An event held for transgender youth across the county was held at MidKent College as part of a campaign by the Metro charity.

The afternoon in Medway was well attended by the LGBTQ+ community and allies, with workshops, talking sessions, mental health groups and performances taking place throughout the college campus.

Young people took part in face painting and lip-sync battles

Rainbow bunting led the way to the main room in the Glassbox Theatre where visitors were greeted by a sign in desk and friendly member of staff.

They were monitoring entry and had a chat with everyone before entering – it was then encouraged that you take a coloured sticker according to your age category and place it on the combo chart divided by gender and sexual orientation.

Upon entering the theatre it was clear a lot of advice was available for the young people, with specialist stalls lining the walls ranging from addiction advice to recruitment opportunities.

There were also two performers on stage hosting the entertainment and getting everyone involved in the celebrations.

Kent Police and Kent Fire and Rescue were in attendance – they were hosting stalls with freebies and career advice.

Jo Harfleet, from Kent Fire and Rescue, said: "It's important for us to show our faces at these kinds of events so people know they can trust us.

"We have information about jobs as well because what a lot of people don't realise is that to be part of the service you don't just have to be a firefighter, there are other jobs available.

"A lot of these young people feel that pathways are shut for them so it's good to come and show them that they would be accepted and they can do absolutely anything they want to do."

PCSO Davison and PCSO Carpenter were also hosting a stall for Kent Police.

The force has reported that transgender hate crimes are up 27%, with 94 crimes reported between in the year leading up to March.

PCSO Carpenter said: "If we are looking out for these people on the streets they need to know that we are here for them and we understand them. It's such great fun being here and seeing everyone as well, everyone seems so happy."

As well as the emergency services, other stalls included Metro's Sexual Health advice and Open Road addiction service.

Metro's James Newton said: "We offer our services and advice to young people aged 13-24, sometimes older and very occasionally younger in exceptional circumstances.

"There's a stigma attached to the LGBTQ+ community still, and we're trying to change that, but it all starts with education – where the mainstream education systems falls short we have fill the gaps."

At just 19, Samuel M'Grady was leading the stall for Open Road. They were offering support and advice to young people and families struggling with addiction.

He said: "This community is more susceptible to falling into the trap of addiction and bad habits. I think we can have a big impact on them because we have a different approach.

"Whereas a lot of teachers and parents for example would just say stop drinking, smoking or doing drugs, we understand that it's not always that easy.

"We're a young team and we have lived the life experiences these young people are going through not that long ago. Most people prefer to speak to someone like them so they like to see a young face.

"We help to educate them and support them to overcome addiction, but also offer support to ensure that if these people are going to abuse substances, they're doing so in a safe and secure way."

The crowd were also treated to face painting, live entertainment and competitions on stage.

RuPaul's Drag Race star River Medway made a surprise appearance and offered advice to the young people.

On stage, she said: "This is my old college so it's so good to see an event like this happening here. This room is where I used to study performing arts and look at where I am now. You can all do absolutely anything you want to do."

Molly Treves, an 18-year-old from Medway, said: "I think for so long it has become such a hidden thing. Throughout history LGBTQ+ folk have been pushed aside or put in a corner where people don't want to see them.

"I think it's just important to let young people know that it's okay to be who you are and not to be restricted by societal pressure to feel like you're not yourself."

Molly continued: "I would personally like to see more of a community. Having events like these are primary to making young people feel accepted, but I hope in general we can become more accepted in society.

"I think that we shouldn't need to pressure people into accepting us, it needs to just be a thing that people see as normal because it's a thing a lot of people experience and the world isn't just the heterosexual norm."

However, with the rise in trans hate crime across the county, it's clear a lot of work still needs to be done to achieve this equality.

Saxon Hailes, equalities and hate crime worker and Metro Charity, said: “Transphobia is currently rife, particularly online and on social media. This often enables people to feel they can be abusive in person without any consequences as often there are no visible consequences for those who commit repeated and sustained pile-ons and targeted harassment of trans individuals.

"Even the most outspoken and prolific offenders only seem to receive a temporary ban from a social media platform. Transphobia is being enabled by traditional media who see debating the basic human rights of transgender people as a daily sport.

"Lockdown didn’t eliminate hate crime as transgender people were still experiencing discrimination, having difficulty accessing medical care, rejected and abused by families, neighbours, colleagues and former friends for trying to survive authentically.

"Transgender rights are effectively 40-50 years behind LGB rights, and these tactics and fears are similar to those used in the media about gay and bisexual people when I was a child.

"Further work by the CPS and police in relation to making the criminal justice system easier and safer for transgender people to access, by having in-person training and listening to the issues faced by transgender people when attempting to report to the police, would also help reduce some of the barriers to reporting and staying engaged to see a report through to court."

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