This is a project thesis headed up by Susana Rodriquez who attended Smith College. This paper is about how Latinas have to balance different identities when they are at the college campus. Queer Latinas run into what is called the “double minority” tern in which queer Latinas are part of two not priviledged groups: queer and Latina. She writes about how she came to campus and “came out” and was a attending a mostly white campus. She learned about power and oppresion in her classes on campus. She critiques some of the major identity “fathers” in missing the intersection piece.
This publication focuses on the obstacles youth of color face with discrimination and racism.
- Queer youth of color are less likely to be out to their parents
- In research gathered at Black Pride events, Black youth said the church considered homosexuality a sin.
- Youth of color say they feel they have to choose between culture and sexual identities.
Click here to read the full article.
This kit explains why someone might want to change their name and how they can go about doing that in Georgia. It is writing knowing that institutions can be intimidating to working class, the young and people of color. It guides you throughout the steps you need to complete to change your name and or gender in Georgia.
This is useful to youth who want to change their names and/or genders. It is also useful to those working with those desiring to change their names and/or gender.
Click here to access the kit.
Queer immigrants face unique challenges such as:
- denied healthcare on the basis that they are immigrants
- non competent healthcare because providers are not educated on LGBTQI issues
- transgender folks are denied healthcare at a higher rate based on identity
Factors affecting Latina Health:
- access to healthcare
- racism & discrimination
- acculturation & biculturalism
- familismo (the family)
- gender roles
- early puberty & having an older boyfriend
Recommendations for Developing Programs for Latina Adolescents
- Make programs culturally and linguistically appropriate.
- Involve teens and their social support networks.
- Address culturally defined gender roles.
- Involve communities in programs’ development, implementation, and evaluation.
This resource featured in Families are Talking, a quarterly newsletter published by the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS), discusses why it is important for parents to talk about LGBTQ issues to their children and the crucial role they play in dispelling myths, challenging stereotypes, and expressing the idea that everyone deserves respect regardless of their race, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation.
Definitions of important terms such as heterosexual, homosexual and bisexual are included as well as examples of age-appropriate conversations parents can have with their children who are in different age groups. Lastly, a list of organizations, websites and contact information is included at the end for further reference.
Levine, A., Rodriguez, M., Kempner, M. and Ferko, P. Why It’s Important to Talk about Sexual Orientation. 2004. Families are Talking. Vol. 3. No. 2.
Link to PDF for “Why It’s Important to Talk About LGBTQ”
Reuters released an article detailing a study done by Mark Hatzenbuehler from Columbia University that “found lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) youth are less likely to attempt suicide when surrounded by a supportive social environment.” The original source research article was published in Pediatrics and is titled “Social Environment Linked to Gay Teen Suicide Risk.” The research study was based on data from three years’ worth of health surveys that were completed by high school students in Oregon.
They found several interesting results:
- LGB youth were more likely to attempt suicide compared to heterosexual youth (21.5% vs. 4.2%)
- Among LGB youth, the risk of committing suicide was 20% greater in unsupportive environments compared to supportive environments.
- A supportive environment was associated with a fewer suicide attempts.
This research study revealed that a negative environment can increase risk for suicide attempts among LGB youth and policy change should focus on improving social environment to address sexual-orientation related disparities in suicide attempts.
Pittman, G. “Social Environment Linked to Gay Teen Suicide Risk.” Reuters. 18 April, 2011. Web. 8 Dec, 2013.
Hatzenbuehler, M. “The Social Environment and Suicide Attempts in Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youth.” (2011). Pediatrics. doi: 10.1542.
Link to Reuters Article
Link to Source Article by Hatzenbuehler
This Transitions article aims to compile and detail the best approach to help programs focus on the needs of GLBTQ youth and offers factual information and risks that GLBTQ youth face. It includes fact sheets, tips and suggestions, GLBTQ’s health care bill of rights and first hand accounts by teens and youth advocates.
A survey conducted (at the time of this article) revealed that around 5.5% of high school youth self-identified as gay, lesbian, bisexual and/or reported same-gender sexual contact. Society in the U.S. sometimes show stigma towards GLBTQ people and societal homophobia can cause these youths to devalue themselves and feel isolated and alone. GLBTQ youth may also feel more inclined to drop out, run away, use drugs and attempt suicide because of societal stress.
