Despite the progress of recent decades, LGBTQIA+ rights continue to be challenged all around the world. Here in Scotland, the debate has centred around the GRA and the subsequent updates to the EHRC’s Code of Practice. It’s very likely that LGBTQIA+ practitioners will be struggling to support the young people they work with, while managing their own challenges and barriers in the world at the same time. If this is sounds like you, YTAS are here to support you.

Our own LGBTQIA+ Practitioners Working Group in 2024 identified that having a network of queer practitioners to share and connect with helped to reduce isolation and empower them to work with their organisations to improve services. Our LGBTQIA+ Toolkit came out of this positive, empowered network. 

For this Trans Awareness Week, we invite LGBTQIA+ practitioners to come together for a virtual hour to reconnect through mindful creative tasks and share their own experiences of working in youth theatre. This will be a place to co-respond to current challenges and to celebrate the value of queer leadership in youth spaces.