Life in Scotland for LGBT Young People

Research Background LGBT Youth Scotland has undertaken regular surveys with LGBT young people, ages 13-25, since 2007. 2007 & 2010: service users asked how they would rate Scotland, their experineces of bullying, coming out, and happiness. 2012 survey aimed at LGBT young people across Scotland, on a range of topics across life experiences. First to separate out sexual orientation from gender identity in regards to these topics. 350 responses Lesbians: Ellen Degeneres Sue Perkins Carol Ann Duffy Jackie Kay Martine Navratilova Casey Stoney – English Footballer

Research Background 2012 survey has informed our policy priorities, training delivery, work with professionals, and policy engagement. 2017 survey builds on our growing evidence base on LGBT young people's lives: 684 complete and partial responses; the largest sample of LGBT young people in Scotland. 95 questions, including new questions around types of poor mental health experienced, bullying behaviours, and workplace experiences. Detail on what has changed over the past 5-10 years. Lesbians: Ellen Degeneres Sue Perkins Carol Ann Duffy Jackie Kay Martine Navratilova Casey Stoney – English Footballer

Respondent Profile Ages 13-25, with the average age of 19 36% gay/lesbian; 30.6% bisexual, 11% queer, 11% pansexual 41% women, 40% men, 16% non-binary, and 3.5% ‘other’. More young people (19.5%) identified as non-binary or described their gender in another way than in 2012 (6.35%) 33.5% identified as transgender. 3% considered themselves to have an intersex history Lesbians: Ellen Degeneres Sue Perkins Carol Ann Duffy Jackie Kay Martine Navratilova Casey Stoney – English Footballer

Scotland & Local Area 79% of LGBT young people said that homophobia was a problem for Scotland. 74% felt that biphobia was a problem. 85% thought that transphobia was a problem.

Scotland & Local Area 81% of LGBT young people said that Scotland is a good place for LGBT young people to live. In 2012, just over half (52%) of transgender young people thought Scotland was a good place to live and in 2017, they are just as likely as LGBT young people overall to choose this response

53% of LGBT young people said that their local area is a good place to live, which is similar to 2012 findings. 50% of transgender respondents said that their local area is a good place to live, an increase from 37% in 2012. Lesbians: Ellen Degeneres Sue Perkins Carol Ann Duffy Jackie Kay Martine Navratilova Casey Stoney – English Footballer

Rights and Hate Crime 48% of LGBT young people and 58% of transgender young people were aware of their rights under hate crime legislation. 35% of LGBT young people said that they had experienced a hate crime or incident in the past year.Transgender young people were slightly more likely (41%), and non-binary young people were the most likely (51%)

Rights and Hate Crime LGBT young people: 'The normal abuse being yelled and attacks [emphasis added].' LGBT young people: Normalise non-physical behaviours Have perceptions that they'll not be taken seriously due to LGBT identity or age Don't feel confident because not out or experience poor mental health Think it is not worth reporting without evidence Fear retaliation Concerned over police discrimination or inaction Lesbians: Ellen Degeneres Sue Perkins Carol Ann Duffy Jackie Kay Martine Navratilova Casey Stoney – English Footballer

Education 71% of LGBT young people experienced bullying in school on the grounds of being LGBT. This is a rise from 69% in 2012 and 60% in 2007. 82% of transgender young people experienced bullying in school, an increase from 77% in 2012. Lesbians: Ellen Degeneres Sue Perkins Carol Ann Duffy Jackie Kay Martine Navratilova Casey Stoney – English Footballer

Education Since 2012: Noticeable increase in responses rating school as 'okay', a decrease in those rating school as 'bad'. College rating has improved: 51% of LGBT young people and 53% of transgender young people rate the experience as 'okay' for LGBT young people. Transgender young people more likely to rate university as 'good', with an increase from 37% to 60%. Lesbians: Ellen Degeneres Sue Perkins Carol Ann Duffy Jackie Kay Martine Navratilova Casey Stoney – English Footballer

Education Lesbians: Ellen Degeneres Sue Perkins Carol Ann Duffy Jackie Kay Martine Navratilova Casey Stoney – English Footballer

Mental Health In 2012, we asked LGBT young people whether they had experienced a mental health problem, listing 'stress' and 'anxiety' as examples. 40% of LGBT young people and 66.7% of trans young people said yes. 2017: when presented with a list, 84% of LGBT young people and 96% of transgender young people indicated that they had experienced at least one of the listed problems.

Mental Health This year's findings are more likely to be an accurate depiction of LGBT young people's experiences today: the response rate to the 2017 question was exactly double that of the 2012 question we have captured individual experiences rather than awareness of the phrase 'poor mental health' Lesbians: Ellen Degeneres Sue Perkins Carol Ann Duffy Jackie Kay Martine Navratilova Casey Stoney – English Footballer

Percentage of young people who felt that they experienced the following mental health problems and related behaviours Percentage of young people who felt that they experienced the following mental health problems and related behaviours Lesbians: Ellen Degeneres Sue Perkins Carol Ann Duffy Jackie Kay Martine Navratilova Casey Stoney – English Footballer

Coming Out We asked what would help LGBT young people come out: Educating others about LGBT lives Being able to talk openly about identities Eliminating significance of coming out Support from family & friends Having more positive LGBT role models Lesbians: Ellen Degeneres Sue Perkins Carol Ann Duffy Jackie Kay Martine Navratilova Casey Stoney – English Footballer

Work 35% of LGBT young people and 28% of transgender young people are currently employed; 18% of LGBT young people were unemployed 64% of LGBT young people and 67% of transgender young people were out to work colleagues 26% of LGBT young people had experienced verbal abuse at work, with 22% experiencing rumours about them

Leaving Home Lesbians: Ellen Degeneres Sue Perkins Carol Ann Duffy Jackie Kay Martine Navratilova Casey Stoney – English Footballer

Community & Socialising 67% of LGBT young people said they felt included in LGBT communities; 57% in their families; and 52% in their community. Only 35% of trans young people felt included in the community.

Aspirations What do LGBT young people aspire to? To be happy Have a loving partner A home Rewarding career A chance to travel 'I would like to do something that matters. Something where at the end of the day, I know I've put something into the universe, rather than just existed alongside it.'

How do these findings affect the service you deliver? Key improvement?

Whole Organisational Change Training - LGBT awareness: frontline staff, managers, operations team Policy - Relevant polices make specific reference to LGBT people (i.e manifestations of transphobia included in anti-bullying policy) - Impact Assessments Practice - Engagement with LGBT people - LGBT cultural calendar and campaigns - Referrals Lesbians: Ellen Degeneres Sue Perkins Carol Ann Duffy Jackie Kay Martine Navratilova Casey Stoney – English Footballer

Whole Organisational Change Promotional Materials & Resources - Website gives clear statement to visitors on LGBT inclusion and information - Visibility of LGBT identities in buildings, resources, communication Monitoring & Evaluation - Safe and confidential service user and staff monitoring - Consult with LGBT people on their experiences and needs of your service. Use this to inform developments. Lesbians: Ellen Degeneres Sue Perkins Carol Ann Duffy Jackie Kay Martine Navratilova Casey Stoney – English Footballer

Any Questions? Lesbians: Ellen Degeneres Sue Perkins Carol Ann Duffy Jackie Kay Martine Navratilova Casey Stoney – English Footballer

lgbtyouth.org.uk brandilee.loughdennell@lgbtyouth.org.uk