LIFE IN SCOTLAND FOR LGBT YOUNG PEOPLE Analysis of the 2017 survey for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender young people. “I was told I was disgusting and in PE I was forced to change in a disused shower cubicle in case I 'stared at' any of the girls.” “Information about my status as a transgender person and my dead name was shared unnecessarily and without my permission.” “I would like to be in a healthy relationship which my family are supportive of and doing a job I love.” CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 4 KEY FINDINGS 5 VIEWS ON SCOTLAND AND THE LOCAL AREA 7 HOMOPHOBIA, BIPHOBIA AND TRANSPHOBIA 9 DISCRIMINATION 11 RIGHTS AND HATE CRIME 13 PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION 17 EXPERIENCES OF EDUCATION 18 HAPPINESS 24 MENTAL HEALTH 25 EXPERIENCES OF HEALTH SERVICES 28 COMING OUT 31 INCLUSION 33 SOCIALISING 34 LIVING SITUATION AND HOUSING 36 WORK AND TRAINING 38 OPPORTUNITIES AND BARRIERS 40 HOPES FOR THE FUTURE 42 APPENDICES APPENDIX 1: METHODOLOGY 43 APPENDIX 2: DEFINITIONS 44 APPENDIX 3: PROFILE OF SURVEY RESPONDENTS 45 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 46 4 LGBT YOUTH SCOTLAND INTRODUCTION Over the past five years within our services with Since 2007, LGBT Youth Scotland has LGBT young people we have seen an increase in the undertaken regular surveys with LGBT young number of young people identifying as non-binary, people ages 13-25, to ask them about their or as a gender identity other than 'man' or lives and experiences. 'woman'. This survey identified a similar trend: in 2012, 46% of respondents identified as women, In 2012, we broadened this beyond service users 48% as men, and 6.3% identified their gender to the wider group of LGBT young people living in identity in another way (4.8% other and 1.5% Scotland, and asked them more in-depth questions androgyne). In 2017, 41% identified as women, about their experiences of education, safety, 40% as men, and 19.5% identified their gender coming out, health, and community and identity. identity in another way (16% non-binary and 3.5% other1). Over the past five years, much has changed politically, and we wanted to find out whether This report reflects the responses from 684 and how LGBT young people's experiences have LGBT young people, nearly double the changed. For some questions, we now have data response rate of 2012, and is the largest to compare over the past decade. Our 2017 survey piece of research regarding LGBT young revisited many questions from 2012, and added people in Scotland. questions about types of bullying experienced, views on positive mental health, opportunities and barriers for LGBT young people, as well as aspirations for their future. Throughout the report, we have analysed transgender young people's experiences to ensure we accurately present their experiences. Where a statistic refers to LGBT young people and does not have a breakdown for transgender young people, this means that their experiences were the same as for LGBT young people overall. 1. In both surveys, respondents who selected 'other' were given the opportunity to write in responses that better reflected their identities. LIFE IN SCOTLAND FOR LGBT YOUNG PEOPLE 5 KEY FINDINGS l The percentage of LGBT young people who think that Scotland is a good place to live has Education risen over the last decade: 57% in 2007; 71% l 46% of LGBT young people and half (53%) in 2012; 81% in 2017 of transgender young people rated their school l 79% of LGBT young people said homophobia experience as 'bad' was still a problem for Scotland, and 85% of l 71% of LGBT young people experienced LGBT young people said transphobia was a bullying in school on the grounds of being problem for Scotland LGBT. This is a rise from 69% in 2012 and l Over half (52%) of respondents referred to 60% in 2007 school or education as the place in which they l 82% of transgender young people experienced experienced the most discrimination. This was bullying in school on the grounds of being also the most prevalent response in 2012 LGBT. This has risen from 77% in 2012 l Transgender young people are now more likely than they were in 2012 to rate their university Safety experience as 'good', with an increase from l Just over a third (35%) of LGBT young people 37% to 60% said that they had experienced a hate crime or l 9% of LGBT young people and 27% of incident in the past year transgender young people left education l Transgender young people were slightly more as result of homophobia, biphobia and likely (41%), to have experienced a hate crime transphobia in the learning