25 Oct

Transformers – Brighton’s new Trans Youth Network

Posted by Guest Writer

Post by Andi Devine, Allsorts Youth Project.

Brighton is a very diverse city; therefore there is a large amount of support accessible for those who need it. Yet those who struggle with or even question their gender identity can sometimes be overlooked. All too often, trans people and especially young trans people, can find themselves feeling very alone.

With this in mind, Allsorts has set up the Trans Youth Network. Going under the name Transformers, we intend to ensure that there is a safe space for young people who are trans, questioning their gender identity, consider themselves differently gendered, Gender Queer or simply feel that they do not fit into a binary Male/ Female gendered system.

We consider it an imperative that there is the freedom to safely express and explore gender and to have a place to access support, advice and help. We aim to provide a non-judgemental environment and a group which is facilitated by people who understand and can relate to the young people who access the service, thereby giving them an opportunity to feel comfortable enough to ask questions and express themselves freely.

Ryan is 21 years old and identifies as a trans male. He is a young volunteer at Allsorts and has helped to set up Transformers. According to Ryan, “being a young trans person brings about a variety of pressures. It is important that Brighton has an accessible trans youth group because young people can face an array of challenges that older trans people may not have faced. For example, there is a large family pressure when coming out to parents/guardians as young people tend to be reliant on the family home for stability and support. Equally, coming out can cause problems in educational institutions, making learning difficult and sometimes scary.”

Ryan also points out that a specific problem trans young people face in Brighton is people assuming that they are lesbian or gay rather than trans: “they are put into a category of sexual orientation because of how they look and hence are perceived as the wrong gender”. Another challenge trans young people face is “being able to access help, support and advice from a knowledgeable, safe and well informed environment as many community groups/support centres etc. not just in Brighton but across the country, are not equipped for young people questioning their gender identity.”

Transformers aims to provide young trans people with a safe and secure environment where they can access support, guidance and a freedom to be themselves. Being trans or questioning your gender identity is a journey of self-discovery and Transformers seeks to support those on that journey.

Transformers meets in a central Brighton location on the last Wednesday of each month between 5pm and 7pm. Our first session is on Wednesday 26th October, at the Friends Meeting House, Ship Street, Brighton. If you’re new to Allsorts’ services, please come along to the Friends Meeting House at 4.30-4.45pm so we can meet you 1-2-1 and give you
more information about how the group works.

For more information about Transformers, please contact Allsorts on 01273 721211 or email info@allsortsyouth.org.uk

www.allsortsyouth.org.uk

www.facebook.com/allsortsyouth

This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 25th, 2011 at 8:00 am and is filed under Community, Trans. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.