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Bristol's Freedom Youth LGBT group marks 25 years | Bristol's Freedom Youth LGBT group marks 25 years |
(32 minutes later) | |
Bristol's oldest LGBT youth group is celebrating 25 years of helping the LGBT+ community. | Bristol's oldest LGBT youth group is celebrating 25 years of helping the LGBT+ community. |
Freedom Youth began on 4 July 1995, at a time when attitudes towards LGBT people in society were generally less tolerant than today. | Freedom Youth began on 4 July 1995, at a time when attitudes towards LGBT people in society were generally less tolerant than today. |
"I'm so proud of what we have achieved, it's phenomenal this community has nurtured so many others," said team manager Henry Poultney. | "I'm so proud of what we have achieved, it's phenomenal this community has nurtured so many others," said team manager Henry Poultney. |
"The environment for young LGBT people in the UK still remains a challenge." | "The environment for young LGBT people in the UK still remains a challenge." |
Freedom Youth faced stiff opposition and negative national media coverage when it began. | Freedom Youth faced stiff opposition and negative national media coverage when it began. |
"'Gay barbecues to burn lottery cash' was the Daily Mail headline after we were given National Lottery money in June 1996 to fund social events," said co-founder Berkeley Wilde. | "'Gay barbecues to burn lottery cash' was the Daily Mail headline after we were given National Lottery money in June 1996 to fund social events," said co-founder Berkeley Wilde. |
"It was almost impossible to do work with schools because of Section 28." | "It was almost impossible to do work with schools because of Section 28." |
Section 28 was part of a 1988 law which prohibited "the promotion of homosexuality by local authorities" to younger people. | Section 28 was part of a 1988 law which prohibited "the promotion of homosexuality by local authorities" to younger people. |
"We used to have letters in the paper against us, homophobic tirades complaining that we had funding. | "We used to have letters in the paper against us, homophobic tirades complaining that we had funding. |
"People said we were abnormal, but in those days you had to stand up and be counted," said former chair Lesley Mansell, who held the role for five years. | |
Henry said the group's focus had changed over 25 years. | |
"In the 1990s there was a lot of bisexuality erasure, then in the early 2000s trans issues came in. | "In the 1990s there was a lot of bisexuality erasure, then in the early 2000s trans issues came in. |
"The last eight years for us have been around the 'plus' - so working with wider gender and sexual identities. | "The last eight years for us have been around the 'plus' - so working with wider gender and sexual identities. |
Despite growing up in the age of the internet, current attendees have said the group experience helps. | Despite growing up in the age of the internet, current attendees have said the group experience helps. |
"Having access to the internet helped me figure out I was queer, but it was the group that made me feel like I wasn't alone," said Lowie, 22, from Bristol. | "Having access to the internet helped me figure out I was queer, but it was the group that made me feel like I wasn't alone," said Lowie, 22, from Bristol. |
"I'm always welcome and there's a great sense of family," said 23-year-old Molly. | "I'm always welcome and there's a great sense of family," said 23-year-old Molly. |