In 2001, Advocates for Youth launched the Rights. Respect. Responsibility. (3Rs) campaign. Youth, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity have the right to comprehensive sexual health education and services and deserve respect. Society also has the responsibility to provide young people with education and resources so that they can informed decisions. The article details how programs can implement this framework into serving GLBTQ youth.
Gilliam, J. Respecting the Rights of GLBTQ Youth, A Responsibility of Youth-Serving Professionals. 2002. Advocates for Youth Transitions.
Link to PDF
“Our Trans Children” is a resource published by the Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) that covers a vast number of topics and issues and provides answers to common questions regarding transgender issues. This specific edition also features information regarding children with gender-variant behaviors.
The booklet provides detailed answers to commonly asked questions. The topics and questions are grouped into the following categories:
- Some Commonly Asked Questions about Trans People
- Similarities and Differences Between Sexual Orientation and Gender Variance
- Who are Intersex People?
- Issues of Transgender Youth
- Trans People and the Law
- A New Day is Dawning
Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) Transgender Network (TNET). Our Trans Children. 2007.
Link to PDF for “Our Trans Children.”
“Our Daughters and Sons” is a booklet published by the organization Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) that focuses on educating parents whose children might be or are gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender. The booklet provides very detailed answers to common questions that parents may have such as “Why is my chid gay?” and “Should we consult a psychiatrist or psychologist?”
The topics discussed include coping mechanisms, how to support sons and daughters, communication, religion, HIV/AIDS and legal concerns. Additionally, there is a list of famous gay, lesbian and bisexual individuals and additional resources and information.
New York City Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. Our Daughters and Sons: Questions and Answers for Parents of Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual People. 2006. Can We Understand? A Guide for Parents.
“The Make it Better Project aims to educate, motivate, and unite students and adults to effectively take action to stop bullying and harassment in schools based on actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity”
The website provides ideas and information for youth to increase LGBT awareness and community at the school level and at state and national levels. There are also resources for parents, teachers and school administrators, and adult supporters who want to take a stand against bullying and advocate for LGBT youth and their rights.
There are also resources for individuals who want support or need to speak to someone in a confidential manner about LGBT issues.
This online resource on the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SEICUS) website focuses on answering common questions regarding LGBTQ youth. Topics discussed include data from surveys regarding same-sex sexual behavior, HIV/AIDS and STD risks, mental health, homelessness, schools and education and general trends.
“Questions and Answers: LGBTQ Youth Issues.” Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States. n.p. n.d. Web. 9 Jan. 2014.
LGBTQ youth commonly experience high rates of discrimination and harassment in school but are often not protected under school policy. In addition, most sex education programs do not cover LGBTQ topics and abstinence-only-until-marriage programs further propagate negative sentiment towards these students.
This fact sheet published by Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS), provides data and information regarding key issues faced by LGBTQ youth. Topics that are discussed include harassment, discrimination, legalities, sex education and abstinence-only-until-marriage programs.
Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS). Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning (LGBTQ) Youth Fact Sheet. [PDF document]. Retrieved from http://www.siecus.org
Link to view the SIECUS LGBTQ fact sheet
Howard Brown Health Center was founded in 1974 and is now one of the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) organizations. Howard Brown Center is based in Chicago and serves men, women, infants, youth, and children through many health clinics and research centers. For more information about Howard Brown Health Center’s history, click here.
“Howard Brown exists to eliminate the disparities in health care experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people through research, education and the provision of services that promote health and wellness.”
The Howard Brown Health Center provides many services including:
- Walk-in Clinic
- STD & HIV Rapid Testing
- Transgender Health
- HIV/STD Prevention & Services
- Youth services
- Elder services
- Community initiatives
- Alternative Insemination (AI) Program
- Case Management
- Counseling & Psychotherapy
- Domestic Violence Support
- Workshops & Support Groups
Howard Brown Health Center offers discounted health services to qualifying patients who are uninsured and have low income. They also accept many insurance plans, in addition to Medicaid and Medicare.
For a list of locations, hours and specific services, click here.
For health related matters, please phone Howard Brown Health Center at 773-288-1600. For urgent health issues, please call 911.
LGBTQ youth appear to have a greater risk for adverse risk outcomes such as HIV and STDs, substance use, depression, and suicide. The authors were interested in learning about the experiences of LGBTQ youth with healthcare providers and healthcare services.
