The work of FTLThose of us who wish to be politically active aim to:
 FTL at Pride 2011
Keeping informed
To keep abreast with LGBT politics, try www.theyworkforyou.com. You can keep up with debates and look up your own MP's voting record. This is one way you can become informed about your local politics. Many London boroughs have LGBT forums, where LGBT officers from the Metropolitan Police report on local incidents and what has been done as a result. Local residents with an interest are generally welcome. Find out more through the website for your local authority.
What is FTL doing to reduce homophobia?What is homophobia? Click here.
We give talks or interviews to organisations and the media. We try to act as a voice for parents who are silenced within their own communities by explaining the issues that confront us and our children to those who perhaps have not considered things from our perspective.
To see our document: 'Supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth, their parents and families', click here
We represent FFLAG, FTL and parents of LGBT people generally at conferences and events. We write letters to organisations/individuals explaining our work or asking for information. We also write to those who make inaccurate or inappropriate remarks about lesbian and gay people in public. Our education campaign is aimed at increasing knowledge and understanding. Children and young people will be less likely to grow up to be homophobic if they are taught by adults who use the words: 'gay', lesbian' and 'homosexual' in context and without embarrassment. We take part in/contribute to research. We take part in action/campaigning, eg at Pride and Black Pride.
Many parents from our group have gone on to speak out against homophobia: within their own communities in their places of worship in their workplaces We keep parents informed about opportunities to take part in action/campaigning through this website and also through a regular newsletter.
Health inequalitiesCompared with their heterosexual peers, young LGBT people are more likely to:
experience mental health problems such as anxiety or depression
become involved in substance abuse
self-harm
consider or attempt suicide
(Department of Health (2007) Reducing Health Inequalities for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans People (Briefing Papers 1-13). London: Department of Health). If you want to draw attention to the health inequalities above, you can go to the website for the National Institute for Clinical Excellence, go to 'Get involved' and ask them to prioritise research into this issue - www.nice.org.uk
Volunteering opportunitiesThe Albert Kennedy Trust seeks mentors to support young LGBT people - www.akt.org.uk
(Note: AKT was founded by a parent of an LGBT son)
They are also seeking homes for homeless young LGBT people. If you have a spare room, get in touch. Taking part in campaignsCampaigns in the UKThe LGCM (the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement) is campaigning for sexual orientation to be included in the next census. See www.lgcm.org.uk, click on Action. How will including sexual orientation in the next census help LGBT people?
This is about the difference between privacy and invisibility. A person's sexuality is private if they choose to keep it so. However, the lack of information on LGBT people can mean that they are statistically invisible, which means that services cannot be directed towards those groups. For more information, see: Beyond Tolerance: Making sexual orientation a public matter (2009) Equality and Human Rights Commission Policy Report 2009 - www.equalityhumanrights.com Moving Forward: Puttinng sexual orientation in the public domain (2009) Equality and Human Rights Commission research summary 40 www.equalityhumanrights.com Also: What's it got to do with you? Ten reasons why you should fill in those funny box things at the end of forms Stonewall - www.stonewall.org.uk Campaigns across the worldVisit our page on LGBT rights around the world by clicking here. The International Lesbian, Gay. Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association, ILGA: http://ilga.org/ has launched a new website with a map of the world where you can click on a country to see what the laws are that affect LGBT people. Visit the Amnesty International LGBT Network by clicking here. Websites/ResourcesAmnesty International - www.amnesty.org.uk
Educational Action Challenging Homophobia (EACH) 0808 1000 143 - www.eachaction.org.uk
Equality and Human Rights Commission - www.equalityhumanrights.com Stonewall - www.stonewall.org.uk
The International Lesbian, Gay. Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association, ILGA - http://ilga.org/
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