Sunday
27 May from the Rotunda Bar and out across the outdoor terrace at
the iconic Midland Hotel. Part of the show will be LIVE on Solar
Radio.
So why not come along to the coast and enjoy this annual free
festival... "It one of the most friendliest, and most feel good
music festivals on the soul annual calendar." It's where the
quality music, clear air and stunning sunsets fill the soul.
Getting Married? 'Don’t Tell
the Bride' wants you for new TV Show...!
THE BBC3 television series 'Don’t Tell
the Bride' is on the look out again for a couple... This
show is gives £12,000 to the couple for their wedding, but the groom
has to organise everything! So do you trust your groom to be? Do you
both fancy £12K for your wedding? Well, Don't Tell the Bride are
looking for couples like you! To be in with a chance of being cast
on the next edition you must be getting married in 2012 and send
your full contact information, names and location via email to:-
weddings@renegadepictures.co.uk. |
