Core Work
Instrumental in overturning Kent County Council’s ‘mini-Section 28’ policy after a long campaign, the Network is known for its vibrant, rowdy protests and youth-led campaigns. The organisation is one of the growing number of groups in Britain to have reservations about the Government’s new ‘Civil partnerships’ bill that aims to give equal rights to same sex couples. The Queer Youth Network is campaigning for the legalisation of marriage for same sex couples and as a result the organisation is one of the founding members of the Coalition for Marriage Equality (UK) together with OutRage! and the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement. The organisation is a member of the Education for All coalition led by Stonewall set up to tackle homophobic bullying 3. Leader David Joseph Henry has been outspoken and controversial when speaking on the issue and has 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 recently 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 runs 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". 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".
Recent campaigns have included calling for action on homophobic and transphobic hate crime, in particular the murder of Michael Causer in Liverpool. The organisation has also been involved in a number of controversial events surrounding Manchester Pride after calling for the annual LGBT festival to be a free event. Leader David Joseph Henry claimed festival stewards attempted to censored their "Pride Not Profit" placards. They later released a short film called "Manchester Shame" exploring arguments that Pride is no longer a community event. Shortly after the Chair of the Village Business Association, Phil Burke resigned from the board of Manchester Pride declaring "Manchester Pride purely a money-making operation" and is "run by dictators".
Leading figures in the Network are active in politics. David Henry stood as a parliamentary candidate in the 2010 General Election against former minister Hazel Blears. Jack Holroyde stood down from his position in QYN to join the Liberal Democrats and is now a leading activist in north London.
Read more about this topic: Queer Youth Network
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