Soho hosts day out for gay youth
Life was a picnic for London’s LGBT youth communities when their annual gathering in Soho Square attrated more than one hundred people, several as young as 15.
When the rain got bad everyone sheltered under the trees taking the picnic with them, luckily the downpour didn’t last long.
George Allawi, 18, a youth worker said: “I don’t think rain will stop us now and I don’t think it will stop us next week at Pride.”
George will be one of the speakers at Saturday’s Pride event in Trafalgar Square, discussing issues affecting young LGBT people.
Tony Vasiliou, 19, who studies at London Southbank University said of the picnic:
“It is quite a chilled way to start the evening, this is just the start of my night.”
Tony said he did not know that many people there, but said: “It’s fine, I like mingling and meeting new people.”
The picnic was organised by OutZone, a group for young men in London, and its sister group Girl Diva, for young women, along with help from other London groups including Mosaic, from Brent, and ELOP from East London.
OutZone, which has just celebrated its 10th anniversary, will have a float next week at the London Pride parade next week.
21st century gay teenagers are certainly not lacking in confidence and many said they would be attending Pride London and were looking forward to the joining in the parade.
