Back To Blog
Awareness

June: Pride Month

Oliver Mellor | June 26 2023
2 min read

This month we celebrate Pride: a time when communities around the world come together to celebrate and support the LGBTQ+ community. Pride month holds immense cultural significance and serves as a reminder of the struggles, triumphs, and ongoing fight for equality faced by individuals with diverse gender identities and sexual orientations.

For young people, coming to terms with their feelings around gender and sexuality can be a very challenging experience. Societal stigma, miseducation, and peer group opinions can severely restrict a young person’s ability to share their thoughts and feelings on the issue. This can have a huge impact on wellbeing which can last far into adulthood. 

Beyond the wonderfully vibrant parades and festivities, Pride offers an opportunity to reflect on the importance of providing safe and confidential spaces for young people to discuss their feelings, gender, and sexuality.

Impact of Stigma, Miseducation, and Peer Group Stigmas:
  1. Societal Stigma: Widespread discrimination creates fear, rejection, and shame for LGBTQ+, hindering emotional development and self-expression.
  2. Miseducation: Inadequate education and stereotypes can lead to confusion, self-doubt, and internalised stigma.
  3. Peer Group Stigmas: Prejudices within peer groups cause young people to hide their feelings, resulting in emotional distress and mental health issues.

So how do we improve?

  1. Supportive Education: Implement comprehensive and inclusive sex education programs to promote understanding, acceptance, and respect for diverse identities and orientations.
  2. LGBTQ+ Affirming Counselling: Establish accessible counselling services in educational institutions and community centres, offering confidential support for young people to express themselves and seek guidance.
  3. Youth Support Groups: Create LGBTQ+ youth support groups or clubs that provide a sense of community, peer support, and a platform for sharing experiences.
  4. Online Resources and Helplines: Develop monitored online platforms, forums, and helplines where young people can anonymously seek guidance, connect with others, and access reliable information.

At Mind Of My Own, our apps provide scenarios where young people can structure their thoughts and share feelings around gender and sexuality. We regularly receive stories from practitioners and young people saying this was the first time they felt able to express those feelings. 

By providing safe spaces, and addressing stigma, miseducation, and peer group issues – we can create environments that foster acceptance, understanding, and support. 

A society that prioritises the wellbeing of young people – irrespective of their gender or orientation – is a society that enables people to be their true selves and thrive.