ISSUES
: Sexuality and Gender
Chapter 1: Understanding sexuality
11
more likely to experience positive
feelings, such as relief (26%),
happiness (19%) or freedom
(14%) than negative ones, such as
depression (2%), loneliness (4%)
and fear (9%) at this time.
Inclusive sex education
Sex education in schools is a
controversial topic, but many
people are currently campaigning
for mandatory LGBTI-inclusive sex
education in schools.
55% of people surveyed thought
LGBTI-inclusive sex education
would help young LGBTI people
Do we still need National Coming Out Day?
build up courage to come out to
their friends and family.
The potential benefit most people
thought it could have was to
support young LGBTI students in
understanding their own sexuality
and gender (59%).
However, only 12% thought they
received enough LGBTI-inclusive
sex education in school. A
considerable 53% weren’t taught
any at all.
10 October 2014
*Please note that this information is
from 2014 and that newer statistics
may have been published since
then. The original blog can be found
here:
17-of-lgbti-brits-know-its-national-
coming-out-day-tomorrow/
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The above information is
reprinted with kind permission
from OnePoll. Please visit
for further
information.
© OnePoll Ltd 2016
This Sunday 11 October [2015] is National Coming Out Day and for many this will be
an exciting and celebratory day. But with all the moves forward in equality in the
UK, do we still need it?
11 reasons why we still
need National Coming
Out Day
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Coming out supports equality
in all its forms; it sparks
conversation, educates and
challenges dated and frankly
ignorant perceptions.
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A coming out story being shared
can be incredibly powerful to
someone else who is struggling
with their own identity and
coming out.
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Students who are lesbian, gay
or bi continue to be the most
highly bullied demographic
with isolation, self-harm and
suicide rates far higher than the
national average.
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Very few people regret coming
out even if the initial experience
isn’t as positive as they’d hoped.
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Hiding your sexual identity can
be far more stressful than being
open. Visibility is crucial and
powerful; it really can change
hearts and minds.
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Despite marriage equality there
is still a way to go before the
UK achieves full equality for
ALL its citizens. Pension laws
for those who are lesbian and
gay, marriage equality for those
who are trans* and equal sex
education in schools are just
three examples of things that
need to be made equal.
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A united day provides a strong
community feel online with an
increased amount of support,
both from organisations and
others going through the same
thing, being made available.
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Coming out and REAL visibility
contribute to the global picture
– it gives a voice to those who
are silenced and helps those
whose right to be themselves
are non-existent all over the
world.
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Coming out gradually reduces
‘casual’
homohate
and
transhate. It empowers those
who are scared to simply
hold hands in public with their
partner.
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Visibility in turn demands
representation. You have a
voice – use it!
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Don’t feel under pressure to
come out until you’re ready – it
might be that the first step is
coming out to yourself.
In summary
We get it – who you date, who you
love, shouldn’t ever be an issue
… but we’re not quite there yet.
Ultimately, we believe that sexuality
is on a continuum with people very
rarely being 100% anything. We are
working towards a culture where
we no longer need National Coming
Out Day and eventually it won’t even
be a thing. Whatever you decide to
do, there is support available if you
need it.
October 2015
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The above information has been
reprinted with kind permission
from Ditch the Label. Please
visit
for
further information.
© Ditch the Label 2016
