g - Zine Magazine for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual , Trans and Questioning young people. Celebrating Providing 40 years of support for LGBTQ+ Young People in Liverpool! Produced by the young people of GYRO & T.A.Y 1 About The g-Zine In this Issue G-Zine has been created and produced by young people from GYRO and The Action Youth. It’s by LGBTQ+ young people for LGBTQ+ What is the G - Zine.............................................................. Page 3 young people, it’s full of advice, stories, reviews, guides and useful stuff. LGBT+ History ...................................................................... Page 4 We hope you like it! Coming Out - My Story.......................................................... Page 6 Coming Out Tips and Advice................................................ Page 7 Getting to Know Gyro - Chris................................................ Page 9 Let’s Talk About Sexuality.................................................... Page 10 Pronouns - What’s in a word?................................................. Page 12 #TDOV - Transgender Day of Visibility................................. Page 13 Agony Fam - Advice............................................................... Page 14 Image Credit - Kai LGBT+ Bookshelf................................................................... Page 16 Sexual Health........................................................................ Page 18 Image Credit - Lois Tierney Illustration Movie Reviews - Watercolours.............................................. Page 19 LGBT+ Youtubers................................................................ Page 20 2 3 LGBT+ HisTory LGBT+ history is an important part of LGBT+ life. LGBT History Month is celebrated in February in the UK each year. The overall aim of LGBT History month is to promote equality and diversity by increasing the visibility of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (“LGBT”) people, their history, lives and their experiences. Why young LGBT+ People think LGBT+ History is Important? • To see where we have come from • It used to be illegal to be LGBT+ • It used to be classed as a Mental Illness • If we don’t remember it could go backwards • Marsha P Johnson (a black trans woman) started the stonewall riots, without her we wouldn’t have pride • Respect for those that fought for our rights • Education • Grateful for what we have now • Teaches that we’ve come really far and empowers us to go further • LGBT History needs to be taught so we can learn from history to prevent bad things from happening • Teaches non-LGBT+ people about discrimination and raises awareness of identities • Being aware makes us considerate to the struggles other people have faced One day we will be LGBT+ history! 44 55 Coming Out - My Story Tips & Advice By Stuart What GYRO & T.A.Y young people say about Coming Out: I always had a preference for male celebrities and male fictional characters which includes my • Be true to yourself, and take time to accept yourself. favourite male pop groups Mcfly and Busted. But it wasn’t until later on during my college years when • Do it in your own way, in your own time - don't feel pressurised by other people. I developed a crush on one of the Mcfly band members Danny Jones which made me consider • Prepare somewhere safe to go if it doesn't go well. Remember, if you do go some- that I am attracted to guys. This first started when where else then call and let people know that you are safe and will phone the next he was on this TV show Popstar to Operastar, he day. may not have won but I was inspired by his efforts. Later on, I made some friends on an online forum. • Start by telling someone you think will support you. Two of them where gay, one of them came out long ago before I knew him, the other came out to • Do it when you feel ready to answer the questions people may ask. Prepare your- us. Of course, I accepted them but I was wonder- self for other people’s reactions, and take care of yourself. They don't always react ing when will be the day when I come out? Image Credit - https://www.flickr.com/ the way you'd think. photos/ikkinphotography/ • Drop hints to prepare people or allow them to find out for themselves, but be Within the same year, I discovered the movie Watercolours which is an LGBT aware they may see what they want to see, or they might already know! movie I became interested in (you can check it out in my movie review). All of these above factors have helped me consider that I am gay and I eventually • Give the person that you are 'coming out' to time to think about what you have said came out to my Mum during a random conversation; she accepted me. I then to them. If it has taken you a number of years to accept who you are then it could came out to my brother, father and my friends who all accepted me too. Some of take them time to get to grips with what you have told them. them said that they had a hunch that I was gay. I was rather relieved that I had been accepted for who I am. • Find support for yourself - friend, helpline, support group, to talk through what you are going to do before, during and after you ‘come out’. Try more than one group to Within the same year, I bought Watercolours for Christmas; it was a very find the right one for you - you may also make new friends along the way. emotional movie. This had helped me to learn and be aware of many issues involving the LGBT community, meet other LGBT people and get to know •Bring your partner round to meet your parents. If they can see you are happy, it celebrities coming out (especially on Youtube). I even took part in the Gay Pride may be easier for them to understand and support you. march which was a great experience despite the weather. So I can thank my friends and family for accepting me for who I am along with many factors that helped to make me realise my sexuality including my crush on Danny Jones and Watercolours. I would also like to ‘thank’ Harry Judd, one of the other Mcfly members, as Mum and I happened to watch his appearance on Strictly Come Dancing while we were having the conversation when I came out. We were commenting on the clothing the partners wore and I was more interested the clothing that the men were wearing. 6 7 Tips & Advice Getting to know GYRO: Meet Chris By LM Young People’s ideas on how to come out... My name is Chris, and I am the team lead for the LGBTQ+ team at the • Rocky song with Trans flag Young Person's Advisory Service. and boxing gloves I've been working at YPAS for a little • Scream it over 3 years. I'm also an openly gay • Change gender on FB man and have been out and proud for • Sing “I’m coming out” roughly 8 years. I know that coming • Roll in glitter out was the best decision of my life. • Write a letter • Talk to someone Image Credit - Chris • Ride on a unicorn Image Credit - Lois Tierney Illustration My role at YPAS is very varied, I do a range of work that helps young people, this in- cludes providing information, advice and guidance to individual young people which is usually LGBT focused. Another role I have is overseeing and working on the Gay Youth 'R' Out (GYRO) groups, and finally, I deliver LGBT training to specific groups of people, Allies such as students in a school, their teachers or other professionals, teaching them about • Keep the information that someone tells you to yourself issues the LGBT community face, or different identities under the spectrum. • Support your friend until they are ready to share I like that every day is always different and never gets boring. I really like seeing the de- velopment of the young people regarding their identity and health, and knowing I can be of some help if that young person should need it. I also feel like what I do helps to fight Tips for teachers the good cause of gaining full equality for our community. • Say it’s ok to be LGBT My favourite memories of the work here at YPAS include the first Liverpool Pride I at- •“Homophobia & Transphobia is not ok!” repeat this regularly, throughout the tended with our youth group, seeing how the young people positively responded to the event and how we all had a feeling of solidarity. Another great memory is a time I deliv- whole school ered training to a school full of young people with learning difficulties, all through the • Act when you hear name calling and inappropriate language day they asked loads of questions and were really excited. Later, they sent me a lovely • Increase the visibility of LGBT identities card thanking me and asking me to return. That was really sweet. • Know where to signpost young people for support I help young people by offering information and advice regarding sexuality and gender identity, and challenging any form of discrimination that I see. But I can’t take all the credit for this as I work with a group of dedicated and experienced staff who help me, For more advice about coming out check out... and the young people, daily. I remember helping a trans young person to get their name changed in college, they were so thankful, and I'm glad I could help in making this a www.ypas.org.uk/our-services/support-services/lgbt-project/ positive moment in their life. The whole experience of working with young people here has made me an even prouder www.stonewall.org.uk/help-advice/coming-out-0 gay man and LGBT person. It has made me even more passionate about challenging dis- crimination and fighting for our community's rights and acceptance, and it has made me a more confident person.