LGBT Youth Scotland

As an LGBTQ+ sector organisation, we are deeply disappointed that the UK Government has decided to indefinitely criminalise the prescription of puberty suppressing medicines for trans children and young people outside of a proposed NHS research study. Read our full joint statement with other organisations across the UK: https://lnkd.in/dZS2G4kQ

Today, on #HumanRightsDay, we celebrate the landmark document which recognises the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being, regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political opinion and nationality. Acknowledging the importance and relevance of human rights in our everyday lives, the theme of this year's celebration is "Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now" – a timely topic here in Scotland given that the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) has just been enshrined in Scot’s law. In our latest guest blog, Alan Massie, Digital Youth Work Officer at LGBT Youth Scotland, shares details of a recent project to help young people understand the rights afforded to them through the historic legislation. Read now: 🔗 https://loom.ly/FW0b9kI

We can't wait to get started! #EndingYouthHomelessness

🌎 Today is Human Right’s Day! The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is an important, legally binding agreement signed by 196 countries which outlines the fundamental rights of every child, regardless of their race, religion or abilities. This summer, three young people from our Smash Up group in the east took part in a 12 week project about the UNCRC with our digital youth work team, creating a series of digital LGBTQ+ Rights posters which focused on 4 articles of the UNCRC: Article 2 – Right to non-discrimination, Article 12 – Right to be heard and listened to, Article 19 – Right to protection from violence, and Article 28 – Right to an education. ❤️ The young people involved were especially passionate about ensuring that others had access to resources about their rights as young people. The group were encouraged to look at all 54 of the UNCRC articles and think about the importance of them from an LGBTQ+ perspective. They also wanted to ensure that others in their community have increased awareness of - and confidence standing up for - those rights. 👉 This is just one of the hundreds of projects we do every year so that young people can learn new skills, forge friendships and develop better awareness of their human rights. And if you happen to be in Glasgow today you can see the posters on display in the window of the Office of the Children's Reporter on Bell Street!

The LGBT Youth Scotland teams are getting ready for their festive breaks! 🎄 Our offices and services will be closed for the Christmas and New Year holidays from the 23rd of December 2024 until the 6th of January 2025. 📆 Our normal services will resume from January 6th.

🌈 LGBT Youth Scotland, Wrapped🌈 2024 has been a challenging but incredible year for us at LGBT Youth Scotland and for all the LGBTQ+ young people in Scotland that we support, and we’re so proud of everything we’ve achieved together! 🏳️🌈💪 We couldn’t do the work we do without our incredible, creative and resilient team of staff, volunteers, partners and of course you, our supporters. We can’t wait to see what 2025 has in store. #SpotifyWrapped #2024Wrapped #lgbtys

🌍❤️ Today is World AIDS Day. HIV affects thousands in Scotland, with an estimated 6,761 people living with the virus by the end of 2023. While treatments like PrEP are making a real difference, testing numbers have dropped since the Covid-19 pandemic. Scotland aims to end new HIV transmissions by 2030—but we can only get there if we continue to raise awareness, support prevention efforts, and tackle the stigma that can still often be attached to those living with HIV. “We have the opportunity to end new cases of HIV by 2030 and we have all the tools we need to get there. We cannot let this moment pass.” Alan Eagleson, Head of Scotland Service at Terrence Higgins Trust For more information on HIV in Scotland check out our friends at: Terrence Higgins Trust Waverley Care #WorldAIDSDay #UequalsU

Today, on Trans Day of Remembrance 🏳️⚧️, we pause to think of the trans members of our community across the world who have lost their lives this year to transphobic hate crime. From our last Life in Scotland research, 49% of transgender participants had experienced a hate crime within the previous year. Only 11% reported it. We want every young trans person in Scotland to live safely and authentically, free from fear, and we will keep existing until they do. #TransDayOfRemembrance

Today is International Men’s Day ❤️ From our last annual youth work survey, 24% of young people in our service identified as men or boys. 👉 Men are less likely to seek support for mental or physical health issues and in Scotland are three times more likely to end their lives according to the National Records of Scotland. 🔇 Male survivors of abuse are also less likely to report it. Today, we want to acknowledge the unique challenges men face, especially those in our community, who may experience additional barriers to seeking support or being understood. It’s okay to ask for help, to talk about how you’re feeling, and to take up space in the world. You matter. To all the men reading this, be kind to yourself today ❤️

This year, for #TransAwarenessWeek we wanted our followers to hear directly from one of our young people. Life for young trans people is difficult and frightening right now, being caught in an increasingly hostile media environment, threats to receiving appropriate healthcare and the very real threat to their human rights playing out on the global stage. As a young person from our Trans Rights Youth Commission said, "The world is scary right now, we all understand that, but we as a community have been through this before and we've learned how to survive. Sticking together, helping where we can without overstretching ourselves and taking care. In the cliché phrase, this too shall pass. It'll pass like a kidney stone, but it will pass." If you are a young trans person or would like to support someone in your life, visit the information hub on our website. The time for allyship is now. ❤️ LGBT Youth Scotland