About

The Rural Media Company launched Sticks and Stones in July 2007

Gay equality organisation Stonewall estimates that over 60,000 gay and lesbian young people are suffering from homophobic bullying in rural areas, anything from name calling to serious assault.

The psychological effects on a young person can be immense and long-lasting and more than half of lesbian, gay and bi-sexual people who have been bullied at school contemplate suicide. 

Living in a rural area can be particularly hard for rural and parochially based LGB young people.  In some traditional, tight-knit, small rural communities there can be fear, ignorance and outright prejudice, against LGB young people.

Confidentiality can also be a problem in small, close-knit communities where rumours can spread fast, making it even harder for young people to come out and feel confident with their sexuality without being victimised. 

The first phase of the project saw the launch of this website complete with an on-line forum, enabling rural young people from across the country to share their ideas and feelings about their own experiences. Topics centered on what life is like for young people growing up in the sticks: the isolation, the lack of gay groups and activities, ‘coming out’ and homophobic bullying.

Presenters and artists such as Anthony Crank and Mz Fontaine also appeared on the Sticks website from the outset, in support of the project.

Participants from the forum were invited to take part in a series of practical film making/script development workshops and participate in the films pre-production and production process.

A fully participative process was always an integral element to the project, ensuring that the forum members had the opportunity to not only help devise the production but also perform in it as well.

The group met for a weekend of group discussions in Herefordshire with film Director John Humphreys, and decided on which story strands they wanted to develop into a final script.

John then developed the groups ideas to create the final film Bleedin’ Puff, which was made during the summer of 2008. 

Please come back to watch the film and let us know what you think...

Two-thirds of gay and lesbian teenagers say they’ve been victims of homophobic bullying - (Stonewall Cymru, 2007)

That’s 156,000 children!

Even before I came out, at school people were always calling me names, because I was effeminate looking.

In class, people would say; “Shut up, gay boy”, but teachers wouldn’t do anything. When I lost my temper and flared up at them, I would be the one who got in trouble. - (Simon from South Wales)

Simon -Image by Jeff Morgan