Wiltshire students getting out and about
7:00pm Sunday 12th February 2012 in Latest News By Mike Wilkinson, Senior Reporter
Representing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender groups are, from left, Kieran McEleny, Nicole Bolwell, Olivia Knight and Pearl Neilson
Out and proud gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender teenagers in West Wiltshire are sending a strong message to their schools.
Five students – three from Trowbridge and two from Melksham – spoke about their experiences of coming out at a conference in London last weekend, in a bid to raise awareness of the difficulties gay teenagers can go through.
The conference was ahead of a campaign to get more west Wiltshire schools to take LGBT issues seriously.
Leading the way, 15-year-old Kieran McEleny, of St Laurence School in Bradford on Avon, said: “I came out when I was 13 on a skiing trip. Wearing glittery eye liner on a school party was a pretty good indicator, but I don’t care what people think.
“Yes, some people have tried to used it against me, but most people have been very supportive and I’m happy, out and proud. Now we are taking the message to our schools and I think we are going to get a positive response.”
About 30 teenagers and young gay men and women meet each week in Trow-bridge, at the Group of Gays club for 12 to 21-year-olds.
The club was set up a year ago and has become a sanctuary for the teenagers, some of whom have not yet come out to their families.
Since October 2011, the group has been working with the Centre for Education Policy in Practice at Bath Spa University and the Centre for Studies on Inclusive Education (CSIE) in a project that aims to allow the young people to feel safer and more included within their schools and wider lives.
The young activists have been asking teaching staff at their schools to deliver a range of lessons, across different subject disciplines and key stages, that speak of LGBT identities.
Bryony, a 16-year-old member of the group, said: “It’s a break from the daily grind, where you always have to constantly explain yourself.”
Kieran, who lives in Trow-bridge, added: “It would be really great if there were a range of lessons that go on at school where being gay was just spoken about normally.
“You know, like using John and James in a maths example, rather than them always being heterosexual.”
Young people, or those who care for them, can contact Siobainn Chaplin (07920 835395) or Ollie Phips (01225 702355) for more information about joining the Group of Gays club.
