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Queer Youth Network AI simulator
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Queer Youth Network
The Queer Youth Network (QYN) was a national non-profit-making organisation that was run by and for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQ) young people and is based in the United Kingdom. It had an aim to represent the needs and views of younger LGBT people by campaigning for greater visibility and equal rights, as well as providing general support and information to those who are just coming out or who are experiencing homophobia.
Founded in 1999 by David Joseph Henry and CN Lester as a grass roots civil rights group, its formation was inspired by YouthSpeak and originally called the 'Queer Youth Alliance' until December 2006, and also 'Queer Youth Overground' for a short period between 1999 and 2001. In the beginning, the movement consisted of two member groups – Queer Youth Manchester (a local social support group based at the Hollywood Showbar in Manchester's gay village) and Putney High School's Gay Straight Alliance (the first of its kind in the UK). Henry and Lester got together to form a national alliance of LGBT Young People.
As many of the organisation's original aims began to be achieved (e.g. abolition of Section 28 and equalising the age of consent for gay men), the group decided to focus on youth support, and representation to ensure homophobic legislation such as that brought about by the Conservative government of the 1980s should not be re-enacted.[citation needed]
The first president of the organisation was David Joseph Henry, who stepped down in August 2005 to make way for new president Greg Justice, with Katherine Parlour taking over as Vice President.
With the departure of Greg Justice and Katherine Parlour, the organisation re-grouped; after a period of no clear control in 2007, the organisation changed its name to the Queer Youth Network, and with David Henry, Michael Bundock and Damian Griffiths appointed as the Network's trustees. The site and organisation has recently undergone a face-lift incorporating many features personal to individual members, core policy development and streamlined to ease confusion amongst some of the volunteer teams known as "volunqueers".
The organisation has been awarded the accolade as "Youth Group of the Year" by Pink Paper readers in both 2009 and 2010. The network's leaders were thrilled to have been voted "Best Youth Group" by Pink Paper readers and in response explained that 2009 marked the 10th Anniversary of Britain's first national organisation for LGBT young people.
Instrumental in overturning Kent County Council's 'mini-Section 28' policy after a long campaign, the Network was known for its vibrant, rowdy protests and youth-led campaigns. The organisation was one of the groups in Britain to have reservations about the Government's 'civil partnerships' bill that aimed to give equal rights to same sex couples. The Queer Youth Network campaigned for the legalisation of marriage for same sex couples and as a result the organisation was one of the founding members of the Coalition for Marriage Equality (UK), together with OutRage! and the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement. The organisation was a member of the Education for All coalition led by Stonewall set up to tackle homophobic bullying 3. Leader David Joseph Henry was outspoken and controversial when speaking on the issue and accused the British education system as being an "inherently flawed fossil directly responsible for rising rates of suicide in young men, record number of children on anti-depressant drugs, spiraling anti-social behaviour in particular 'youth on youth' crime including bullying activities". The group's Scottish wing hit the headlines during a clash with Transport giant Stagecoach, that accused QYN of a 'Slur' as it mounted a boycott on its bus services following revelations of institutional homophobia.2. QYN also ran the UK's only national transgender youth organisation to work with young people both under and over the age of 18, Trans Youth Network.
After a brief period of inactivity, Queer Youth Network returned to campaigning in August 2007, with the appointment of Jack Holroyde as "Campaigns Officer" and Jo McKillop as Trans Officer. Recent campaigns have included much work on transgender rights for young people, and the appointment of a new asexuality co-ordinator. After it was announced a controversial journalist (Julie Bindel) had been nominated for a Stonewall Book Award the organisation issued a statement claiming it was "Concerned and Disappointed".
Queer Youth Network
The Queer Youth Network (QYN) was a national non-profit-making organisation that was run by and for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQ) young people and is based in the United Kingdom. It had an aim to represent the needs and views of younger LGBT people by campaigning for greater visibility and equal rights, as well as providing general support and information to those who are just coming out or who are experiencing homophobia.
Founded in 1999 by David Joseph Henry and CN Lester as a grass roots civil rights group, its formation was inspired by YouthSpeak and originally called the 'Queer Youth Alliance' until December 2006, and also 'Queer Youth Overground' for a short period between 1999 and 2001. In the beginning, the movement consisted of two member groups – Queer Youth Manchester (a local social support group based at the Hollywood Showbar in Manchester's gay village) and Putney High School's Gay Straight Alliance (the first of its kind in the UK). Henry and Lester got together to form a national alliance of LGBT Young People.
As many of the organisation's original aims began to be achieved (e.g. abolition of Section 28 and equalising the age of consent for gay men), the group decided to focus on youth support, and representation to ensure homophobic legislation such as that brought about by the Conservative government of the 1980s should not be re-enacted.[citation needed]
The first president of the organisation was David Joseph Henry, who stepped down in August 2005 to make way for new president Greg Justice, with Katherine Parlour taking over as Vice President.
With the departure of Greg Justice and Katherine Parlour, the organisation re-grouped; after a period of no clear control in 2007, the organisation changed its name to the Queer Youth Network, and with David Henry, Michael Bundock and Damian Griffiths appointed as the Network's trustees. The site and organisation has recently undergone a face-lift incorporating many features personal to individual members, core policy development and streamlined to ease confusion amongst some of the volunteer teams known as "volunqueers".
The organisation has been awarded the accolade as "Youth Group of the Year" by Pink Paper readers in both 2009 and 2010. The network's leaders were thrilled to have been voted "Best Youth Group" by Pink Paper readers and in response explained that 2009 marked the 10th Anniversary of Britain's first national organisation for LGBT young people.
Instrumental in overturning Kent County Council's 'mini-Section 28' policy after a long campaign, the Network was known for its vibrant, rowdy protests and youth-led campaigns. The organisation was one of the groups in Britain to have reservations about the Government's 'civil partnerships' bill that aimed to give equal rights to same sex couples. The Queer Youth Network campaigned for the legalisation of marriage for same sex couples and as a result the organisation was one of the founding members of the Coalition for Marriage Equality (UK), together with OutRage! and the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement. The organisation was a member of the Education for All coalition led by Stonewall set up to tackle homophobic bullying 3. Leader David Joseph Henry was outspoken and controversial when speaking on the issue and accused the British education system as being an "inherently flawed fossil directly responsible for rising rates of suicide in young men, record number of children on anti-depressant drugs, spiraling anti-social behaviour in particular 'youth on youth' crime including bullying activities". The group's Scottish wing hit the headlines during a clash with Transport giant Stagecoach, that accused QYN of a 'Slur' as it mounted a boycott on its bus services following revelations of institutional homophobia.2. QYN also ran the UK's only national transgender youth organisation to work with young people both under and over the age of 18, Trans Youth Network.
After a brief period of inactivity, Queer Youth Network returned to campaigning in August 2007, with the appointment of Jack Holroyde as "Campaigns Officer" and Jo McKillop as Trans Officer. Recent campaigns have included much work on transgender rights for young people, and the appointment of a new asexuality co-ordinator. After it was announced a controversial journalist (Julie Bindel) had been nominated for a Stonewall Book Award the organisation issued a statement claiming it was "Concerned and Disappointed".