By Sarah Robinson

Published at 11:12, Thursday, 24 May 2012

HOMOPHOBIC bullying has been named as an issue in at least one of Copeland’s secondary schools – but how isolated is that?

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The youth organisation Inspira (formerly Connexions) runs a weekly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) group for teenagers. Members meet weekly in Whitehaven to discuss issues affecting them and get involved in a host of activities.

Josh Lowrey, 16, who attends the group, said: “All we are doing is realising who we are and being that person.”

Over the past three years, members have attended the Blackpool Pride and Manchester Pride events, met up with another LGBT group, Pink, in Carlisle and have gone to the Steam Packet Inn in Workington.

Workshops are also held which deal with topics from sexual health to staying safe on the internet. Recently police officers visited the young people to get their views on issues relating to the hate crime of homophobic bullying.

Members have spoken to The Whitehaven News about their experiences and the pressures they have faced. They say they want to be accepted by their peers and family for who they are and feel they are prejudged and have often been bullied because of their sexuality.

Daniel Dixon, 19, has been attending the group since it began. Daniel came out as a lesbian at 13 years old as he didn’t know at the time that he was transgender. Last year he officially changed his name.

He said: “When I told my family they didn’t and still don’t accept it.

“I don’t get the support from them so coming here really helped. My friends are much better in supporting me.

“I like the week-to-week support you get in the group and I think things like this need to be promoted.

“I went through school getting bullied – one time I walked down the road and got jumped on by six people who battered me. I had to call the police.

“When I was in school I was told by a teacher that if I wasn’t prepared to deal with the consequences I shouldn’t have come out.

“There are some people who don’t call me Daniel just to annoy me. You find out who your real friends are. You don’t have to hide who you are any more.

“In this group, you get the support that you need.”

Josh, who has been going to the group for two years, said: “The group is good as there are lots of people to talk to. There is a lot of support and you can get good advice from other people.

“There aren’t many of us and it would be good to meet new people. It would be nice to advise them on how to cope with things.”

While Tristan Parker, 17, said: “I like to come along to the group as I feel it’s good to mix with other people with different sexualities. You can be more open about stuff in this group compared to other groups.”

The group said that gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual issues are not widely discussed in schools, which can make it difficult for them to ask questions or find support.

One teenage girl says she attends the group because people accept her for who she is while another girl says she enjoys meeting new people. She has not yet come out to her parents but says she is benefiting from the support of the group as she is learning how to deal with being a lesbian.

Last Thursday was the international day against homophobia and transphobia, where members of the group visited Workington police station to raise a rainbow coloured flag as a symbol of gay pride.

It celebrates lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans individuals and communities and encourages people to take action against homophobia.

Members met Chief Superintendent Steve Johnson and youth engagement officer PC Keith Hunton.

A skills and development adviser at Inspira said: “The local police are very supportive towards LGBT communities and agreed to fly the flag to show that they are also keen to stamp out homophobia.”

To find out more about the group, contact the Whitehaven Connexions office on 01946 695541.

Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk