TakingITGlobal - Panorama - The Situation of...

Published on: Jun 8, 2002

Topic:

Type: Opinions

https://www.tigweb.org/express/panorama/article.html?ContentID=402

Gay youth are among the most critically under-supported segments of Canadian society (Underserved, 1). Taking a look at the community directory in the back pages of “Xtra!” magazine, we find fewer than ten services offered to gay youth [not studying at University]. Of these, only one provides an environment in which they can meet socially, to discuss topics of relevance to themselves, their lives, and their experiences. But even this group is very much limited in its ability to work with and for gay youth. Matters of no relevance to the lives of gay youth constantly influence the decisions made by the group’s executive, and the lack of financial resources restricts the number and level of materials available to a minimum, consisting mainly of generic pamphlets target toward the gay ‘society’ at large. In order to gain a greater perspective on the current situation here in Toronto, I believe that it will prove to be invaluable to have an understanding of the lives and experiences of gay youth in the Western world – in particular Germany, Britain, and Canada

Choosing to look at lives of individuals in other countries requires some careful thought as to the choice of countries to study. Before we begin to look at the lives of these young people, it might therefore be useful to consider the reasons for my choices in countries. Germany emerged as my chief focus for the simple reason that I have personally experienced life there, from 1988 to 1997. Focussing on Germany provides us with the added benefit of seeing the issue from the perspective of a traditionally more conservative nation. It gives us the opportunity to be perhaps surprised by attitudes and feelings displayed by individuals there. I will bring in additional information and material about other countries [such as the Netherlands, and Britain] throughout this paper to contrast or highlight certain aspects of the situation in Germany, while maintaining a perspective relative to Canada to provide us with some context pertaining to the Canadian situation.

The majority of my material for this paper is derived from a study performed by the German state of Niedersachsen. It is the single most far-reaching study of gay youth that I have found to exist, and, to my mind, serves as the ideal model for research in this area. Involving 353 respondents throughout 1998 and 1999, this study was performed through both print and online media, allowing for an unprecedented cross-sample of individuals from all walks of life. Of the 353, respondents, 36.5% were between the ages of 15 and 20, with an average age overall of 21.3 years (Niedersachsen, 5). In addition to this study, I was able to find a large quantity of relevant material on assorted websites for gay youth, by gay youth, mainly in the form of informal polls which provide an up-to-date picture of the reality of life as a young gay man.Points of contact:
For the majority of gay youth today, the first point of contact with their peers are the websites maintained by young people themselves and their supporters. In North America, these websites have largely served to mask the lack of social services for gay youth. The lack of meeting places and opportunities for these vulnerable individuals to safely develop into their true selves is hidden by the social connection created in a virtual world. But these websites do not serve an underlying, core need. It is true that they provide short-term affirmation of the self – the very exposure to like others that is so very important. But they cannot help the gay youth grow to their full potential. That can only be accomplished by individuals working with the youth in real life, with knowledge and understanding of the individual’s situation within the greater scope of their environment.

If we look at the situation of pro-youth organisations here in Toronto, we are faced with a bleak picture. The main organisation professing to be working for gay youth in this, the largest city in Canada, has ceased actively working for gay youth – its last conference on gay youth was held more than five years ago. We have a single youth group serving the entire GTA since the local school board cut the funding of the second one. The situation is shameful. If we look at Münster, a moderately sized town of 450,000 in north-western Germany, we find an entirely different situation. There are three organizations that exist solely to run meetings for young gays in the town, organizing gatherings at local gay-friendly pubs, a gay soccer team, community television station, and many, many more services directly for gay youth (muenster.de, search result).

In a number of surveys, gay youth have indicated that youth groups are not very useful (UK Polls). I would suggest that this is because of the format in which they are run. In areas where youth groups are well-frequented and effective, they are quite casual social gatherings allowing for breaking off from the larger group for individual conversation and discussions. On the other hand, those which are less, if at all popular, are usually akin to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings – participants sit in a circle of chairs and choose an identity which they will use for the duration of the meeting. Issues are usually discussed in a very broad manner, as the situation simply does not permit for opening up. The evidence points to a need for something other than a twelve-step program for gay youth.Two examples of this European-style youth group are those run by the “Youngs!” in Muenster, and the Godiva Young Gay and Lesbian Youth services [GYGLY]. The key difference between these two groups is the origin of their funding. While “Youngs!” is supported entirely by non-profit organisations in the area, GYGLY is a successful government-funded program: a fact which would be good to keep in mind as we consider the funding of gay youth services in our day-to-day lives. Being a government-funded organisation provides some benefits to the GYGLY, not least of all the provision of space – an entire youth center is made available to this group during its’ meetings. “Youngs!” chose an even less defined structure than is usual, and meet at “Cuba”, a neighbourhood gay-friendly pub.

Beside meeting and talking, European youth groups organise and participants are involved in numerous things; from camping trips, soccer teams, running all-ages parties, and many other affirming activities. This in stark contrast to the activities of groups in Toronto, across Canada, in fact, where the pressures of legal liability and the lack of support for their work have caused the activities of groups to be exclusively limited to the realm of the group discussion.

If we accept that youth groups are so very important, then who uses them? The German study found that the percentage of gay youth going to youth groups were virtually identical in municipalities with fewer than, and more than 100,000 inhabitants, indicating that they are equally important to have not only in metropolitan areas, but also in smaller towns – a total of 60% overall attend groups (Niedersachsen, 9). The capacity of an average North-American-style youth group is approximately twenty persons, which severely restricts the number of people who can hope to gain any benefit from them. The European model of free-flowing, relaxed chatting and interaction allows far more people to encounter their peers, and through those interactions, find solutions to the challenges they face.Sexuality:
Among the most fascinating aspects of the life of gay youth is the question of sexual maturity and of relationships. The age at which the individual realises his gay ego, the age at which he first experiences sexual activity, and the age at which he develops his first relationship with another person. The results for these milestones are consistent across the board, from Calgary to München. It is also interesting to compare these to other studies, in particular one performed during the first half of the 1970’s in Germany.

The mean age for first sexual experiences with someone of the same sex in recent surveys was found to be between 16.8 and 17.2 years. Compare this to the age determined during the earlier study: 15.8 years – a clear rise in age. Conversely however, the age at which gay youth are beginning to discover their homosexuality has declined – from 15.2 years in 1973 to 12.8 years today, echoed by the age at which the individuals were certain of their sexuality: 16 today, 18 in the earlier study (Niedersachsen, 12 - 15; UK Polls).

The ages identified by the German study do not only deviate from the 1970’s study – they also present us with some additional information when compared with a 1997 study of heterosexual youth. When we place the ages of the three key stages of sexual maturity identified above, we find that gay youth mature roughly one year after heterosexual youth. A possible result of this is the enhanced pragmatism evidenced in the thought patterns of gay youth (Niedersachsen, 13).

A result of this delayed maturity is a marked shift away from sex as the sole icon of ones sexual orientation. The fact of the matter is that gay youth today are more concerned about loneliness and life without a partner than they are about the attachment-free sex that the previous generation of gay individuals, and the current generation of heterosexual individuals demand.Needs and Next Steps:
Gay youth have two primary needs – shared with heterosexual youth: Firstly, a need for integration into the adult world [socialisation], and secondly the need to find one’s own path [individuation] (Niedersachsen, 31). The social framework which traditionally enables one to navigate a path between these two polar opposites does not adequately accommodate the needs of gay youth – it does not allow for a true expression of identity. The necessary flexibility can only be provided by the gay subculture which has experienced the trials and tribulations of gay youth. The majority of participants in the German study named the integration of their sexual identity as part of their everyday lives as their main goal. Parents, friends, teachers should be able and willing to accept their sexuality without ifs and buts, should even have an understanding of the issues and challenges surrounding homosexuality, and allow for the possibility of falling in love in everyday life. The German study identifies two specific areas where work would be most effective toward creating the aforementioned situation. One the one hand, society must become more open to gay and lesbian issues and topics; on the other, gay/lesbian society and subculture must be strengthened and enriched, to provide the best possible framework for nurturing through dialogue.

Life is challenging for all young people, but none have a harder job than lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth. Their lives are not made easier when services and opportunities which would so very much enrich them are removed or simply never offered. As we can see from the comparison of the North American to the European models of youth groups, the approaches that are taken here may very well be inappropriate for this situation. The image of the gay youth as sex-starved party animal has here been shown to be inaccurate: in fact, they are less interested in sex than their heterosexual peers, and, less likely to be involved in drugs than them (Niedersachsen, 20).

So what can be done about the situation in Toronto? What do gay youth need? The ultimate goal must be a youth-friendly environment within the city. Where young people can come and be themselves without the pressures of the older gay community, and the heterosexual world. Where they can socialize, study, and relax. Parallel to this, there needs to be a reimagineering of the role of youth groups in North America, a swift and steady move away from the groups that we find today, toward the more beneficial European model.

The existing ‘structure’ will argue that attempting any such radical change would be more destructive than productive. These are the people who know gay youth solely through the skewed perspectives developed during their own formative years, showing no regard for the way that the world and reality of being young and gay have changed. There are a few individuals, however, who do understand these needs, having worked with open minds with the young people at issue here. These are the few who can take out the gems that are our gay youth, and with a great deal of love and care, gradually polish them to the point where they can do what they do best – shine. One dares only hope that they will soon be given the opportunity to make that happen.Works Cited or Consulted

Gay Youth UK. 7 Dec. 2001 .

Demographic Study on Male Sexual Orientation - notes. 11 Dec. 2001 .

Tolerante Scholen.net. Empowerment Lifestyle Services. 16 Dec. 2001 .

Klindera, Kent, Lauren Patti, and Carrie Shriver. Facts LGBT Youth At Risk and Underserved. Washington, DC: Advocates for Youth, 1998.

das publikom Stadt Münster. 21 Dec. 2001 .

Niedersachsen. Niedersächsisches Ministerium für Frauen, Arbeit, und Soziales. Schwule Jugendliche: Ergebnisse zur Lebenssituation, sozialen und sexuellen Identität. By Ulrich Biechele and Günter Reisbeck. [München]: n.p..

Bass, Ellen, and Kate (Contributor) Kaufman. Free Your Mind : The Book for Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Youth And Their Allies. N.p., 1996.

« return.



by Martin Kuplens-Ewart
Published on: Jun 8, 2002
Topic:
Type: Opinions
https://www.tigweb.org/express/panorama/article.html?ContentID=402


Gay youth are among the most critically under-supported segments of Canadian society (Underserved, 1). Taking a look at the community directory in the back pages of “Xtra!” magazine, we find fewer than ten services offered to gay youth [not studying at University]. Of these, only one provides an environment in which they can meet socially, to discuss topics of relevance to themselves, their lives, and their experiences. But even this group is very much limited in its ability to work with and for gay youth. Matters of no relevance to the lives of gay youth constantly influence the decisions made by the group’s executive, and the lack of financial resources restricts the number and level of materials available to a minimum, consisting mainly of generic pamphlets target toward the gay ‘society’ at large. In order to gain a greater perspective on the current situation here in Toronto, I believe that it will prove to be invaluable to have an understanding of the lives and experiences of gay youth in the Western world – in particular Germany, Britain, and Canada Choosing to look at lives of individuals in other countries requires some careful thought as to the choice of countries to study. Before we begin to look at the lives of these young people, it might therefore be useful to consider the reasons for my choices in countries. Germany emerged as my chief focus for the simple reason that I have personally experienced life there, from 1988 to 1997. Focussing on Germany provides us with the added benefit of seeing the issue from the perspective of a traditionally more conservative nation. It gives us the opportunity to be perhaps surprised by attitudes and feelings displayed by individuals there. I will bring in additional information and material about other countries [such as the Netherlands, and Britain] throughout this paper to contrast or highlight certain aspects of the situation in Germany, while maintaining a perspective relative to Canada to provide us with some context pertaining to the Canadian situation. The majority of my material for this paper is derived from a study performed by the German state of Niedersachsen. It is the single most far-reaching study of gay youth that I have found to exist, and, to my mind, serves as the ideal model for research in this area. Involving 353 respondents throughout 1998 and 1999, this study was performed through both print and online media, allowing for an unprecedented cross-sample of individuals from all walks of life. Of the 353, respondents, 36.5% were between the ages of 15 and 20, with an average age overall of 21.3 years (Niedersachsen, 5). In addition to this study, I was able to find a large quantity of relevant material on assorted websites for gay youth, by gay youth, mainly in the form of informal polls which provide an up-to-date picture of the reality of life as a young gay man.Points of contact: For the majority of gay youth today, the first point of contact with their peers are the websites maintained by young people themselves and their supporters. In North America, these websites have largely served to mask the lack of social services for gay youth. The lack of meeting places and opportunities for these vulnerable individuals to safely develop into their true selves is hidden by the social connection created in a virtual world. But these websites do not serve an underlying, core need. It is true that they provide short-term affirmation of the self – the very exposure to like others that is so very important. But they cannot help the gay youth grow to their full potential. That can only be accomplished by individuals working with the youth in real life, with knowledge and understanding of the individual’s situation within the greater scope of their environment. If we look at the situation of pro-youth organisations here in Toronto, we are faced with a bleak picture. The main organisation professing to be working for gay youth in this, the largest city in Canada, has ceased actively working for gay youth – its last conference on gay youth was held more than five years ago. We have a single youth group serving the entire GTA since the local school board cut the funding of the second one. The situation is shameful. If we look at Münster, a moderately sized town of 450,000 in north-western Germany, we find an entirely different situation. There are three organizations that exist solely to run meetings for young gays in the town, organizing gatherings at local gay-friendly pubs, a gay soccer team, community television station, and many, many more services directly for gay youth (muenster.de, search result). In a number of surveys, gay youth have indicated that youth groups are not very useful (UK Polls). I would suggest that this is because of the format in which they are run. In areas where youth groups are well-frequented and effective, they are quite casual social gatherings allowing for breaking off from the larger group for individual conversation and discussions. On the other hand, those which are less, if at all popular, are usually akin to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings – participants sit in a circle of chairs and choose an identity which they will use for the duration of the meeting. Issues are usually discussed in a very broad manner, as the situation simply does not permit for opening up. The evidence points to a need for something other than a twelve-step program for gay youth.Two examples of this European-style youth group are those run by the “Youngs!” in Muenster, and the Godiva Young Gay and Lesbian Youth services [GYGLY]. The key difference between these two groups is the origin of their funding. While “Youngs!” is supported entirely by non-profit organisations in the area, GYGLY is a successful government-funded program: a fact which would be good to keep in mind as we consider the funding of gay youth services in our day-to-day lives. Being a government-funded organisation provides some benefits to the GYGLY, not least of all the provision of space – an entire youth center is made available to this group during its’ meetings. “Youngs!” chose an even less defined structure than is usual, and meet at “Cuba”, a neighbourhood gay-friendly pub. Beside meeting and talking, European youth groups organise and participants are involved in numerous things; from camping trips, soccer teams, running all-ages parties, and many other affirming activities. This in stark contrast to the activities of groups in Toronto, across Canada, in fact, where the pressures of legal liability and the lack of support for their work have caused the activities of groups to be exclusively limited to the realm of the group discussion. If we accept that youth groups