1. GLBT Teens Are at High Risk for Suicide
Image (c) The Trevor Project
GLBT teens are significantly more likely than heterosexual teens to attempt or complete a suicide attempt. In fact, some studies put the risk for gay teens 30% higher than the risk for hetero teens!
However, it is important to realize that being GLBT itself is not a risk factor for suicide. Rather, the negative treatment that many GLBT teens endure can lead to suicidal feelings.
2. Lesbian & Bisexual Teens are at Great Risk for Teen Pregnancy
A study done of teens in British Columbia, Canada found that lesbian and bisexual girls were likely to get pregnant as teens. As the report states:
"Both bisexual and gay/ lesbian youth were more likely than their heterosexual peers to report having been pregnant or having caused a pregnancy. Compared to heterosexual peers their same age, bisexual and gay males were more than 3 times more likely to have been involved in a pregnancy, while lesbian and bisexual females were 2 to 3 times as likely to have been pregnant than heterosexual females."
3. Young Gay Men Are Among the Fastest Growing Groups to Contract HIV
Image (c) enric archivell
In the fall of 2008, the CDC released some upsetting news about HIV trends, reporting that the majority of new cases in the United States are among men who have sex with men.
According to the New York Times: "Most new infections of white gay and bisexual men occur when the men are in their 30s and 40s, the study found, while black gay and bisexual men are more likely to be infected in their teens and 20s...In one of the most dismal statistics provided by the centers, researchers said that 80 percent of gay and bisexual men in 15 cities had not been reached by intensive H.I.V. prevention efforts that have proven effective."
4. Accepting Parents Mean Healthier Gay Teens
Photo (c) Justin Sullivan
A December 2008 study done by researchers at San Francisco State University confirmed something obvious but important: gay teens whose parents accept their sexual orientation grow up happier and healthier. They are less likely to do drugs, be depressed or attempt suicide than those with parents who react badly to their news.
5. Sexual Orientation Still Not Covered by Most School Non-Discrimination Policies
Image (c) Steven Fernandez
A whopping 9 out of 10 GLBT students report being the victim or anti-gay discrimination or bullying. Yet 59% of American schools do include sexual orientation in their harassment or non-discrimination policies. The number that offer protection for gender identity is even lower. Additionally, only 9 states have anti-bullying laws that specifically address bullying and harassment based on sexual orientation.
This means that it is perfectly legal to harass or tease someone for being GLBT, while harassing or teasing someone for their religion or the color of their skin is against the law.
