ONE of the aims of Bolton Pride is to promote more awareness of the LGBT community in people from all generations.

Spearheading young people’s involvement is Bolton Youth Council.

“I will strive to build a Bolton that represents the diverse community of young people that live there and encourage people to be proud of their identity.”

So said Nat Entwistle when he stood for this year’s Bolton Youth Council election.

Now successfully in place as chairman, it’s a message that Nat – and the rest of the youth council – are keen to apply to help the town’s LGBT youngsters.

Nat, 15, is a pupil at Thornleigh Salesian College, and is proud that the council has been involved in Bolton Pride for the last two years.

“In the first year we had a stall and conducted a survey of young people to find out what issues were most important to them,” explained Nat.

“At this year’s Pride we will be going around interviewing people to hear their opinions about how hate crime has changed over the year’s to find out how much impact Bolton Pride has had.”

It’s a subject close to Nat’s heart, so much so that he has been asked to give a speech on the on the opening Friday night.

“The first time the youth council went to Bolton Pride was really enjoyable. It’s a great thing to be involved with and another way in which we can represent the young people of the town,” he said.

Bolton Youth Council has a unique insight into LGBT issues that concern the town’s youth. Once a month, it meets to discuss its mental health campaign and, as part of that, the effects of homophobic bullying of young people are addressed.

“I think the use of offensive terms in schools has reduced,” said Nat. “The problem is, though, that some offensive and homophobic words and terms are almost normalised so people who are using them in passing don't realise they are being offensive. There are certainly a lot less incidents of people deliberately using them to cause offence.”

Nat added: “I think understanding about the LGBT community and the issues that are important to them has definitely improved. Progress is being made.

“Thanks to organisations like Bolton Pride and a greater representation in films and television, there’s a lot less misunderstandings about LGBT people.

“Young people are growing up seeing people who are LGBT. It is becoming normalised.”

Nat believes that Bolton Pride has had a big effect on young people’s views in and out school.

“The message is be who you want to be and don't stop anyone else from being who they want to be.”

Bolton Pride founder James Edgington said: “It’s so good to see a group of passionate young people working towards making a positive change.

“We are looking forward to their presence at this year’s Bolton Pride.”

THINGS ARE GETTING BETTER - BUT WORK STILL NEEDS TO BE DONE

THE charity Stonewall, which campaigns for the equality of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people across Britain, released a “school report” in 2107, looking at the experiences of LGBT young people.

Its findings suggest that while things are improving, there is still much work to be done to support LGBT young people

Bullying and Language

• 45 per cent of LGBT young people – including 64 per cent of trans pupils – are bullied for being LGBT at school

• 52 per cent hear homophobic language “frequently” or “often” at school

• Nearly one in ten trans pupils are subjected to death threats at school

• Almost half of LGBT pupils who are bullied for being LGBT never tell anyone about the bullying

Teaching

• Two in five LGBT pupils are never taught anything about LGBT issues at school

• Just one in five LGBT pupils have learnt about safe sex in relation to same-sex relationships

• Three in four LGBT pupils have never learnt about bisexuality at school

• Three in four LGBT pupils have never learnt about gender identity and what ‘trans’ means at school

Support

• 53 per cent of LGBT pupils say that there isn’t an adult at school they can talk to about being LGBT

• More than two in five trans pupils say that staff at their school are not familiar with the term ‘trans’ and what it means

• One in three trans pupils (33 per cent) are not able to be known by their preferred name at school

Wellbeing and Mental Health

• Two in five pupils who have been bullied for being LGBT have skipped school because of this bullying

• Half of bullied LGBT pupils feel that homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying has had a negative effect on their plans for future education

• More than four in five trans young people have self-harmed. For lesbian, gay and bi young people who aren’t trans, three in five have self-harmed

• More than two in five trans young people have attempted to take their own life. For lesbian, gay and bi young people who aren’t trans, one in five have attempted to take their own life

• Just two in five LGBT young people have an adult at home they can talk to about being LGBT

• Nearly all LGBT young people (96 per cent) say the Internet has helped them understand more about their sexual orientation and/or gender identity

• Two in five LGBT young people (40 per cent) have been the target of homophobic, biphobic and transphobic abuse online

• Nearly all LGBT young people (97 per cent) see homophobic, biphobic and transphobic content online

• Two in three LGBT young people (65 per cent) think that online platforms are unlikely to do anything about tackling homophobic, biphobic and transphobic content or incidents when it is reported to them