A Hidden Gem: Gloucestershire's LGBTQ+ Community

"I felt different when I was in Year Seven and I didn't really become comfortable in myself until Year Ten. I didn't have anyone to speak to about it because I didn't actually want my friends to know, I wanted someone else to talk to." Hollie is an 18-year-old Sixth Form student at Chosen Hill School (CHS) in Gloucestershire. She has recently come out as lesbian and has since become an LGBTQ+ ambassador at her school; something that didn't exist only months ago.

Hollie's life as an out and proud young lesbian is incomparable to Grace's experience; not only is she accepted, but the fact that she is queer is celebrated among many of her peers. Her smile is wide and bright as she discusses coming out, "It was all positive. I don't know about you, but in my mind, I always have those doubts and those insecurities about how certain people will react. I think I was worried about these boys in my year, but it turned out completely fine. I've only ever had positive feedback since it's happened. So it's been good." She seems to be glowing as she sits in her bright room with the sun shining in. The wall behind her is covered in timetables, notes and calendars; she's an organised high achiever.

Hollie has become a beacon of hope in her role as an advocate for her fellow LGBTQ+ students at CHS. The support is needed as more young people are coming out; it has been estimated 2.7% of the UK population aged 16 years and over identified as lesbian, gay or bisexual in 2019, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Younger people were most likely to identify as LGB in 2019, with 6.6% of all 16 to 24 year olds identifying as such. CHS are working on their support system; with the help and encouragement from her teachers Mrs Critchley, Miss Hall and Miss Hanwell, Hollie has voiced the issues faced by LGBTQ+ students throughout the school. With a proud nod and a twinkle in her eye she agrees, "I have a big voice and I'm confident so I'm not shying away from it, so I was happy to step forward. It was to make sure that everyone feels accepted in a classroom and to help the younger years." She takes a moment to think as she looks up and admits, "I was a bit cautious of doing it, because of the backlash that you get. But I've had a year seven girl come up to me and speak to me about it and it's just the little stuff like that, it makes you realise how much of an impact you can make on other people."

The school are working towards attaining the Rainbow Flag Award, a national quality assurance framework for schools which focuses on positive LGBTQ+ inclusion and visibility. They have completed whole staff training and a full student voice across the whole school. They are now implementing positive change in light of these surveys. They even held a #ComingOut Day for Pride Month in June 2021 as part of the statutory relationships and sex education class. This allowed Year 9 students to take part in four LGBTQ+ workshops with guest speakers and a Q&A session with Gloucestershire's top drag performers, Misty Monique and Miss Demenour McCall. The goal was to teach young people in a non-judgemental way to understand human sexuality and to respect themselves and others. It also provided students with the knowledge and support they might have with their own sexual orientation and gender issues.

Hollie has already seen a huge movement towards positive attitudes and understanding of LGBTQ+ students in the school. She frowns slightly in a serious manner as she explains her main goal as the LGBTQ+ ambassador, "I think the main thing was the homophobia in classrooms. I hope that it becomes less tolerated at school because that's what the main focus of what we want, for them to feel safe. I hope that by the time I leave, they have come up with a new rule of how it's not tolerated at all."

Thanks to teacher Emily Hall, there is a safe space for LGBTQ+ students at the school. Staff have hailed her as a huge champion for the rights of LGBTQ+ members, she has run all of the staff training and started an LGBTQ+ group called PRISM. Anyone is free to join at lunch times and it has been a safe haven for students like Hollie who have helped so many others, "Since I've come out, a lot more people have been more comfortable to say something as well, it's made people aware. Like 10 or 12 people have come out and become more comfortable with themselves." Her smile widens and her eyes lighten up as she starts to giggle to herself, "And I've also seen the younger years with those rainbow tote bags that everyone carries around or they've got a rainbow badge on a lot more! When I started at school it wasn't like that."

However, when it comes to LGBTQ+ safe spaces outside of school, Hollie believes Gloucestershire is lacking completely. She shrugs with a disheartened tone in her voice, "I haven't experienced it (the LGBTQ+ scene) fully. I do feel when I go to the clubs, it is mainly just boys, and there isn't a gay club." Her tone turns to pure joy as she exclaims, "I went to London and there's a whole gay street and it was one of the best times of my life! It was just amazing." She pulls an expression of disappointment, ending on, "But we don't have that kind of community in Gloucester. So it's a bit different."

Although LGBTQ+ venues are practically non-existent in Gloucestershire, Hollie has had an overall positive experience as a lesbian. The Government's National LGBT Survey 2018 found that over two thirds of their respondents (68%) said they avoided holding hands in public with a same-sex partner for fear of a negative reaction from others. However, Hollie proves how the younger generations could be seeing improvements, "The people around me, my friends and family and people at work, they are all okay with it. I can I walk through Gloucester in town and hold my girlfriend's hand, and I don't get any comments or anything like that. It's not bad. You might get a couple side eyes from the older people, but that's almost expected. I think I feel welcome. I haven't been hate crimed properly, so yeah."