environment or hate incident in the past year l Less than a third of LGBT young people (31%) said they would feel confident about reporting a hate crime to the police, and less than a quarter (23%) of transgender young people would l There has been a decline in the percentage of LGBT young people who say they feel safe on public transportation from 79% in 2012 to 67% in 2017 6 LGBT YOUTH SCOTLAND Health and wellbeing Living and socialising l 84% of LGBT young people and 96% of l In five years, the average age of coming out has transgender young people indicated that they fallen by one year for LGBT young people overall had experienced mental health problems and as well as transgender young people (age 16 in associated behaviours 2007 to 15 in 2017) l 73% of LGBT young people and 83% of l Transgender respondents were most likely to transgender young people who had experienced have left home under negative circumstances mental health problems had been bullied at (22%) school l 26% of LGBT young people in employment had l Half (50%) of LGBT young people and 63% of experienced verbal abuse at work, and 22% had transgender young people experienced suicidal experienced rumours about them thoughts or behaviours l Less than half of young people (43%) said that there were enough places where they could socialise safely and be open about their sexual orientation or gender identity LIFE IN SCOTLAND FOR LGBT YOUNG PEOPLE 7 VIEWS ON SCOTLAND AND THE LOCAL AREA l 81% of LGBT young people said that Scotland is a good place for LGBT young people to live Local communities l The percentage of LGBT young people who think l 53% of LGBT young people said that their local that Scotland is a good place to live has risen area is a good place to live, which is similar to over the last decade: 57% in 2007; 71% in 2012; 2012 findings3 2 81% in 2017 l 50% of transgender respondents said that their l In 2012, just over half (52%) of transgender local area is a good place to live, which is an young people thought Scotland was a good increase from 37% in 2012 place to live and in 2017. They are just as likely l LGBT young people living in urban areas were as LGBT young people overall to choose this more likely to think their area was a good place response to live (70%) than those in suburban areas (52%), and rural areas (39%). This is a slight Written comments showed that LGBT young people improvement on 20124 thought that: “Areas such as Glasgow are fabby for the l More people know about, and accept, LGBT identities (compared to other parts of the UK LGBT+ community but my local area, Dumfries or other countries) and Galloway is horrible and full of bigots. l The political environment is supportive Lack of education and small mindedness.” “All in all, Scotland has become very Many, particularly those in rural areas, called for progressive and forward thinking in relation to more LGBT groups such as youth clubs: LGBT youth, there are some areas that could be “I live in a small town where there are no other improved but that is more down to the local LGBT people to meet and also I have not yet areas and schools than the country as a had the courage to come out to everyone whole.” because it's a small town who know everyone's business and likes to gossip. It's not like “Scotland is a very open minded country to live Glasgow or Edinburgh (rural respondent).” in and it has a good political system that represents LGBT people well.” 2. n=682 3. n=683 4. Urban (68%); suburban (49%); and rural areas (27%). 8 LGBT YOUTH SCOTLAND 81% 2017: 81% LGBT YOUNG PEOPLE 2012: 71% Scotland is a 2007: 57% good place for Scotland is a good LGBT young place for LGBT young people to live people to live Local area is a good place for LGBT young people to live 70% urban 52% suburban 39% rural LIFE IN SCOTLAND FOR LGBT YOUNG PEOPLE 9 HOMOPHOBIA, BIPHOBIA AND TRANSPHOBIA The majority of LGBT young people thought that homophobia, biphobia and transphobia were Local area problems in their local area and for Scotland l 71% of LGBT young people said that generally (see figure 1). homophobia was a problem in their local area l 66% of LGBT young people said biphobia was a problem in their local area. 67% of bisexual Scotland young people and 72% of transgender young l 79% of LGBT young people and 83% people said it was a problem transgender respondents said homophobia l 79% of LGBT young people (and 90% of was a problem for Scotland transgender young people) said transphobia l 74% of LGBT young people (and the same was a problem in their local area percentage of bisexual young people) said biphobia was a problem for Scotland.