LGBTQ Youth Still at Risk

Dear Leading Ladies,

Discrimination. Harassment. Bullying. Ostracism.

These are some of the experiences our LGBTQ children frequently endure.

Fear. Depression. Anxiety. Stress. Unsafe. Unwelcome.

These are some of the feelings our LGBTQ youth routinely experience.

It should be no surprise, then, that new research just released by The Trevor Project reveals that:

  • 50% of LGBTQ teens (ages 13–17) seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year.

  • 18% actually made a suicide attempt.

  • That compares to 9% of all teens.

To break it down further, the suicide rate among trans teens is almost six times higher than the average among all teens. And the reason, researchers at The Trevor Project conclude, is not that LGBTQ youth are “inherently prone to suicide risk because of their sexual orientation or gender identity but rather placed at higher risk because of how they are mistreated and stigmatized in society.” Too often, the rejection and lack of support from their families greatly outweigh the harm they may experience from their peers. The combination creates a sense of loneliness and desperation, compounding the normal angst of adolescence. Native/Indigenous, Asian American Pacific Island (AAPI), Black, Latinx, and multiracial LGBTQ teens — with their complicated intersectional identities that often involve histories of discrimination, racism, and victimization — encounter even more challenges.

Truancy and academic failure are often byproducts of what LGBTQ youth endure in school. A recent Youth Risk Behavior Study revealed that of LGBTQ students in school:

  • 10 percent were threatened or injured with a weapon on school property

  • 34 percent were bullied on school property

  • 28 percent experienced cyberbullying

  • 23 percent who had dated someone during the 12 months before the survey had experienced sexual dating violence

  • 18 percent had experienced physical dating violence

  • Another 18 percent had been forced to have sexual intercourse at some point in their lives

The results can be disastrous when these experiences are endured in addition to living in a home that is not supportive — or, worse yet, being expelled from one’s home and family.

Many of us struggle to support our friends, family, and strangers who are part of the LGBTQ community. We want to be welcoming, protective, loving, and accepting, yet using the correct pronouns at times presents a learning curve. According to the Trevor Project, however, doing so can make all the difference.

In fact, an article published by Newport Academy references research that “shows that transgender and nonbinary youth whose pronouns are respected by the people they live with were half as likely to attempt suicide as those whose pronouns were not respected. Moreover, trans and nonbinary youth who were able to change their name and/or gender on legal documents, like driver’s licenses and birth certificates, also have a lower suicide risk. It’s okay for parents to feel some sadness or resistance to these changes.” So, for the well-being of these youth, it’s clearly worth it for us to learn and use their chosen pronouns.

Resources and Things to Do

Read on for resources and more about how we can support LGBTQ young people in our communities:

  • For a comprehensive and helpful resource on gender terminology and pronoun use, consult this guide provided by NPR.

  • One of the big problems facing the LGBTQ young community is the lack of access to mental health services. To help fill that need, The Trevor Project provides 24/7 crisis support services to LGBTQ young people. Text, chat, or call anytime to reach a trained counselor. Let friends and family know about this resource.

  • The Boston Alliance of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Youth (BAGLY) is a youth-led, adult-supported social support organization, committed to social justice and creating, sustaining, and advocating for programs, policies, and services for the LGBTQ+ youth community.

  • The 50-member Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth advises others in state government on effective policies, programs, and resources for LGBTQ youth.

  • The North Shore Alliance of LGBTQ Youth (NAGLY) Youth Center in Salem provides a variety of services, activities, and support, including support groups, legal help, counseling, and education.

  • The Netflix documentary Pray Away features ex-leaders and a survivor of the so-called "conversion therapy" movement who speak out about its harm to the LGBTQ+ community and its devastating persistence.

  • The North Shore Pride Festival is Saturday, June 25 from 11 am to 5 pm at Washington Square in Salem. Bring a friend, especially one who might not be inclined to attend.

  • Remember to join Leading Ladies at The Cabot in Beverly on Wednesday, June 8 at 7 p.m., when author, educator, and activist Alex Myers speaks about “What is Gender and Why Does It Matter? Register now!

This list of resources is far from exhaustive. What is most important is that we recognize the threats facing these children. Children who should have bright futures ahead of them. Children who can become teachers and doctors and artists and scientists. Mothers and fathers and aunts and uncles. But only if they feel safe and loved enough to grow up.

Let’s do what we can to make sure the arms of our families, our schools, and our communities are open wide for the LGBTQ children around us.

Here’s to love,

Therese (she/her)
Judy (she/her)
Mary (she/her)
Leading Ladies Executive Team
Leadingladiesvote.org
ladies@leadingladiesvote.org

Brenda Riddell