• Skip to content
  • Skip to navigation
Logo: Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
Your Account
  • Menu
Close menu
Close
  • About the Council
  • Business and Economy
  • Children and Families
  • Community and Living
  • Council Tax and Benefits
  • Education and Learning
  • Environment and Waste
  • Health and Social Care
  • Housing
  • Jobs and Careers
  • Leisure and Culture
  • Planning and Development
  • Transport and Streets
  • See all news
  • See all events
  1. Home
  2. Children and families
  3. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender

Lgbt - multi-coloured rope, with a heart shaped knot

Simply, being gay or lesbian means being emotionally and/or physically attracted to members of your own sex. Being bisexual means you have these feelings for both sexes.

Nobody knows for sure why some people are lesbian, gay, bisexual or heterosexual (straight), scientific evidence suggests that sexuality may be determined by genetic factors, but one thing we know is that few people choose their sexuality. Many gay, lesbian and bisexual people have said they felt ‘different’ from a very young age.

Transgender is a term used to describe people whose gender identity differs from the sex the doctor marked on their birth certificate.

Gender identity is a person’s internal, personal sense of being a man or a woman (or someone outside of that gender binary).

For transgender people, the sex they were assigned at birth and their own internal gender identity do not match.

Remember you are not alone, even though it may feel that way sometimes.

This means realising and accepting that you are attracted to people of the same sex as yourself or that you are a different gender to the gender you were born as. Realising is the first stage of ‘coming out’, self acceptance can take a long time. With time you will probably realise that this isn’t a phase, no one knows when this time may be, for some it happens as teenagers, for others it happens later on in life. When you reach this point you may decide you want to ‘come out’ to other people, here are a few things to think about before you ‘come out’.

Good things about coming out:

  • less stress – you don’t have to hide things
  • you can be yourself around your family and friends
  • it might bring you closer to your family and friends
  • it can bring new friends that can be relaxed around you

Not so good things:

  • more stress if people react badly
  • some people might not like you being honest
  • some people might not want to be close to you
  • you can never be totally sure how people might react

You wont ‘come out’ just once in your life it is a process that will happen over and over again, like when you get a new job and meet new people. The good news is it gets easier.

Further Help and Support

Childline - Get help and advice about a wide range of issues, talk to a counsellor online.

Samaritans - Available 24 hours a day to provide confidential emotional support for people who are experiencing feelings of distress, despair or suicidal thoughts.

Bullying UK - Bullying advice, bullying at school, cyberbullying, and how you can deal with it.

Kidscape - Bullying advice, helpline, information and anti-bullying resources.

Advice and Support

You can always talk to a Youth Support Worker.

Contact: EarlyHelp-enquiries@rotherham.gov.uk

Call: 01709 334905

Related Topics

Find advice and support about:

  • Counselling
  • Domestic Abuse
  • Sexual Exploitation
Early Help Logo - Proud to work with Rotherham's children, young people, families

Stay connected

Sign up for our newsletter
Footer Logo: Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
  • About this website
  • Accessibility statement
  • Privacy
  • Languages
  • Contact Us
  • Location
  • Terms and conditions
  • Facebook logo
  • Twitter logo
  • YouTube logo
  • Instagram logo
  • LinkedIn logo

All content © 2025 Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council. All Rights Reserved.

Designed and Powered by Jadu.

chatbot launch button image
Left Right
Full Wide Split Narrow
Chatbot avatar image
Hi, I'm Bailey
I'm here to answer your questions.

Hi, I'm Bailey, how can I help you today? You can ask me questions relating to a number of council services.

To start a chat you will need to click 'continue' to confirm you have read and understood our terms and conditions Privacy Policy.

Privacy Statement