Certain communities in Scotland suffer from health inequalities around over-consumption of alcohol. LGBTI (Lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender and intersex) people in Scotland are among them.

GCA are proud to have played a leading role in the formation of the Glasgow LGBTQI Substance Use Partnership in 2019. GCA has since contributed a significant amount of resource and in kind funding to the development of the #KinderStrongerBetter campaign and website as part of this partnership working.

The KinderStrongerBetter campaign and website was developed for and by members of the Glasgow LGBTQ+ community and substance use professionals to provide information and advice to LGBTQ+ people about alcohol and drugs, as well as where to get help and support in Glasgow (and beyond). The project was funded by the Ripple Community Activity Fund.

Research suggests that LGBTI people are more likely to drink alcohol, and more likely to drink excessively, than the general population (Emslie et al. 2015). Despite limited academic work undertaken on alcohol in the LGBTI community in Scotland, work that has been done has shown that alcohol plays a major role in the social and sexual lives of LGBTI people, was implicated in violence and impaired decision making around sexual risk taking (Coia et al. 2014). Indeed, gay and bi-sexual men in particular are at higher risk of certain sexually transmitted infections and alcohol use can play a role in this. There are numerous social, cultural and environmental factors influencing the increased use of alcohol among LGBTI people – including coping with factors such as marginalisation, discrimination and stigma and escaping from heterosexual social norms (Peralta, 2008, cited in Emslie et al 2015). Alcohol also plays a central role in the commercial gay scene (Drabble, 2000 cited in Emslie et al 2015).

Many LGBTI people will have grown up in an era where their sexual orientation was criminalised or where they were stigmatised and/or bullied for who they are.  Whilst things have improved for LGBTI people in Scotland over the past 20 years or more, we recognise that some people may still be living with traumas or unresolved issues from a time where discrimination, marginalisation or stigma was commonplace at every level of society. Although  things have improved and legal equality has been significantly advanced, we recognise that too many LGBTI people still lead lives where they are daily confronted with homophobia or transphobia, where they don’t feel accepted or comfortable to be themselves without fear of judgement or consequences, be that from friends, family, work colleagues or wider society. Indeed, we know that LGBTI people are more likely than the general population to be affected by mental ill health due to the factors outlined above  – including being more likely to have had suicidal thoughts, attempted suicide or to have self-harmed. It isn’t just LGBTI people who use alcohol as a way of coping with life’s difficulties, over 50% of drinkers in the UK drink to cope with stress – but LGBT people face particular stresses from childhood and early adolescence onwards.

In response to these identified community needs we have begun a review of our organisation and practice to ensure we are more LGBTI inclusive. We are working closely with LGBTI organisations and staff members to ensure that the services we provide are LGBTI informed – including through staff training.

If you are an LGBTI person and feel that you’d like to talk to someone about your alcohol use, or possibly be supported to cut down on your alcohol consumption or stop altogether, you can self-refer to our counselling team here. If you feel you require support or would like to talk to a counsellor more specifically about issues around your sexual orientation or gender identity, you can get in touch with the following organisations:

GCA have signed up to be part of the LGBT charter. The LGBT Charter is a straightforward programme that enables your organisation or school to proactively include LGBTI people in every aspect of your work, protecting your staff and providing a high quality service to your customers, students or service users.

Read more here: https://www.lgbtyouth.org.uk/the-lgbt-charter/the-lgbt-charter-for-organisations/lgbt-charter-rights/

The LGBT Charter helps safeguard lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people’s human rights, particularly in receipt of services, as customers and at school. These rights draw on international human rights and relevant UK and Scottish legislation and have been developed in consultation with LGBT people about what’s most important to them. More detailed information about international human rights for LGBT people is available here.

1. LGBT people have the right to be themselves and to live free from prejudice and discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.
2. LGBT people have the right to be kept from harm and be protected from hate crime, bullying and other forms of violence.
3. LGBT people have the right to be heard, treated fairly and their views and experiences taken into account.
4. LGBT people have the right to be healthy, with equal access to healthcare, and the impact of prejudice and discrimination on health properly addressed.
5. LGBT people have the right to form relationships, free from abuse and with equality of recognition.
6. LGBT people have the right to privacy and information about sexual orientation and gender identity not disclosed to others, without consent to do so.
7. LGBT people have the right to education that recognises diversity and implements programmes that seek to eliminate prejudice on the grounds of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.
8. LGBT people have the right to be cared for free from prejudice and discrimination and in every setting.