www.gaytoz.com

Places to find out more:

LGBT Youth Clubs
- around the UK

OUTZONE
- a youth club in London

Albert Kennedy Trust
- for young people with housing problems

Gay Switchboard
- London's 24-hour helpline with Accommodation and Flat Share Service

Coming Out
- all your questions answered in this guide from AVERT

Coming Out
- and staying out - a friendly guide from Salisbury Gay Men
Health Project

Mermaids
- support for young people unsure of their gender

Rank Outsiders
- for lesbian and gay people in the armed forces

Gay Pride
- carnivals and festivals

However, they are extremely busy and it may be difficult to get through. Search through the GAY to Z Directory to find other local 'Switchboards' and 'Friend' groups around the country. There are 100s of links and suggestions.

Why not search for:

Switchboards - Advice lines - Lesbian Lines - Social Groups - Community Groups - Youth Groups - Friend Helplines - and by TOWN / REGION

Many of these groups also run social clubs especially for young people coming out. You can meet other people of the same age group who are also coming out. It's great to share the experience and most of us keep many of the friends we make when we first venture into the gay scene.

Want more ideas?

Buy a copy of GT (Gay Times), DIVA (for women), AXM, REFRESH, or ATTITUDE magazines which are available in newsagents around the UK. In London TIME OUT and the Evening Standard's METRO supplement both have listings of gay events and activities.

If you're in London, head for Old Compton Street in Soho where you'll find many gay pubs, shops and cafes, and where you can pick up free copies of the weekly gay newspapers PINK PAPER, BOYZ, and QX Magazine.

In Manchester head for the shops and pubs in Canal Street behind the bus station. BENT and CITY LIFE magazines have gay listings.

In Birmingham head for the bars and shops in Hurst Street in the City Centre. Pick up ZONE magazine

In Scotland look out for ScotsGay magazine.