LINGSIUM – A group for homosexual young people
The care for underprivileged groups of young people and the search for ways to help them is one of the important guidelines of the Youth Cultural Centre Maribor (Mladinski kulturni center Maribor). Under our supervision, a group for homosexual young people LINGSIUM is active and is the only association in Maribor, whose aim is, through information, literature, socializing and advice, to help those young people who have questions regarding the exploration and acceptance of their sexual identity.
The idea to start a group for homosexual young people goes back to the beginning of 2001, when MKC Maribor had to decide between activating the present more or less passive form of support for homosexual young people or to change into an active form of expressing support and assistance. This is why we established a so-called Corner for homosexual young people and began collecting information material, intended especially for those young people, who have already disclosed their homosexuality and of course also for those, who have doubts and questions regarding their sexual orientation. Our aim is to help, with information, literature, socializing and advice, young people who are especially sensitive about the identification and acceptance of their sexual identity. In early 2004 under the auspices of MKC Maribor finally a group of young people gathered, who were willing to work actively on issues of homosexual youth.
The group LINGSIUM is open to all, who are willing to participate in any way and to help in planning, preparing and implementing the activities. The group members are aware that the discovery of ones sexual orientation may cause a crisis and a breakdown in communication, for which the young are not able to normally communicate with parents, family, classmates or friends. This is why the group informs the young regarding possible ways out of this situation, or refers them to specialists and organisations, which can help them resolve their existing problems. So far, in addition to the information material, they are also provided with special literature (such as books on the history of the movement for rights of homosexuals, the literature on history of sexuality etc.) and the group has prepared the establishment of the Corner for homosexual young people in the Media Nox gallery (Židovska ulica 12).
Their main activities are primarily intended for the homosexual youth. In this context they prepare public presentations of certain groups and organisations in the form of literary-musical performances, debate meetings and talks, workshops, discussion meetings and exhibitions, they promote tolerance and raise public awareness, issue informative news and offer help via e-mail »Young advise the young – Mladi svetujejo mladim«. The group LINGSIUM has no formal membership, so it is free to join via e-mail lingsium@yahoo.com – the safety and anonymity of all members is ensured.
