Who is this leaflet for? Social Groups This leaflet is for anyone who identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans (LGB) or who is a friend or family member of someone who identifies as LGB. Social groups run by Body Positive Cheshire & North Wales by and for LGB people. We recognise that feeling isolated or alone is a huge issue among gay and bisexual people and can lead to other health problems. If you are over 17 and would like meet new people, make new friends or feel you need to do more socially, contact us or check-out our Facebook page for group times. Refreshments are provided and workers are on hand to help you with any issues you might bring to the group. If you are under 20, lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans, contact us to find your nearest young person’s group. ! How can I use this leaflet? You can use this information to teach yourself or the people around you about people who are LGB. Life for an LGBT person can be a bit difficult because they live in a straight world. Sometimes they can pick up messages that they are somehow broken, wrong or unnatural. This leaflet helps to dispel these myths and tell you or whoever you give this leaflet to a little about being LGB. ! Where can I get more help? Whether you are LGBT yourself or someone affected by LGBT issues, there are organisations out there to help; there are people in your position you are not alone! For an up-to-date list of organisations to help you contact Body Positive Cheshire or visit the website (see back). These include organisations for LGBT people to get help and support as well as for friends and family such as the charity Friends and Families of Gays and Lesbians (FFLAG); www.fflag.org.uk (not a part of Body Positive Cheshire & North Wales). ! Who are we? BPCNW provides support, information and advice on all aspects of sexuality & sexual health. We are a voluntary sector organisation. Our aim is to develop a healthy ethos in our community, to improve the quality of life for gay and bisexual people; to maintain and promote good sexual health, mental health and general well being. Cheshire Cheese The Cheshire Cheese is a newsletter with events, listings, services and articles for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans people throughout Cheshire, North Wales and Wirral. If you would like to get a copy you can visit www.cheshirecheese.org.uk . ! Articles are updated online and you can even get it straight to your inbox. Have bulletins e-mailed to you as important noticed about what’s going on in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans community as they come in. Don’t miss out; subscribe today! JUST FOR MEN CONTACT US There are many ways to contact us when you need help or just for general enquiries. Telephone: 01270 653150 E-mail: health@bpcnw.co.uk Visit: www.bpcnw.co.uk Newsletter: www.cheshirecheese.org.uk Registered Charity No. 1009850 image by miamiamia |sxc.hu Frequently Asked Questions LGBT History Month Lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) history month takes place in Great Britain all throughout February. This is a month when schools and colleges put special emphasis on educating students and training staff around issues to do with sexual minority groups (people who identify as LGB or T). Schools and colleges will put on an events to make sexual minority students feel safe and supported. Research shows that many young LGBT people can feel isolated because they cannot come out or meet people who are also LGBT. LGBT history month is about educating; making sure that everyone, regardless of their sexual preferences or identity is entitled to a full, fun, hate-free education. ! I.D.A.H.O.T International Day Against HOmophobia and Transphobia is an event that is celebrated across the world on May 17th each year. It is about people coming together and supporting the fight against homophobia. The idea of the day is to educate everyone about sexuality. Everyone, no matter who they are attracted to, can come together, feel safe and celebrate who they are. I.D.A.H.O. often is marked by campaigns to promote equal rights for people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or belong to another sexual minority. There are still countries who execute people who are part of a sexual minority. In the United Kingdom we are very progressive in the rights and freedoms of people who are part of a sexual minority. It is our responsibility to make sure that the right to be free of oppression because you love someone is upheld around the world. ! ! To keep up with events and services take a look at our Facebook page by logging on to Facebook and searching for Body Positive Cheshire & North Wales. About Gay/Bi Men… What is it like to be Gay/Bi? What is Homophobia? People who are attracted to people of the same sex (e.g. lesbian, gay and bisexual also known as LGB people) are like people who are attracted to the opposite sex (straight or heterosexual people). The only difference is that they are sexually attracted to or ‘turned on’ by people of their own sex. LGB people can be as varied as straight people, some might be ‘camp’ or effeminate and others might be more ‘butch’ masculine but this is a poor way to judge someone’s sexuality and easy to get wrong! If you want to know someone’s sexuality or who they fancy, it is often best just to ask, sensitively. There are between three and ten people in every onehundred who identify as LGB or have some feelings towards the same sex. The problem for many LGB people is homophobia. Homophobia is disliking, hating, fearing or wanting to hurt someone who is LGB just because they are attracted to people of the same sex. This is like racism when someone dislikes, hates, fears or wants to hurt someone of a different race, just because they are from a different race. ! Is being Gay/Bi a choice? It is now widely accepted that people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual are born, ready to develop an attraction to people of the same sex. In the same way, straight people are born ready to develop an attraction to people of the opposite sex. This is not to say that we know everything about sexual and emotional attraction. Some people seem to have a fluid or changeable sexuality. A small number of people find different people attractive at different stages of their lives. This is not something that only happens in humans. It happens in the rest of the animal kingdom too, from tiny sea-life to large on land animals. Having a diverse range of sexualities is a natural part of how the world is. Some animals do no choose their partners, they just mate and hope for the best. Other animals are like humans and can choose the sex of their partners. In effect they are gay or bisexual animals. ! “It still strikes me as strange that anyone could have any moral objection to someone else's sexuality. It's like telling someone else how to clean their house.” -River Phoenix ! Can’t everyone just get along? YES! Everyone can get along but it means mutual respect. People do not have to agree that being a sexual minority or being straight is ‘right’ or ‘natural’ but we do all have to live together. By offering each other respect we allow each other to live fulling and fun lives. We do not deliberately hurt each other or oppress someone’s freedoms (stopping someone from doing something they should be entitled to do as a human being).