{"alias":"blogEntry","byline":"Chris McGuire","standfirst":"February is LGBTQ\u002B History Month, a great opportunity to celebrate Scouts\u2019 LGBTQ\u002B community. ","content":{"layouts":[{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003EWe spoke with two LGBTQ\u002B volunteers about their experiences, and what Scouts can do to support young people.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EJackson is a volunteer in Fermanagh, Northern Ireland and a transgender man. Davina is a volunteer in Essex, England and a transgender woman. As you\u2019ll see, Scouts is a hugely important part of both of their lives.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJoining Scouts\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EDavina enjoyed Scouts in her teenage years in a \u2018wonderful section\u2019. In 2001, she came back to Scouts as a volunteer. \u2018Scouts taught me a lot about life and social skills: life skills, physical skills, mental skills\u2019. Davina\u2019s now driven by the desire to give back to her community.\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EJackson explains that he\u2019s from a Scouts family, where Mum and Dad are both volunteers.\u00A0 Laughing, Jackson spells out how, because of his family connections, he was \u2018born\u2019 into Scouts. \u2018It wasn\u2019t really optional to try it. You had to go there. But once you were old enough, you could decide to stop.\u2019 Jackson never did stop; he soon developed an \u2018absolute passion\u2019 for Scouts and became a Section Leader on his 18th birthday.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/19968/jackson-scouts-volunteer.jpg","width":1536,"height":2048,"altText":"Jackson is smiling at the camera, wearing a volunteer uniform and the Scouts necker. Jackson has blue hair and glasses.","caption":"Jackson wearing his Scouts uniform.","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEnjoying making a difference\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBoth Davina and Jackson have taken on many important roles in Scouts. So, what do they enjoy most about volunteering?\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EJackson discusses how much pleasure he gets when Scouts gives young people the chance to discover what they\u2019re good at and \u2018find their niche\u2019. \u2018It\u2019s helping and seeing young people become who they didn\u2019t think they could be,\u2019 Jackson explains. \u2018The amount of times I\u2019ve had kids say to me \u201CI didn\u2019t think I could do that\u201D and they did it. (\u2026) They always seem so proud of themselves and you can see their whole sense of self developing and expanding. You can see it behind their eyes.\u2019\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/19967/davina-scouts-volunteer-edited.jpeg","width":1990,"height":2596,"altText":"Davina is smiling at the camera. She wears her volunteer Scouts uniform and necker. Davina is wearing glasses and rainbow earrings.","caption":"Davina wearing her Scouts volunteer uniform.","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003EDavina smiles, a gifted archery instructor, she enjoys helping young people achieve their potential. \u2018It\u2019s seeing them get the rewards and the badges they earn,\u2019 she explains. \u2018We teach the younger generation, because eventually they\u2019ll become leaders and take over from us.\u2019 Davina thrives on getting involved with projects like the Billericay, Wickford and Basildon Gang Show. Her passion for passing on skills for life to the next generation is clear.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAn accepting community\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EHow did Jackson and Davina find Scouts supported them when they came out?\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EJackson explains that he was a Section Leader when he came out as transgender. \u2018The first people I came out to (...) were friends I\u2019d met through Scouts. I don\u2019t feel like that\u2019s coincidental. I felt that space, in general, is a safer space. I\u2019ve found people are more accepting within Scouts.\u2019\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EDavina was also a volunteer when she came out, \u2018it was superbly dealt with at the time,\u2019 she explains. \u2018The transitioning point was done correctly and was a good thing for me,\u2019 says Davina. \u2018It gave me a chance to get things done and get through my journey to become who I am today.\u2019\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"quoteText":"For a mainstream space that\u2019s not just, a queer exclusive space, (Scouts) is one of the most accepting spaces I\u0027ve ever been in. It genuinely is. In my experience, everyone is allowed to be there. Everyone is supported (...) it\u2019s all about respecting people.","attribution":"Jackson","gridType":"quote","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESupporting our LGBTQ\u002B young people\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBased on their experience, what tips would Davina and Jackson like to pass onto volunteers on supporting LGBTQ\u002B young people?\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EDavina emphasises the importance of giving a young person, who may be coming out, time and support to do things at a pace that suits them. \u2018Don\u2019t force it, let that person grow and be themselves, then adapt to those things.\u2019\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EShe goes on to explain, \u2018When they confide in you. You need to do the right appropriate actions,\u2019 these include a three-way conversation, with the young person, their parents and carers and the volunteer or Section Leader. Davina emphasises that supportive information for volunteers can be found at the county and regional level.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EJackson has equally useful advice, \u2018asking about pronouns is such a simple, simple thing and it\u2019s so huge.\u2019 Jackson recommends getting everyone in a group to give their pronouns.