are so very important, then who uses them? The German study found that the percentage of gay youth going to youth groups were virtually identical in municipalities with fewer than, and more than 100,000 inhabitants, indicating that they are equally important to have not only in metropolitan areas, but also in smaller towns – a total of 60% overall attend groups (Niedersachsen, 9). The capacity of an average North-American-style youth group is approximately twenty persons, which severely restricts the number of people who can hope to gain any benefit from them. The European model of free-flowing, relaxed chatting and interaction allows far more people to encounter their peers, and through those interactions, find solutions to the challenges they face.Sexuality: Among the most fascinating aspects of the life of gay youth is the question of sexual maturity and of relationships. The age at which the individual realises his gay ego, the age at which he first experiences sexual activity, and the age at which he develops his first relationship with another person. The results for these milestones are consistent across the board, from Calgary to München. It is also interesting to compare these to other studies, in particular one performed during the first half of the 1970’s in Germany. The mean age for first sexual experiences with someone of the same sex in recent surveys was found to be between 16.8 and 17.2 years. Compare this to the age determined during the earlier study: 15.8 years – a clear rise in age. Conversely however, the age at which gay youth are beginning to discover their homosexuality has declined – from 15.2 years in 1973 to 12.8 years today, echoed by the age at which the individuals were certain of their sexuality: 16 today, 18 in the earlier study (Niedersachsen, 12 - 15; UK Polls). The ages identified by the German study do not only deviate from the 1970’s study – they also present us with some additional information when compared with a 1997 study of heterosexual youth. When we place the ages of the three key stages of sexual maturity identified above, we find that gay youth mature roughly one year after heterosexual youth. A possible result of this is the enhanced pragmatism evidenced in the thought patterns of gay youth (Niedersachsen, 13). A result of this delayed maturity is a marked shift away from sex as the sole icon of ones sexual orientation. The fact of the matter is that gay youth today are more concerned about loneliness and life without a partner than they are about the attachment-free sex that the previous generation of gay individuals, and the current generation of heterosexual individuals demand.Needs and Next Steps: Gay youth have two primary needs – shared with heterosexual youth: Firstly, a need for integration into the adult world [socialisation], and secondly the need to find one’s own path [individuation] (Niedersachsen, 31). The social framework which traditionally enables one to navigate a path between these two polar opposites does not adequately accommodate the needs of gay youth – it does not allow for a true expression of identity. The necessary flexibility can only be provided by the gay subculture which has experienced the trials and tribulations of gay youth. The majority of participants in the German study named the integration of their sexual identity as part of their everyday lives as their main goal. Parents, friends, teachers should be able and willing to accept their sexuality without ifs and buts, should even have an understanding of the issues and challenges surrounding homosexuality, and allow for the possibility of falling in love in everyday life. The German study identifies two specific areas where work would be most effective toward creating the aforementioned situation. One the one hand, society must become more open to gay and lesbian issues and topics; on the other, gay/lesbian society and subculture must be strengthened and enriched, to provide the best possible framework for nurturing through dialogue. Life is challenging for all young people, but none have a harder job than lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth. Their lives are not made easier when services and opportunities which would so very much enrich them are removed or simply never offered. As we can see from the comparison of the North American to the European models of youth groups, the approaches that are taken here may very well be inappropriate for this situation. The image of the gay youth as sex-starved party animal has here been shown to be inaccurate: in fact, they are less interested in sex than their heterosexual peers, and, less likely to be involved in drugs than them (Niedersachsen, 20). So what can be done about the situation in Toronto? What do gay youth need? The ultimate goal must be a youth-friendly environment within the city. Where young people can come and be themselves without the pressures of the older gay community, and the heterosexual world. Where they can socialize, study, and relax. Parallel to this, there needs to be a reimagineering of the role of youth groups in North America, a swift and steady move away from the groups that we find today, toward the more beneficial European model. The existing ‘structure’ will argue that attempting any such radical change would be more destructive than productive. These are the people who know gay youth solely through the skewed perspectives developed during their own formative years, showing no regard for the way that the world and reality of being young and gay have changed. There are a few individuals, however, who do understand these needs, having worked with open minds with the young people at issue here. These are the few who can take out the gems that are our gay youth, and with a great deal of love and care, gradually polish them to the point where they can do what they do best – shine. One dares only hope that they will soon be given the opportunity to make that happen.Works Cited or Consulted Gay Youth UK. 7 Dec. 2001 . Demographic Study on Male Sexual Orientation - notes. 11 Dec. 2001 . Tolerante Scholen.net. Empowerment Lifestyle Services. 16 Dec. 2001 . Klindera, Kent, Lauren Patti, and Carrie Shriver. Facts LGBT Youth At Risk and Underserved. Washington, DC: Advocates for Youth, 1998. das publikom Stadt Münster. 21 Dec. 2001 . Niedersachsen. Niedersächsisches Ministerium für Frauen, Arbeit, und Soziales. Schwule Jugendliche: Ergebnisse zur Lebenssituation, sozialen und sexuellen Identität. By Ulrich Biechele and Günter Reisbeck. [München]: n.p.. Bass, Ellen, and Kate (Contributor) Kaufman. Free Your Mind : The Book for Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Youth And Their Allies. N.p., 1996. « return.