Gay, Lesbian, Bi, Transgender and Questioning Youth
Many youth programs and services don’t address the unique needs of the GLBTQ youth population. Research is showing that GLBTQ youth are at higher risk of homelessness, harassment, truancy, dropping out of school, violence and suicide.
Policymakers are starting to take notice of these issues and are implementing policies and legislation to assist these youth.
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Homelessness
There are approximately 1.68 million homeless youth in the United States per year. Between 20 to 40 percent identify as GLBTQ. A large percentage of GLBTQ youth are no longer welcome at home when they "come out" about their sexuality. Homeless GLBTQ youth are more likely to participate in sexual acts for housing; they are abused more often at homeless shelters, especially adult shelters; and they experience more physical violence on the streets.
Former foster care youth also make up a large percentage of the homeless youth population. As states begin to put more resource towards helping foster youth transition into adulthood, state agencies are also writing protections for GLBTQ foster youth in their policies.
The state of New York, Connecticut and Illinois include protections in their human services policies and California has legislation protecting this population. California also has statutory language protecting this population in the juvenile justice system.
Iowa, Illinois, Hawaii, Maine, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont have passed legislation that prohibits discrimination for housing and employment based on gender identity or sexual orientation, regardless of age.
Suicide
Suicide is the third leading cause of death for teens 15 to 19. Gay youth are 2 to 3 times more likely to attempt suicide than other young people. They comprise up to 30 percent of the estimated 5,000 youth suicides annually.
One-third of first suicide attempts occur the same year the youth identify their bisexuality or homosexuality, and most other attempts happen soon thereafter.
Massachusetts has a permanent commission on gay and lesbian youth that has a duty to work with the department of education and the department of public health to create school-based and community-based programs focusing on suicide prevention for this population.
There are at least 35 states that have legislated suicide prevention programs for the general population.
Bullying
Safe environments and effective education are fundamental principals of positive youth development.
Studies have shown that:
- Over 84 percent of GLBTQ students reported verbal harassment at school.
- Over 39 percent of GLBTQ youth reported being punched, kicked, or injured with a weapon at school because of their sexual orientation
- GLBTQ students who experience more frequent physical harassment were more likely to report they did not plan to go to college. Overall, GLBTQ students were twice as likely as the general population of students to report they were not planning to pursue any post-secondary education.
- 55 percent of transgender youth reported physical attacks because of their gender identity or gender expression.
- GLBTQ students were five times more likely to report having skipped school in the last month because of safety concerns than the general population of students.
The consequences of physical and verbal abuse directed at GLBTQ students include truancy, dropping out of school, poor grades, and having to repeat a grade. In one study, 28 percent of gay and bisexual youth dropped out of school due to peer harassment.
The Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network published “From Teasing to Torment: School Climate in America, A Survey of Students and Teachers” that explores students’ and teachers’ experiences with bullying and harassment.
As policymakers continue to recognize the prevalence and negative impact bullying has on children's education, they are developing policies to protect all students.
Several states have required school districts to develop anti-bullying policies. Iowa, Guam, Maryland, New Jersey and Vermont have passed legislation requiring schools to include gender identity and/or sexual orientation in a list of characteristics in their anti-bullying policies. California introduced legislation in 2005 but it was vetoed by the Governor.
It is important to understand that these bills do not reflect what all schools are doing. In some states, school districts have included sexual identity and sexual orientation in their policies without being required to by the legislature.
Positive Support
The 2005 National School Climate Survey found that schools with supportive staff, Gay/Straight Alliance groups and comprehensive harassment and bullying policies resulted in GLBTQ youth feeling safer at school, missing fewer days of school, an increased desire to pursue a post-secondary education and feeling more included at their school. Schools with comprehensive policies resulted in lower incidences of hearing homophobic remarks and lower rates of verbal harassment. Students at schools with inclusive policies also reported higher rates of intervention by school staff when homophobic remarks were made.
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For more information regarding youth issues, please contact Stephanie Walton in the Denver office at 303.364.7700 or cyf-info@ncsl.org or either Sheri Steisel or Lee Posey in the D.C. office at 202.624.5400 or fedhumserv-info@ncsl.org.
NOTE: NCSL provides links to other Web sites from time to time for information purposes only. Providing these links does not necessarily indicate NCSL's support or endorsement of the site.
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