Stigma on the Streets: LGBTQ marginalized and streetinvolved youth in BC

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Stigma on the Streets LGBTQ marginalized and
street-involved youth in BC

• Dr. Elizabeth M. Saewyc
• University of British Columbia
• McCreary Centre Society

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The Study

• Participatory epidemiology
• 9 cities across BC
• Experiential youth and youth workers
• Pencil and paper survey of health and life issues
• Not just risks, strengths and positives
• Ages 12 to 18
• 762 youth overall

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Reports Available
www.mcs.bc.ca
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Sexual orientation
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For these analyses

• Combining lesbian, gay, bisexual
• Males and females separately
• What about transgender?

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For these analyses

• What life experiences are different for LGB youth
  vs. Heterosexual youth?
• What are their experiences on the street?
• What risks and what hopes?

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Leaving home

• Compared to heterosexual teens
• Lesbian and bi girls more likely to have been
  kicked out (67 vs. 55 het)
• Girls also more likely to have run away from home
  (84 vs. 67)
• No differences for boys

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Living spaces

• Lesbian and bi girls were twice as likely to live
  in precarious housing in the past year vs.
  hetero girls
• 54 vs. 25
• Were also more likely to currently be living in
  care
• 16 vs. 7

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5 most common reasons for being on the street

• Mostly same for all groups, but the checking
  each are different

Heterosexual boys Friends are there 36 Feel
accepted 28 Conflict with parents
27 Kicked out 26 Ran away 17
Gay and Bi boys Kicked out 28 Feel
accepted 24 Friends are there 24 Conflict
with parents 24 Ran away 24
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5 most common reasons for being on the street

• Girls more likely to check several reasons

Heterosexual girls Friends are there 49 Feel
accepted 27 Conflict with parents
26 Addictions 21 Ran away 20
Lesbian and Bi girls Friends are there 49 Feel
accepted 43 Conflict with parents
42 Addictions 31 Ran away 31
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More likely to experience violence

• Girls higher rates of physical abuse
• 84 lesbian and bi vs. 59 hetero
• LGB youth higher rates of sexual abuse
• Boys 29 vs. 12
• Girls 66 vs. 46
• Also abuse in past 30 days

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More likely to experience violence

• Threatened 1 times past year
• 69 gay / bi vs. 44 hetero boys
• 70 lesbian / bi vs. 57 hetero girls
• LGB youth higher rates of assault
• Boys 52 vs. 41
• Girls 51 vs. 36

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More likely to be exploited

• Trading sex for money, drugs, shelter, food,
  transportation, clothes, etc.
• Males 59 gay/bi vs. 31 hetero
• Females 38 lesbian/bi vs. 23 hetero

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More likely to be hungry

• Especially girls
• 38 lesbian or bi girls once a week or more
• 12 hetero girls once a week or more
• For boys
• 29 gay or bi boys
• 22 hetero boys

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Suicide attempts in past year
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LGB youth also reported

• Less likely to be attending school
• Higher drug and alcohol use
• More likely to be regular smokers
• Different rates of mental health challenges, such
  as PTSD or anxiety
• Less likely to say they can get health care if
  they need it

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Not all negative

• LGB youth had hope for their futures
• Could identify things that made them happy, often
  friends and partners
• Had things they liked about their lives
• Were more likely to be involved in art, clubs and
  other creative activities

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Conclusions

• LGB youth may leave home because of family
  rejection and violence, however
• They find more stigma, rejection and violence on
  the street
• Overall, they face more health challenges than
  their heterosexual peers, especially bisexual and
  lesbian girls

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How can we create safer spaces and supports for
LGB street-involved youth?
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Thank you!
For further information, contact Dr. Elizabeth
Saewyc saewyc_at_interchange.ubc.ca
This work is supported in part by the Canadian
Institutes for Health Research, Institute for
Gender Health, Institute for Population
Public Health