Happy Pride month from the team at YTAS!
In a world that is feeling increasingly divisive and violent, we wanted to take the time to thank you all for continuing to make youth theatre a place that allow young people’s differences to be celebrated.
Pride festivals are taking place all over Scotland for the next few months, and we encourage you and your groups to get involved. You can find a list of local Pride events in Scotland here: Pride Dates 2026 – LGBT.scot
Since YTAS published our LGBTQIA+ Toolkit in autumn 2024, things have shifted in the LGBTQIA+ community. In May 2026, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) published draft guidelines for management of single sex spaces after the ruling in 2025 defining single sex based on biological sex. This update is harmful and hurtful for our trans colleagues and young people, and may have complicated how you manage safety around single sex spaces in your venue or organisation.
Helpfully, LBGT Youth Scotland have pulled together a response to this highlighting how these guidelines are in direct conflict with many articles in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). We recommend that YTAS Members and non-members alike take a look at this article to equip yourselves with the right knowledge to make choices in your own spaces: Full Response to EHRC May 2026 – LGBT Youth Scotland
You may also consider reading this breakdown from the Scottish Trans Network which challenges the discriminatory nature of the guidelines for all ages: Our Thoughts on the EHRC’s Updated Code of Practice – May 2026 – Scottish Trans
YTAS will be be hosting a Knowledge Exchange on the topic in early autumn and details will be published in the coming weeks.
Keep waving those flags, and as always, get in touch if YTAS can support.