LGBTQ+ Support Services in Sefton
What Does Each Letter Mean?
L (Lesbian): A lesbian is a woman/woman-aligned person who is attracted to only people of the same/similar gender.
G (Gay): Gay is usually a term used to refer to men/men-aligned individuals who are only attracted to people of the same/similar gender. However, lesbians can also be referred to as gay. The use of the term gay became more popular during the 1970s. Today, bisexual and pansexual people sometimes use gay to casually refer to themselves when they talk about their similar gender attraction.
B (Bisexual): Bisexual indicates an attraction to all genders. The recognition of bisexual individuals is important, since there have been periods when people who identify as bi have been misunderstood as being gay. Bisexuality has included transgender, binary and nonbinary individuals since the release of the "Bisexual Manifesto" in 1990.
T (Transgender): Transgender is a term that indicates that a person's gender identity is different from the gender associated with the sex they were assigned at birth.
Q (Queer or Questioning): Though queer may be used by people as a specific identity, it is often considered an umbrella term for anyone who is non-cisgender or heterosexual. But it is also a slur. It should not be placed on all members of the community, and should only be used by cisgender and heterosexual individuals when referring to a person who explicitly identifies with it. Questioning refers to people who may be unsure of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity.
+ (Plus): The 'plus' is used to signify all of the gender identities and sexual orientations that are not specifically covered by the other five initials.
Support and Network Groups
Embrace
Embrace is a Sefton CVS network which is for all Lesbian, Gay or Bisexual (LGB) people who live, work or socialise in Sefton, Merseyside. The network is run by and for members of the local LGB communities and is open to everyone to join.
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Contact: embracesefton@gmail.com
Website: Embrace Network
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C MAGIC
CMAGIC offer a flexible range of tailored support options, assessment for and diagnosis of gender incongruence, hormone therapy (including prescriptions and monitoring), referrals to voice therapy, hair removal, psychological therapy to help improve your mental, emotional and sexual wellbeing and referral to surgical providers.
You will get easy access to your clinical team, with lots of opportunities to ask questions about your ongoing care (e.g. recent blood results, or any new or additional support needs that might arise).
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Tel: 0151 317 8581
Secure email: cmagic.merseycare@nhs.net
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Mersey Care Trans Support Service (TSS) - NHS Counselling Service
This a service to support local transgender and gender nonconforming people who may be experiencing distress in relation to their gender (sometimes called gender incongruence) by listening to them, informing them of available options to relieve their gender distress, and empowering them to move forward with their lives. You can usually be referred to the service by your GP, but you may also self-refer. This service is for people aged 18 and upwards.
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For more information - contact the Mersey Care TSS service on 0151 317 8581
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In Trust Merseyside
In-Trust Merseyside is a network that challenges transphobia and discrimination. Their key objectives are to:
- Provide support and guidance for men and women with an intersex or transgendered history in Merseyside.
- Positively promote best practice around employing people from this community.
- Work with both voluntary and public sector organisations to identify the barriers to employment and service delivery faced by this community.
- Combat transphobia, promote greater acceptance and rights for all people under the ‘trans umbrella’.
- Provide a safe place to explore and express personal gender identity, provide advice, and offer support with transitioning.
- In-Trust Merseyside are working in partnership with Sahir House by promoting trans peer mentoring by and for those who identify as transsexual, transgender and gender non-conforming people across Merseyside.
- Monthly meetings at SING Plus in Seaforth
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For more information
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LGBTQ+ Hate Crime Support - Citizens Advice Bureau
LGBTQ+ hate incidents and hate crimes are acts of violence or hostility based on a person’s actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.
Our Hate Crime Support team offers tailored support to those who have experienced an LGBTQ+ hate crime. We can help you make a report to the police, understand your rights, liaise with organisations on your behalf, and help you to access specialist support services such as counselling. We will represent you so that your voice is heard.
We can also make referrals to other services within Citizens Advice Liverpool who will provide practical advice on housing, debt, benefits, employment and more. And we can help you access social support, such as activities and groups, in your area.
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For more information, visit: Hate crime advice online
Call our Support Worker on 0151 522 1400 ext 5006
Email us at: LGBTHateCrime@caliverpool.org.uk
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Health Services
Trans Health Merseyside
Trans Health Merseyside (THM) is a monthly wellbeing peer support session covering a range of health and wellbeing issues.
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Trans peer mentors are available for one-to-one support and signposting at 5.30-6pm and 7.30-8pm every 3rd Tuesday of the month.
Please register your attendance by phoning Sahir House on 0151 237 3989 and ask for the Trans Health Merseyside Project Worker. There is changing space available and the building is fully accessible.
Contact: transhealthmerseyside@sahir.uk.com
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Axxess Liverpool LGBTQIA Plus run a dedicated Trans Sexual Health Service in Liverpool.
For gay and bisexual men:
- Extra STI tests which will cover different types of sex, such as oral or anal sex.
- Vaccinations for Hep B or HPV.
- HIV prevention tools, such as PEP or PrEP, which can help keep someone HIV negative.
- Support around issues such as chemsex.
For lesbian and bisexual women:
- STI screening and contraception advice which is right for you.
- Cervical screening.
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Butterfly Clinic - Monday 13:30 – 18:00 (Appointments only), located in our main axess clinic, on the 1st floor of the Royal Liverpool Hospital. Butterfly Clinic further information |
Trans Health Sefton – NHS Clinical Service
This service is for patients whose gender identity is different from the gender they were assigned at birth.
Users of Trans Health Sefton will have either self-referred or have been referred by a healthcare professional such as their GP. Whichever route they have come through they will initially be seen by Dr Anna Hunter, a local GP with more than a decade of experience working with patients in the local area.
This clinic will see a wide range of people:
- Those questioning their gender identity who would like further information or help to manage their feelings .
- Those who consider themselves to be transgender male or female, gender neutral, gender queer, non-binary or otherwise gender variant, but who have not previously sought formal medical help
- Those with an established diagnosis of gender incongruence, gender identity disorder or gender dysphoria, many of whom may already have had some form or medical and/or surgical treatment
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More information: Referral is self or via your GP. All appointments take place at The Strand Medical Centre, Bootle - Tel. 0151 922 1600 |
Support for Young People
New Beginnings LGBTQ+ Youth Group
New Beginnings is a youth group for young people who are LGBT aged 11 – 19 years. The aim of the project is to provide a safe place for young people to meet, learn, to be and find who they are in a safe non – judgemental environment.
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For more information on how to contact follow this link to LGBT Youth North West New Beginnings
Call 07974 267 767 email new.beginnings@sefton.gov.uk
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Kooth for young people aged 11 to 18 years old.
This is a free online and anonymous mental health and wellbeing support service.
It offers a counselling and emotional wellbeing platform for children and young people aged between 11 and 18. Alongside counselling, users can find self help materials and a safe online community for young people 365 days a year.
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For more information, please click on the link below - Kooth
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National – Mermaids
Mermaids is a support service for trans and gender variant children and young people, and their families. Their goal is to relieve the mental and emotional stress of all young people aged 19 years and under whose gender identity causes distress, to support their families and to advance public awareness.
They offer information, shared experiences and support for individual young people whether they are out or not. They will try, where possible, to help their families understand and accept their young person’s gender identity.
They offer support via telephone, email and web chat or equally it may be helpful to talk to others who are going through the same problems via their online forums. They also aim to offer support to professionals (e.g. teachers, doctors, social services etc) and campaign for increased professional services and awareness of trans and gender variant people.
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