Introduction to an LGBT Switchboard:

Many of you will already be aware of Switchboard having perhaps used our service before.

Who Are We?

People just like you really - our ages may vary widely but the feelings are shared, the experiences too. We come from all walks of life and volunteer to take the phones to chat with you – people – just like us. It’s always your call and it's always about your stuff so you get yourself heard.

LGBT Switchboard offers many things to our community.

Telephone Support / Someone to talk to every night from 7 till 10 pm
Lesbian Line
Information
Advice on Sexual Health & Wellbeing
Icebreakers – a monthly opportunity to meet others who are new to the scene

Telephone Support:

Sometimes life throws things at you which can be hard to comprehend. It’s much harder when you feel isolated by the issue or you can't even talk to a friend about what has happened.

We listen to you and offer non-judgemental support whenever you call us, for whatever reason. Some people do find it easier to talk to someone outside of their daily lives, to help them look at things more objectively.

Lesbian Line

This is a strictly dedicated woman to woman, dedicated telephone support service one night per week where a woman is guaranteed a woman to chat things over with. Men who call this service are only directed to the main helpline.

Women are of course always entirely welcome to call the main helpline on any night.

Transgender and Crossdressing

Crosslynx is our affiliate supported service operating from within Switchboard and we will generally refer broader issues of Crossdressing to them for the benefit of callers who need this support in their lives. Transgender support can be initially handled by Crosslynx who will in turn refer you onto support services appropriate to your needs.

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Main Helpline

The main service that Switchboard provides is to be there for anyone who needs to talk to someone who will not judge them or the issues they face in life. We pride ourselves on our policy of confidentiality and anonymity. We operate a very strict code of conduct to reinforce the need for both of these points. Our volunteers will not meet with you personally at any time, nor may they make such an arrangement.

There is no time limit to initial calls and you can call when you feel you need to – although on a night with fewer volunteers there may be a time restriction on regular callers depending upon the demands on the lines.

We will aim to close our lines at 10pm.

We are always interested in you and the types of calls we deal with vary widely.

Who calls and what do you talk about?

The following are simply examples; not a restrictive list.

We take calls from people who are questioning their feelings around sexuality their current and past relationships, general quality of life, coming out, starting out, bereavement, desertion, eviction, violence in the home, the scene and workplace. Legal questions on the Age of Consent, problems at work, with landlords & housing, Safe use of condoms, dental dams and so on.

We welcome calls from anyone who currently identifies as “straight” who feels they may be Gay or Bisexual It can be harder to explore or even discuss this apparent change with their “straight” group of friends for fear of being labelled or ridiculed. If this is the situation you're in, we offer the safety to talk about what’s going on for you without judgement, without leading you in any particular direction and without you having to make decisions.

If you're suffering any form of Homophobia directed at you by others, your own negative feelings about being gay, general discrimination or harassment issues. We will be happy to talk through these with you to see if we can come to some kind of resolution.

Negotiating for the kind of sex you want with someone can be difficult and what if you feel the sex you are having, is getting out of control and you want to stop? We can also talk with you about these issues or any others affecting your sexuality in general.

Parents who have questions about their children whom they may suspect might be gay or bisexual are also welcome to call us. Parents whose children 'come out' to them often want to be informed how best to approach an ongoing renewal of their relationship. This is an important step and we can help. Sometimes, individuals who already have children have to come to terms with their own sexuality shifting or broadening later in life. We can discuss with them, how they might best manage this, to suit their circumstances.

Abusive Callers:

Lesbian and Gay Switchboard is not a “Chat Line” and does not offer any such services. Lesbian and Gay Switchboard will not tolerate any abuse of its staff, and will challenge any abusive behaviour. Where this behaviour is not moderated immediately, we will close the call.

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Information:

We are a “One Stop” information source for basics such as what pubs clubs and places of interest are available particularly in Glasgow and Edinburgh. In general we can offer a diverse and varied scope of information drawn from the current issues of Scotsgay, Diva, and Gay Times . We have a current Spartacus for those planning a far flung holiday destination. We suggest you try us and see.

We have access to friendly and sympathetic Legal Advisors to whom we can refer those in need of assistance.

We offer general wellbeing & broad relevant sexual health information having close links with the Sandyford, Centre for Women’s Health and the Steve Retson Project. Many of our volunteers will have used these resources themselves and will be able to speak from personal experience.

We refer to resource centres such as the Glasgow LGBT Centre , the Glasgow Women's Library , Vivid Youth , and LGBT Youth Scotland we have close and trusted links with these well established organisations.

Icebreakers: Social Group

Switchboard helps run the simple Icebreakers social group that meets in confidence and safety at on-scene venues throughout Glasgow. Through our outreach worker we have established a series of group led social activities. Your suggestions are welcome and we aim to make these events safe and above all else, fun too.

Icebreakers let’s folk chat with each other and introduce themselves to others who may be at a similar stage in their “coming out”.

If you are coming along to Icebreakers, we do like to have a name to call you by but first name only is just fine.

Homophobic Crime Line

The Homophobic Crime Third Party Reporting Line acknowledges the victim is the best judge of whether an event was Homophobic or not. The service is as confidential as you want it to be. Information will be forwarded to the Police only if you ask us to do this on your behalf.

Crime of this nature is always wrong.

It is really important that it is recorded, as even the most basic anonymous information from you can help the Police build up a pattern of offending can be established in an area or a venue which the Police may better then be able to tackle.

Your voice can be heard when you might otherwise feel there is no one in whom you can confide.

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