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EHe also wants to stop people being afraid of asking questions. \u2018If they use the wrong word or say the wrong thing,\u2019 Jackson smiles, \u2018if they\u2019re not trying to be disrespectful, it\u2019s OK. I\u2019m not going to get upset about it.\u2019\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"quoteText":"It means a lot having this History Month, to see how far LGBTQ\u002B has come. But we\u2019ve still got a long way to go. There\u2019s still a lot of issues in today\u2019s society.","attribution":"Davina","gridType":"quote","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA meaningful month\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ELGBTQ\u002B History Month is a chance to show \u003Ca href=\u0022/por/1-our-fundamentals/#1.2\u0022 title=\u00221. Our Fundamentals\u0022 data-anchor=\u0022#1.2\u0022\u003Eour Scouts values\u003C/a\u003E and our commitment to equality. It\u2019s a time to proactively show that we welcome all young people, their families and carers, regardless of gender or orientation.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESo, what do Jackson and Davina, as individuals, feel about LGBTQ\u002B History Month?\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIt\u2019s clear, both volunteers feel strongly. Davina is pleased about the prominence the month gives the LGBTQ\u002B community, including in Scouts. \u2018We have a voice; we don\u2019t use it enough (...) It\u2019s a powerful tool.\u2019\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EJackson reflects on the injustices that members of the community have faced in the world, in the past. \u2018I think about how far we\u2019ve come, not just as a Scout movement but as a whole world in general, so LGBTQ\u002B History Month is huge to me.\u2019 \u2018I\u2019m getting my passport changed, I\u2019m getting my gender recognition certificate, my name is legally Jackson. All those things were not possible that long ago. And it\u0027s the people before me that made it happen.\u2019\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"quoteText":"Maybe the (LGBTQ\u002B) young people in our movement don\u2019t necessarily have the support at home, or at school or at work or wherever, but they can have it within Scouts.","attribution":"Jackson","gridType":"quote","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESo, how\u2019s Scouts doing?\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EHow far has Scouts come in supporting our LGBTQ\u002B members? Jackson is impressed with how accepting and welcoming Scouts has become. \u2018Over the last 10-15 years, it\u2019s grown to where Scouts are actively talking about how we are LGBTQ\u002B inclusive (...) We\u2019re actively trying and listening to LGBTQ\u002B young people\u2019s voices.\u2019 As Scouts, we\u2019re passionate about celebrating our diversity, we\u2019re a constant presence at Pride events, many of which are organised and championed by Davina. She sees progress, \u2018I think it\u2019s doing well, in areas. (\u2026) Scouting has evolved\u2019 Davina explains.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe\u2019ve put together a few activities that celebrate the diversity of families and individuals, to engage and support young people. Check them out on our activity \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/activities/?name=lgbtq\u0022\u003Efinder\u003C/a\u003E.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFinal thoughts\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ETimes like LGBTQ\u002B History Month are a perfect opportunity for us all to reflect on how we welcome and include everyone in Scouts. It only takes small actions, like being a friendly ear to someone who wants to talk, or asking what pronouns a young person would like us to use, to continue to ensure Scouts is a truly inclusive space.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"type":"Promo","cta":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EWith thanks to Jackson and Davina for their time.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022#\u0022 title=\u0022Supporting Young People\u0022\u003EFind more resources on supporting LGBTQ\u002B young people\u00A0here\u003C/a\u003E.\u003C/p\u003E","link":null,"colour":"#f1f1f1","title":"","image":null,"imageFocus":"","imageId":0,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":null,"pageType":null,"location":null,"versionDate":"20 February 2023","reviewDate":null,"furtherReading":[{"caption":"","title":"LGBTQ\u002B in Scouts.","url":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/volunteers/inclusion-and-diversity/including-everyone/lgbtplus/","newWindow":true},{"caption":"","title":"Supporting trans young people.","url":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/volunteers/inclusion-and-diversity/including-everyone/lgbtplus/transgender-and-gender-identity/supporting-trans-young-people/","newWindow":true}],"relatedLinks":[],"id":48746,"nodeName":"Celebrating LGBTQ\u002B History Month","title":"Celebrating LGBTQ\u002B History Month ","type":"blogEntry","image":{"url":"/media/19969/scouts-at-pride.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1daf46d2797e6d0","caption":"Scouts at Pride with balloon and flags","type":"jpg","size":1094653,"width":3936,"height":2624,"altText":"Scouts walking in a Pride march wearing rainbow neckers."},"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"Celebrating LGBTQ\u002B History Month ","headerSubTitle":null,"headerCta":null,"headerCtaText":null,"headerCtaLink":null,"headerBackgroundColour":null,"showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":null},"subHeader":"As February is LGBTQ\u002B History Month, we\u2019re chatting with Jackson and Davina, two LGBTQ\u002B volunteers about their experiences in Scouts.","browserTitle":null,"silktide":"eyJjbXMiOiJVbWJyYWNvIiwiZWRpdG9yVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kLWNtcy5zY291dHMub3JnLnVrLy91bWJyYWNvIy9jb250ZW50L2NvbnRlbnQvZWRpdC80ODc0NiJ9","canonicalUrl":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/news/2023/february/celebrating-lgbtqplus-history-month/"}