shOUT Background

In 2002 the Department of Education, as part of its statutory duty to promote equality of opportunity under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act (1998), identified the requirement for research into the needs of young people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender (LGBT) in Northern Ireland.

The Department commissioned YouthNet to act as the lead body in carrying out this research. At this time, YouthNet had established a number of interest groups within its membership and facilitated them to meet on issues of common concern. One of these groups was the lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender grouping. This became the steering group for the research and comprised the following organisations:

· YouthAction NI;

· Foyle Friend;

· The Rainbow Project;

· and Young Citizens In Action (YCIA).

This was the first piece of research in Northern Ireland to look exclusively at young LGBT people’s experience of the education and youth sectors and includes responses from 362 young LGBT people, 76 organisations working with young people and 48 public sector bodies.

The ShOut Report, which was launched by the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People, has some stark findings which highlight child protection issues for young people.

In launching the report the Commissioner commented that “all young people have a basic human right for the freedom to discover themselves without bullying and abuse. Young people should feel valued, involved and safe throughout our youth services”.

Some of the key findings included:

65% of respondents had experienced verbal abuse

44% had been bullied in school because of their sexual orientation

29% had attempted suicide

26% had self harmed

16% had experienced homelessness