OUR PATRONS

Matthew Todd

​​Matthew Todd is the editor of the UK's best selling gay magazine Attitude magazine. He was named Stonewall Journalist of the Year 2011 and the British Society of Magazine Editors Men’s Magazine Editor of the Year 2011.

"I consider Outhouse East to be incredibly important. Whilst thankfully many LGBT people find it easier and easier to be out and open about their sexuality, it is often a long journey fraught with complications which are not always understood or supported by the mainstream. We know, for instance that young people who are being bullied for their sexuality often do not feel comfortable turning to their teachers and don’t always get the support that they need. It is vital that there are local groups such as Outhouse East that provide a safe and secure place for people to come and talk openly and get help if they need it. The commercial gay scene is all very well but when a person needs serious help they need more than just a pub or nightclub in which to get it. I am delighted and honoured to be a patron of Outhouse and to support their vital work."​

Amy Lamé

​Amy is a writer, presenter, producer and performer. Originally from New Jersey she has been in the UK for 2 decades. In 1995 Lamé co-founded the Olivier-award-winning performance-club-night and collective, Duckie which she hosts every Saturday night at The Royal Vauxhall Tavern.

"I am thrilled to be on board as a patron of Outhouse East.  LGBTQ equality is something we should all be striving for, and Outhouse East does it with serious style and total commitment. Their services are a lifeline for for people in the rural areas and small towns of Essex. I am particularly impressed with the support they offer for women and trans people.  The youth and student outreach work is hugely important, too.  I love my gay boy friends as well, and the GEMS project, and website info about eating disorders and how they affect gay men is brilliant. 

I look forward to working with Outhouse East on raising much needed funds for the fabulous work they do...and having lots of tea and cake at the weekly drop in sessions! I am proud to stand alongside Paris Lees and Matthew Todd as a supporter and patron of Outhouse East."

Paris Lees

​Paris is Editor of META – a ground-breaking digital publication devoted to gender, published by the people behind Gay Times and DIVA. She is also a trans campaigner. Paris had significant input into Channel 4′s reality doc My Transsexual Summer and advised on BBC Three’s Coming Out Diaries – both widely watched and positively received.

"The voluntary sector was a much-needed safety net for me growing up as a queer teenager. During some of the toughest periods of my life, I was able to make friends, seek counselling and gain safe-sex advice. Not to mention condoms. I needed that support and bi, trans and gay kids today need it too. 

In 2009, I began volunteering for Brighton and Hove LGBT Switchboard and also trans charity the Gender Trust. Helping out really helped build my self-esteem, and gave me the confidence to seek work experience as a journalist in London.  

That is why I am proud of the wonderful work done at Outhouse East. Managed with passion, this unique project is a beacon of light for the pink youth of Essex. It’s also a place where trans issues are given the serious attention they deserve. Spot on!"