It can be hard to find support and community as a young person, especially if you are gender diverse and your peers and family might be struggling to support or understand you. Social group Transphoria exists to tackle that issue, providing a safe and inclusive space for trans and/or gender diverse youth. Frances Danylec finds out more about the work that they do…
What were your teenage years like?
For many of us, it’s a time of self-discovery as we step into our identity and probably slam a few doors in the process. The support and guidance of people around us help steady the boat of what can be a rocky stage of life. But what if you look around and couldn’t see anyone else like you?
This is the experience of many teenagers who are trans or gender diverse, finding themselves a minority in communities and schools, leaving them isolated. Their education can also be impacted: 64% of trans pupils are bullied at school for being LGBT (School report, Stonewall, 2017) and 32% of transgender young people miss lessons due to fear of discrimination (National Youth Chances, Metro Charity, 2016).
In a bid to support schools, The Department for Education has released guidance on supporting trans students. However, The Proud Trust, a national organisation for LGBTQ+ young people, have raised issues with this as their website says that the document is “not helpful for schools who want to support their trans students. [The guidance] contains many recommendations which will make life harder for trans young people.”
So, in the midst of these national challenges, how can we support our local trans youth? The founders of Nottingham group Transphoria – Hennie, Jess, and Riley – have asked themselves the same question.
“I think Nottingham has a high population density of trans people,” says Hennie, who is a Wellbeing Mentor at Nottingham College, helping run an LGBT society for students and a staff café too. “We have a lot of trans youth students, but there isn’t a lot of trans youth support out there. There’s a number of things for people over eighteen, but for youth, there just isn’t.”
“About a year and a half ago I was volunteering as a trustee for Notts Trans Hub, Hennie continues.”I reached out to Riley and Jess and we came together with our background experience in very compatible areas, to fill that gap and create Transphoria.”
Compatible indeed: Jess is a Diversity and Inclusion Lead at harm reduction service Health Shop, and previously worked for the LGBT youth group Outburst. Riley facilitated sessions with Genderphoria before they unfortunately closed due to lack of funding, and worked with the Wolfpack Project, a youth organisation dedicated to reducing loneliness. Between them, the trio have fifteen plus years of experience in youth work and a strong background in safeguarding.
“Transphoria is a social space for thirteen to seventeen year olds to access wellbeing support, but also engage with other trans young people,” says Jess. “It’s an opportunity to access a bit of community because the little pockets of young people who are trans are probably feeling very isolated and scared about what their future’s going to be.”
Fear, isolation and discrimination take a toll on mental health. Worryingly, more than four in five trans young people have self-harmed and more than two in five have attempted to take their own life (School report, Stonewall, 2017).
They can be open, have a conversation here. We want young trans people to know that the whole world isn’t against them, even though it feels that way
“The moral panic surrounding trans people in the last ten years has already created an environment where people probably don’t feel safe to talk about these things,” says Riley. “Having that space is important for mental health because you’re allowed to just talk about it and be yourself rather than hiding it from school, parents, friends.”
Transphoria meets at Friar Lane’s Café Sobar. “Sobar has been great,” says Jess. “They’ve given us a room to use for free, and quiet breakout rooms too. It’s completely confidential and private from the public, and it’s an accessible building. We’ve had a lot of support from local businesses. The Dice Cup Café donated board games to us and The Spencer Trust have given us some funding to buy refreshments and get flyers printed.”
Nottingham East MP Nadia Whittome has also verbalised her support for the group, telling LeftLion: “I am delighted that Transphoria is providing trans young people with the safe spaces and peer support they deserve. Affirming networks are a lifeline for trans youth. Every child in our city deserves to feel seen and safe, and I’m grateful that Transphoria is making Nottingham a more welcoming city for all.”
Young people don’t have to come to every session – they’re welcome to dip in and out as they want to. There’s also no need to book, just turn up on the day.
That said, lots of people feel nervous about coming to a group for the first time, so young people and their parents are welcome to email the team (transphorianotts@hotmail.com) or message on Instagram for a chat first. They’ll even meet you at the bus stop so you don’t have to walk in alone.
“Everybody is always welcome, regardless of background, ethnicity, ability, anything,” says Jess, continuing, “even if you are just starting to have a few questioning thoughts about being trans or gender diverse, you know? Even if you have no idea.”
With the group in full swing for several months now, what’s it like to come along? “I like it here,” says Ash, who attends. “It’s important to come to make friends like us and to talk to people with relatable experiences." El, another young person part of the group, agrees: “It’s good to get out and speak to people and feel less lonely.”
Being a teenager can feel rocky at times, and that experience can be amplified for isolated trans teens. “People need somewhere to go where they know that they’re not going to be judged,” Jess emphasises. “They can be open, have a conversation here. We want young trans people to know that the whole world isn’t against them, even though it feels that way. That would be our message.”
Check out Transphoria’s social media for dates and times of their events. The national charity Mermaids also supports trans, non-binary and gender-diverse children, young people and their families. Visit mermaidsuk.org.uk
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