COVID-19 and Queer Youth
LGBTQ+ charity akt reveal the shocking impact of the global coronavirus pandemic on young queer people.
The current global COVID-19 pandemic has changed the world in ways we couldn’t have imagined. No country or community has escaped its impact. The social and economic consequences of this novel coronavirus spreading across the globe will be felt for years to come. But it’s during times like these that our appreciation for care workers, key workers and organisations that keep the most vulnerable protected is fully realised.
Recent statistics show that 24% of homeless young people in the UK identify as LGBTQ+, so you can only imagine how this current pandemic will disproportionately affect some of the most vulnerable in our community. The Albert Kennedy Trust - or as they’re now known, akt - is an LGBTQ+ youth homelessness charity in the UK that was first formed in Manchester back in 1989. According to their data, 77% of the young LGBTQ+ young people they work with believe coming out at home was the main factor in causing their homelessness. For more than 30 years, they’ve been a lifeline for queer youth aged between 16 to 25 seeking help.
During this pandemic, akt have been working tirelessly to provide support for any young LGBTQ+ person who’s facing homelessness or living in a hostile or abusive environment. A tragic consequence of lockdown - which is essential guidance from the government to protect ourselves and our frontline key workers - is that some young LGBTQ+ people have found themselves trapped in homophobic households.
“This can have a significant impact on people’s mental and physical health and wellbeing, whether they are out or not, especially with the added pressure of trying to avoid conflict from an unaccepting family at home as there’s no option to escape,” akt’s Chief Executive, Tim Sigsworth MBE, tells us. “Not being around like minded people, or people who understand your experience, can be incredibly hard going.”
It will come as little surprise that the current lockdown conditions placed upon people in the UK during the pandemic has led to an increase in young LGBTQ+ people seeking support. “Just a couple of weeks into lockdown, we started to hear from more under-18s than we usually do and had an influx of cases where young people felt lockdown had made their lives at home become even less safe,” adds Tim.
“In addition to that, the number of young people who’ve reached out to us while rough sleeping is far greater than we would normally see. This comes at a time when the Government has introduced measures to support up to 90% of rough sleepers into temporary accommodation in some cities, and so it’s clear lockdown is having a disproportionate impact on LGBTQ+ young people.”
akt have responded to this uptick in young queer people seeking help in many different ways, making sure they can provide support for anyone who contacts them. “This has included helping move people into safe accommodation, including a number of those who had been sleeping on the streets, and providing advice and support to people who don’t feel safe at home,” explains Tim. He adds that they’ve been working with young people who need that extra support to make sure that their local authority see them as someone who is ‘vulnerable’ and will therefore provide the adequate housing support that they need.
For the young people who are currently living in one of akt’s accommodations, the charity has been making sure they are provided for during this uncertain time while maintaining social distancing guidance. “For the young people living in our Purple Door safe house, we’ve made sure they safely receive food and supplies to their door,” Tim explains. “When a room became vacant, we also managed to swiftly move a new young person in, after helping them to safely self-isolate for two weeks.”
Tim adds: “Our incredible Services team has adapted so well to the changes that the pandemic has brought, and I’m so proud we’ve been able to continue supporting LGBTQ+ young people who are so in need of our help.”
The charity were also quick to provide a sense of community for young LGBTQ+ on their digital and social platforms, ensuring that no young person out there feels like they’re on their own during this time. “We have rolled out a programme of content on our website and social channels to ensure young
people are engaged, informed and feel less isolated,” Tim says. “This ranges from practical guidance around their rights and how to keep safe, to activities hosted on our Instagram with queer creators from the community, like pop sensation GIRLI and drag performer Shay Shay.”
For society at large, one of the biest concerns of a prolonged period of lockdown is the impact it will have on people’s mental health. We already know that this risk is greater for LGBTQ+ people. “As a community, we can often feel isolated from the wider world because of the prejudice we experience as LGBTQ+ people, and so we often really rely on peers, community groups and events as spaces we can really be ourselves,” says Tim. “Lockdown takes a lot of that away and, for many young LGBTQ+ people living at home, forces them to hide or ‘tone down’ some parts of themselves for their own safety or wellbeing’s sake.”
The impact this virus has had on the economy and job security will also affect young LGBTQ+ people for the worse, with many relying on that income to retain their independence. “Many young people have been laid off from work, or are on zero hours contracts, so there might be a fear around how they are going to pay their rent or cover their basic living costs,” Tim says. “There is a lot of complex information from public services which can make this a real minefield for young people who need to access financial support.”
Taking all of this into consideration, it’s clear to see how vital a charity like akt is for the LGBTQ+ youth of Britain. They are working hard to make sure everyone who gets in touch receives the support they need during this time, and warn that there is extra resource that is needed for the most vulnerable in our community beyond this pandemic.
“It’s absolutely vital that we consider life after lockdown,” says Tim. “We’re expecting there to be a rent debt crisis which will lead to evictions; young people are facing unemployment and most significantly the impact on their mental health and wellbeing may be severe and enduring.”
Tim adds: “There will no doubt be young people living at home who are thrown out or feel unable to live at home any longer, due to the environment being unaccepting or unsafe. We also know young people who might have substance misuse issues, and there’s concerns around how they will navigate these when lockdown is over and they are subject to such drastic change.”
With this foresight and their more than 30 years experience supporting homeless LGBTQ+ young people, akt have already begun to prepare for what’s about to come next. “We’re doing everything we can to put plans into place, including ensuring the Government is aware of the impact of the pandemic and lockdown on LGBTQ+ young people’s lives and how best they can help us to help them,” explains Tim. “For example, we know many people who were sleeping rough have been temporarily housed during lockdown by the Government, but what happens afterwards? What longer term support will be made available to ensure people have safe and secure housing and do not face a return to homelessness?
“Issues have no doubt been exacerbated because of lockdown, but the idea that a post-lockdown life will be easier for the majority of vulnerable queer young people is unfortunately not a reality.”
So what can you do to help? Now more than ever, akt need public support to make sure they are in a solid position to help any young LGBTQ+ person that needs it. The current COVID-19 pandemic has made traditional fundraising activities either impossible or incredibly challenging, and that in turn has affected the income they’d usually receive. However, in response to this akt has launched a lockdown fundraising pack. “This provides guidance on really simple ways that people are able to use virtual events and challenges to help raise money to support our work,” says Tim. You can find that lockdown fundraising pack at www.akt.org.uk/lockdownfundraising.
“We would also love for people to consider donating part or all of their travel fare, coffee costs for the week or gym membership if they’re able to – every little bit of support adds up and makes such a difference to us,” says Tim. “It’s also important to keep spreading the word, raising awareness of the issues we work across and why they are so relevant and important today.”