Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth
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Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and queer (LGBTQ) youth experience dating and domestic violence at similar rates and in much the same way as heterosexual couples. However, LGBTQ youth can face unique obstacles in correctly identifying abuse and seeking help.
Some basic facts and statistics
After coming out to their family or being discovered, many LGBTQ youth are thrown out of their home, mistreated, or made the focus of their family's dysfunction.
Service providers estimate that 25 to 40 percent of homeless youth may be LGBTQ. These rates may be conservative since many LGBTQ youth fear disclosing their orientation or gender identity.
In one nationwide survey, over 84 percent of LGBTQ students reported verbal harassment at school. Over 39 percent of all gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth reported being punched, kicked, or injured with a weapon at school because of their sexual orientation while 55 percent of transgender youth reported physical attacks because of their gender identity or gender expression.
The consequences of physical and verbal abuse directed at LGBTQ 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.
for full article and references visit Advocates for Youth
LGBTQ youth feel they have nowhere to turn. According to several surveys, four out of five gay and lesbian students say they don’t know one supportive adult at school.
for full article and references visit Mental Health America
The typical high school student hears anti-gay slurs 25.5 times a day.
80% of gay and lesbian youth report severe social isolation.
19% of gay men and 25% of lesbians report suffering physical violence at the hands of family members as a result of their sexual orientation.
20% of LGB youth report skipping school at least once a month because of feeling unsafe while there.
26% of adolescent gay males report having to leave home as a result of conflicts with their family over their sexual orientation.
for full article and references visit Lambda.org