They collected data by placing a survey on Youth Guardian Services, a youth-run non-profit organization that provides support services on the Internet to LGBTQ and straight supportive youth, and it was available for completing by visitors to the site. The survey covered topics about preferences regarding healthcare providers, healthcare settings and the health issues that they consider important to discuss with a healthcare provider.
Results showed that interpersonal skills and how healthcare providers interact with patients were more important to youth than the providers’ specific competencies. Results also showed that LGBTQ youth ranked gender and sexual orientation of the provider among the lowest in importance, implying that these youth do not necessarily need to be served only by LGBTQ healthcare providers.
LGBTQ youth considered preventative healthcare, nutrition, family issues and safe sex as important health concerns and needs. This emphasizes the importance for providers to not only address health risks, but to also stress wellness, health promotion, and psychosocial issues facing LGBTQ in the context of home and family when serving LGBTQ youth.
Hoffman, N.D., Freeman, K., & Swann, S. (2009). Health preference of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth. Journal of Adolescent Health. 45. p. 222-229.
This pdf from Advocates for Youth is a handy guide for creating safe space for GLBTQ youth. These youth face all types of harassment and challenges. Research shows that homophobia and heterosexism greatly contribute to GLBTQ youth’s high rates of attempted and completed suicide, violence victimization, substance abuse, teenage pregnancy, and HIV associated risky behaviors. This toolkit discusses some of the tremendous difficulties GLBTQ youth face today, as well as how people can help create areas where GLBTQ youth can feel comfortable being themselves and not facing any type of discrimination. It also contains several lesson plans to allow individuals to teach this information so that society can better understand the challenges these people face and how to respect them.
- Positive community support and role models for GLBTQ adolescents are minimal, and many adults fear discrimination, job loss, and abuse if they openly support GLBT youth.
- GLBT youth often internalize negative societal messages regarding sexual orientation and suffer from self-hatred as well as from social and emotional isolation. They may use substances to manage stigma and shame, to deny same-sex sexual feelings, and/or as a defense against ridicule and violence.
- In a recent survey, 33 percent of gay, lesbian, and bisexual high school students reported attempting suicide in the previous year, compared to eight percent of their heterosexual peers; 14 in another study, gay and bisexual males were nearly four times more likely to attempt suicide than were their straight peers.
Citation: Girl’s Best Friend Foundation, A. F. Y. (2005). Creating Safe Space for GLBTQ Youth: A Toolkit.
Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) put together a collection of real-life accounts of people who identify themselves as LGBT and people who have family members who are LGBT and are struggling with their religious faith as a result. Topics such as changing religious denominations, facing opposition, educating others, and keeping one’s faith are discussed. The brochure includes resources for the LGBT community and their family and friends and also names of religious and spiritual groups that are welcoming to the LGBT community.
Citation: PFLAG. (2006). Faith in Our Families: Parents, Families and Friends Talk bout Religion and Homosexuality. 1-20
The Creating Safe Space Toolkit for GLBTQ Youth, published by Advocates for Youth and Girl’s Best Friend Foundation, is intended for youth-serving professionals, especially in fields such as youth development, education, health care, and social work.
This toolkit addresses topics concerning homophobia and transphobia among youth and provides advice and tips in assessing an organization’s internal climate and staff’s personal attitudes regarding sexual orientation and gender identity, developing proactive policies, and developing positive attitudes regarding GLBTQ people.
The first part of the toolkit complies a lot of data from studies and surveys that looked at the homophobic climate in the U.S, sexual orientation development, family relationships, GLBT youth of color, substance abuse, lack of GLBT youth positive role models, sexual risks, and suicide risks. The second part of the toolkit provides tips and strategies for creating a safe and inclusive space for GLBTQ youth.
The “Bisexuality 101” booklet is published by Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) and contains a detailed and concise introduction to bisexuality. The booklet also includes common questions with answers regarding bisexuality. Topics that are covered include relationships, AIDS, politics and biphobia. Tips on how to increase inclusivity and organizations and resources supporting bisexuality are included.
Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. Bisexuality 101. 2001.
The “Be Yourself” booklet, published by Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, is targeted towards youth who are or may be GLBT and have questions or are interested in looking for more information via websites and organizations.
Very detailed answers are provided for questions ranging from “Is it okay to be GLBT?” to “Do I need to worry about HIV and AIDS?” Topics discussed include reparative therapy, ex-gay ministries, gender identity, stereotypes, youth of color, HIV, AIDS, acceptance, coming out, communication, harassment, friendships and family. A list of organizations and resources is also included.