Free to be Me : Celebrating 21 Years of Freedom Youth

L. Streich, R. Fanti

Freedom Youth celebrated its 20th Birthday in 2015. Rosa didn't want this important milestone to pass unnoticed, so we started talking with each other and then with Off the Record and Outstories about it. This led us to approach the Heritage Lottery Fund. They generously agreed to fund an oral history project to tell Freedom's story in the words of the people who set it up, who have been or are its members, and who have worked for Freedom over the years. We interviewed 25 people, and heard from many more past and present members who filled in surveys. They spoke or wrote about the difference that being a part of Freedom has made to their lives, and how it has supported and enabled young people to be out, and to feel comfortable with their sexuality and identity. Most of all, Freedom has always been a place where young people can just enjoy themselves as themselves - whatever their identities. Identity is an important issue for young people, and for Freedom as a whole. Over its 21 years, the whole question of identity has changed and Freedom has changed with it. Initially, Freedom Youth defined itself as an LGB group (lesbian, gay and bisexual). By 2006, it was an LGBT group (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender). In 2016, it is an LGBTQ+ group, widely inclusive and including those who are queer/questioning and others. We have reflected this change throughout Free to be me. We have tried to use the right abbreviation (LGB, LGBT, LGBTQ+) in the appropriate time period as we've told Freedom's story. What hasn't changed is Freedom's core service. It has run sessions in central Bristol every Tuesday evening (barring Christmas and similar) for 21 years. It is one of the oldest, and possibly the longest continuously running social and support group for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender young people in the UK. We want to thank the Heritage Lottery Fund for enabling us to record this previously hidden history, and everyone who contributed their stories and who gave their support to this project. Without you, we could not have told this story.