June is Pride month and even though much of the celebration has had to be taken online, the spirit of Pride has carried on. The Dost project spoke with Andy Train, member of the Hull and East Riding LGBT+ forum and a trustee of Pride in Hull, to discuss what barriers BAME communities may face in their journey towards discovering their true identities and reaching out for support.

On dealing with the fallout of lockdown:
“Any festivals and events we’ve of course missed doing those. We can do a certain amount online and we are doing those. But it’s also nice to see the doors open up a little. Because this is what it’s about. It’s about hanging out and meeting other people who have similar stories to tell. They may perhaps be struggling and could do with a bit of a face-to-face chat, or just have a coffee and a bit of a giggle and a smile.

What would your message be to someone feeling afraid to reach out for support?
“You’re not on your own. That’s how I felt when I was having the tussle in my head about my sexual orientation. Gender identity is certainly a very important part and you’re not on your own. Many of the groups, like the Trans Peer Support Group, have members that are living this. They’re thriving, and they’re successful, and they can give you the support. There are organisations like Mesmac, and the LGBT+ forum where you can connect with statutory bodies such as Police, NHS, and Victim Support.”

Support resources

Pride in Hull are co-hosting a Pride cafe on the first Friday of every month for members and allies of the LGBTQ+ community. Pop along from 7pm and join in for a fun and relaxed evening – meet friends or new people, get advice and enjoy a coffee or a few cheeky drinks. For more information, please click here. 

Trans Peer Support Group
A safe space for adult trans people to share their experiences and get mutual support. For more information, please click here or email.

Yorkshire MESMAC
Sexual health organisation offering services to various communities across Yorkshire, including men who have sex with men, people of colour and other marginalised races, people misusing drugs, sex workers and LGBT+ young people and adults.
For information and resources, please visit: https://www.mesmac.co.uk/about-us/who-we-are

Victim Support

Victim Support is an independent charity dedicated to supporting victims of crime (including hate crime based on a person’s sexual orientation and gender identity) and traumatic incidents in England and Wales. To access support and advice, please visit: https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/