GAY, LESBIAN, BISEXUAL?
You may find yourself being attracted to people of the same sex as you, or people of both sexes. Don't panic - it's ok! It is estimated that at least 1 in 10 people are gay, lesbian or bisexual. There is still a lot of prejudice in society towards people who are lesbian, gay or bisexual. It can be difficult to find information, or someone to talk to about how you feel without being pressurised or made to feel you are 'wrong' in some way.
For information or someone to talk to in confidence, call in at Castlegate.
York LGB Youth Project - a service for young people 25 and under who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or who are unsure about their sexuality. They meet 7-9pm on Thursdays (usually city centre) and offer social activities, chill outs, DVD nights and workshops. You can contact a worker for one to one support.
MESMAC have a youth worker for LGBT young people, Ellen Hill. She works with young men and women who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questioning their sexual orientation. She can offer you one to one support, and information about the scene, groups and sexual health. She can also help if you’d like to make things happen, develop new services or do something about homophobic bullying in your school or college. Mesmac also publish a ‘coming out’ guide; Thinking Clear. Ring for a copy or pick one up from Castlegate. Mesmac also offer sexual health information, free condoms, support and counselling.
Leeds Gay Switchboard website has a directory of support groups, social groups, switchboards, the local scene etc. in the northern area. The web site has a useful ‘discreet’ mode at the bottom of the homepage.
If you are gay, lesbian or bisexual or if you are unsure whether you are or not, it may be difficult to come to terms with. The organisations above can talk things through if you're trying to figure things out, or if you are worried about telling people, and how they might react. You can also talk to someone at Castlegate.
There is also FFLAG - a helpline for the families and friends of lesbian, gay and bisexual people.
Gender issues
Many thousands of people in this country feel that they have been born into the wrong body. (This condition is known as gender dysphoria). Some of these people decide to make changes to the way they are. A transvestite is someone who chooses to dress and act like someone of the opposite sex. A transsexual is someone who is not happy with the body they were born in, and who may have had treatment and/or surgery to change it. There is no connection with homosexuality other than some transsexuals and transvestites are also lesbian or gay.
For support, or details of national helplines and support organisations, contact the Community Development Worker at Mesmac or York LGBT Youth Project, or look at the Mesmac website.