Britain is the best place in the world to grow up gay.

You can get married. You can’t be refused goods and services simply because you may be lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans*. You are not just protected from getting sacked at work because of your sexual orientation, you are often actively targeted by major employers who want your skills and unique experiences.

Our television screens and our parliament are filled with openly gay role-models. Members of parliament like Wes Streeting and Margot James show that sexual orientation is no barrier to success.

This transformation of Britain’s legal landscape and public attitudes has been unprecedentedly rapid. When I came out as gay at the tender age of 15 not one of these legal protections existed. My first year of school – 1989 – was the first year of Section 28, a pernicious law that banned the ‘promotion of homosexuality’. It was repealed in 2003, the year I finished my A-levels.

Not only did it fail in stopping me becoming gay it left in its wake a generation of young people who were isolated, alone and scared of who they are. A paralysis gripped schools for decades meaning that teachers were unable to discuss LGBT issues, let alone tackle endemic levels of homophobic bullying.

The repercussions remain stark even today. From depression and suicide to a sexual health crisis, LGBT people bear the scars of being erased and execrated by discriminatory laws and attitudes.

Stonewall research shows that 22 per cent of gay and bisexual men experience moderate to severe levels of depression. Thirty-three per cent of lesbians and bisexual women have thought about taking their own life.

The government needs to act and it needs to act fast to prevent another generation from growing up in fear because of who they are.

The evidence for compulsory age-appropriate sex and relationships education in all schools is now overwhelming. Schools are too often failing in their basic responsibility to equip young people with the skills to survive and thrive in the modern world – including preparing them to have fulfilling, happy and healthy relationships whether they are LGBT or not.

Schools themselves need to work harder to ensure that they are building environments where everyone can be themselves. This means tackling homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying head on and showing children that being gay is a normal and valuable part of society. Only then will every child be able to meet their full potential. Thankfully, inspiring organisations like Diversity Role Models are already tackling negative attitudes in schools right across the UK.

And every day that NHS England fails to make available PrEP – a new one-a-day pill that all but stops HIV infection – is a day when LGBT people continue to be disproportionately diagnosed with HIV. At present almost half of all new HIV diagnoses are among men who have sex with men.

IDAHOT is a day to reflect on the huge challenges ahead. Around the world activists and allies will organise and mobilise for the fight ahead.

They can look to Britain to see that discrimination and hatred is never inevitable – we can change not just laws but attitudes too. We have done that in my lifetime alone. It is now our responsibility to protect and build upon that considerable progress both at home and internationally.

———————————

Richard Lane tweets @politicana

See here for more information about IDAHOT