LGBT Youth

1
LGBT Youth

• Issues in Public Health

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Presentation objectives

• Participants will be able to identify three
  issues unique to LGBT youth
• Participants will be able to identify two reasons
  for disparities in LGBT youth experiences
• Participants will be able to identify at least
  three methods of improving LGBT youth outcomes

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Brief overview of LGBT

• Lesbian
• Gay
• Bisexual
• Transgender

4
The coming out process

• General Model
• Awareness
• Exploration
• Acceptance
• Integration

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LGBT youth experiences

• Not monolithic!
• Can be shaped by many factors
• Trends
• Heightened risks

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Heightened risks for LGBT youth

• Vulnerable housing/ homelessness
• Trouble in school
• Violence
• Self harm, suicidal ideation

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Experiences of LGBT youth in high school

• Increased harassment
• Feelings of safety
• School absences
• Poorer academic outcomes

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Vulnerable housing/ homelessness

• Hostile or unwelcoming home
• Disproportionately homeless
• Safety concerns
• Survival sex

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Violence

• Bullying
• Domestic Violence
• Sexual Assault
• Bias crimes/ hate crimes

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Self harm, suicidal ideation

• Alcohol, substance and tobacco use/abuse
• Self inflicted harm
• Suicidal ideation
• Rates of suicide

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Considerations for LGBT youth

• Parental acceptance and views
• Supportive climate in school
• Healthy LGBT role models

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Considerations for intervention

• Create inclusive policies
• Ensure safe spaces
• Consider the ecological model
• Tips for inclusive programs

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Acknowledgements

• This presentation was designed in Spring 2011 by
  Curran Saile, Program Director of the Pride
  Center of the Capital Region done in partial
  completion of Masters in Public Health
  requirements at the University at Albany School
  of Public Health. The project would not have been
  possible without the support of Mary Applegate,
  Jennifer Manganello, Cheryl Reeves and the Pride
  Center of the Capital Region.

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References

• Blake et al. Preventing Sexual Risk Behaviors
  Among Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual
• Adolescents The Benefits of Gay-Sensitive HIV
  Instruction in Schools. American Journal of
• Public Health. .June 2001. Vol. 91,No. 6,
  940-946.
• Cochran, Bryan N., Stewart, Angela J., Ginzler,
  Joshua A., and Ana Mari Cauce. 2002.
• Challenges Faced by Homeless Sexual Minorities
  Comparison of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual,
• And Transgender Homeless Adolescents With Their
  Heterosexual Counterparts. American
• Journal of Public Health 92, no. 5 773-777.
• Garofalo, Robert, MD R. Wolf, Cameron MS S.
  Wissow, Lawrence MD, MPH
• Woods, Elizabeth R., MD, MPH Goodman, Elizabeth
  MD. Sexual Orientation and Risk of
• Suicide Attempts Among a Representative Sample of
  Youth. Pediatric and Adolescent
• Medicine. Volume153, May 1999.
• Kelleher, Cathy. Minority stress and health
  Implications for lesbian, gay, bisexual,
• transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) young
  people. Counseling Psychology Quarterly Dec
• 2009, Vol. 22 Issue 4, p373-379, 7p, 2 Charts

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References

• Kosciw, J. G., Greytak, E. A., Diaz, E. M., and
  Bartkiewicz, M. J. (2010). The 2009 National
• School Climate Survey The experiences of
  lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth in
• our nations schools. New York GLSEN, 2009.
• Kosciw, J. G., Greytak, E. A., Diaz, E. M. Who,
  what, where, when, and why
• Demographic and ecological factors contributing
  to hostile school climate for lesbian, gay,
• bisexual, and transgender youth. Journal of Youth
  and Adolescence, 38(7), 976988, 2009.
• Horn, S. S., Kosciw, J. G., Russell, S. T. New
  research on lesbian, gay, bisexual,
• and transgender youth Studying lives in context.
  Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 38(7),
• 863866, 2009.
• Nealy, Eleanor C., Public Testimony to the New
  York State Legislature Standing Committees on
• Alcoholism and Drug Abuse and Health, New York
  City, January 7, 2005.
• Rew, Lynn, Whittaker, Tiffany A.,
  Taylor-Seehafer, Margaret, and Lorie R. Smith.
• Sexual Health Risks and Protective Resources in
  Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Heterosexual
• Homeless Youth. Journal for Specialists in
  Pediatric Nursing 10, no. 1 11-20, 2005.

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References

• Rew, Lynn, Tayler-Seehafer, Margaret and Maureen
  Fitzgerald. Sexual Abuse, Alcohol
• and Other Drug Use, and Suicidal Behaviors in
  Homeless Adolescents. Issues in
• Contemporary Pediatric Nursing 24 225-240,
  2001.
• Riley, Bettina H. GLB Adolescents Coming Out.
  Journal of Child Adolescent Psychiatric
• Nursing. February 2010, Vol. 23 Issue 1, 3-10.
• Whitbeck,Les B., Chen, Xiaojin, Hoyt, Dan R.,
  Tyler, Kimberly A. and Kurt D. Johnson. Mental
• Disorder, Subsistence Strategies, and
  Victimization Among Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual
• Homeless and Runaway Adolescents. The Journal of
  Sex Research 41, no. 4 329-342, 2004.

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Further resources in New York State

• Albany-Pride Center of the Capital Region
• www.capitalpridecenter.org
• Buffalo- Gay and Lesbian Youth Services
• www.glyswny.org
• Long Island- Long Island Gay and Lesbian Youth
• www.ligly.org
• Manhattan- The LGBT Center
• www.gaycente.org
• Rochester- The Gay Alliance of Genesee Valley
• www.gayalliance.org
• Empire State Pride Agenda Health and Human
  Service Network
• www.prideagenda.org