The Isle of Wight Youth Council was honoured to participate in the Pride March, which took place last weekend. Their members got involved with many organisations, including Out On An Island – an Island-based charity documenting LGBTQIA+ history and heritage. The Youth Council have been privileged to work alongside them.
On the morning of Saturday 19th August, members from the Isle of Wight Youth Council partook in the Isle of Wight Pride Parade from Ryde School to the seafront. They wished to champion gender and sexual diversity on the Isle of Wight as well as to show their support for the LGBTQ+ community.
An apolitical organisation
The Isle of Wight Youth Council is an apolitical organisation which works to ensure that Youth voice is properly considered and consulted on the Isle of Wight.
Their work incorporates the ever-growing LGBTQIA+ youth community, with the recent election of the position ‘LGBTQ+ Secretary.’
Homophobia in an academic setting
According to a survey, composed by the Secretary of LGBTQIA+ Youth, Kato Paul, 63 per cent of LGBTQ+ students have experienced homophobia in an academic setting from students and teachers alike.
81 per cent of LGBTQIA+ identifying youth have had their mental health compromised due to conflict regarding their identity. This survey is yet to reach a broader community, spreading across various Island schools.
Paul: Our voice is crucial
Kato expressed,
“The Youth Council wishes to assist LGBTQIA+ youth to feel safer and unified. Our involvement demonstrates work with organisations to improve the livelihoods of LGBTQ+ young people.
“Frequently overshadowed by our elders in many spaces, our voice is crucial. By allowing us a say, we demonstrate that young individuals, regardless of identity, are listened to and deserve the freedom to display their identity without judgement.”
Bullying and homophobic slurs
On a broader scale, stated by surveys conducted by Stonewall: 42 per cent of LGBTQIA+ pupils have experienced bullying in the past year, double the number of non-LGBTQIA+ pupils (21 per cent); 48 per cent have had little to no positive messaging about being LGBTQIA+ at school in the last year; and half of LGBTQIA+ pupils hear homophobic slurs ‘frequently’ or ‘often’ at school, epitomising the necessity for local Pride celebrations.
Hardy: Being exposed to discrimination is detrimental to one’s mental well-being
Benson Hardy, the Chair of the Youth Council, said,
“We were honoured to take part in the events for Pride. It is such a vibrant and inspirational source of the Island community, celebrating a diverse array of people.
“We have identified the importance to young people of receiving support from those around them, preventing them from hiding their identity. Being exposed to discrimination is detrimental to one’s mental well-being, a clear signal that we must work towards a more inclusive community.
“The voices of young people must be considered in relation to LGBTQ+, as well as in many other sectors of society, allowing young people to contribute to finding solutions for problems they face. At events like these, it is also a chance for young people to learn from others, connecting with the history of LGBTQ+ and remembering those who fought for acceptance.”
Find out more
For more information or if you are interested in introducing your organisation to the Youth Council, email the Chair of the Youth Council at [email protected] or visit the Isle of Wight Youth Council Website.
For more information about Out On An Island’s work, go to: visit their Website.
News shared by Benson on behalf of Isle of Wight Youth Council. Ed
