English lesbian, gay and bisexual teens first consider their
sexuality at 13 years old, but don’t tell anyone else until they
are on average two years older. Four out of five young people
tell their friends first and three quarters say that they needed
emotional support to come out. The findings, published today (15
February), are part of an interim report of Metro's Youth
Chances project, a five year social study of over 6,000 LGBT
youth and their needs. The study also found that the great
majority (80%) of respondents to the Youth Chances survey who
identified as lesbian or gay, bisexual or questioning said the
first person they told they were gay was a friend. Nearly three
quarters (70%) of respondents to the survey who identified as
lesbian or gay, bisexual or questioning said they needed
emotional support from someone when they came out. Commenting on
the results, Dan Baker, Metro Youth Chances Project Manager,
said: 'These findings reveal some key milestones for young
people coming out in the 21st centu