This June 2000
edition focuses on gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning
(GLBTQ) youth and includes:
GLBTQ
Youth
Understanding
the needs of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (GLBTQ)
youth is essential to our work with teens. All young people need to feel
connected and safe, but to many GLBTQ youth, the stakes are raised because
of the stigma they face in society as a whole.
While teens
typically experience uncomfortable emotions as they develop their sexual
identity, GLBTQ youth are more at risk for health problems due to feelings
of isolation and a lack of support in their homes, school, and community.
In fact, they are among the most targeted hate crime victims. As health
educators, we can help create a safe learning environment, as well as
promote the healthy sexual development of all youth, including GLBTQ youth.
We devote this edition of ReCAPP to that objective.
What
is Sexual Orientation?
Sexual orientation
refers to a constellation of personal factors, such as sexual attraction,
behavior, fantasies, emotional and social preferences. It is related to
sexual identity, or how you think of yourself, which can change from one
period of your life to another. One's sexual orientation is likely the
result of a combination of biological and social factors. According to
research, it is not just a matter of sexual "preference." People do not
choose to be gay or lesbian. In fact, according to well-known sexual researcher,
Alfred Kinsey, many of us have had thoughts, at some time during our life,
about same sex interaction.
Definitions
of GLBTQ
We offer
the following definitions to understand the terms "Gay," "Lesbian,"
"Bisexual," "Transgender," and "Questioning"
youth. However, we should note that these definitions are not standardized,
and terms are used differently by different individuals and in different
regions. The meanings of words also change over time. Concepts and attitudes
toward gender identity and sexual identity are changing in society as
a whole, as well as within the Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay and Transgender
communities. Therefore, the meanings of these words will continue to change
as well.
Gay
usually refers to an individual who has significant sexual or romantic
attractions primarily to members of the same gender or sex, or who identifies
as a member of the gay community. A gay person may be of any gender identity.
The term "gay" is sometimes used as a synonym for gay male; however, a
male may identify as gay without identifying with the gay community. (From
the Bisexual Resource Center at www.biresource.org/bisexuality.html)
Lesbian
usually refers to a girl or woman who has significant sexual or romantic
attractions primarily to members of the same gender or sex, or who identifies
as a member of the lesbian community. (From the Bisexual Resource Center
at www.biresource.org/bisexuality.html)
Bisexual
refers to people who have the potential to feel sexually attracted
to, and to engage in sensual or sexual relationships with, people of either
sex. A bisexual person may not be equally attracted to both sexes, and
the degree of attraction may vary over time. Self-perception is the key
to a bisexual identity. Many people engage in sexual activity with people
of both sexes, yet do not identify as bisexual. Likewise, other people
engage in sexual relations with people of one sex, or do not engage in
sexual activity at all, yet consider themselves bisexual. There is no
behavioral "test" to determine whether or not one is bisexual. (From the
Bisexual Resource Center at www.biresource.org/bisexuality.html)
Transgender
refers to people who manifest characteristics, behaviors or self-expression,
which in their own or someone else's perception, is typical, of or commonly
associated with, persons of another gender. There is great diversity among
transgender people. Various terms are used to describe segments of the
transgender community. Some of these terms are transvestite, crossdresser,
bi-gendered, androgyne, transsexual, drag queen and male/female impersonator.
Each of these terms describes a distinct type of transgender person.
Research
suggests there is a biological basis for transgender behavior, but to
what degree is unknown. Transgender people manifest their characteristics,
behaviors and self expression at different stages in their lives ranging
from infancy to old age. This leads to the observation that biology creates
a capacity while nurturing and individual choice may retard or accelerate
the emergence or degree of transgender behavior. (From the PFLAG -Talk/TGS-PFLAG
Virtual Library at http://www.critpath.org/pflag-talk/library.html)
Questioning
youth
refers to teens who are going through a process of questioning
or are unsure of their sexual orientation.
Overview
of the Issues
Why is
pregnancy prevention important for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender
and questioning (GLBTQ) youth?
Actually,
research tells us that the majority of adult lesbian and bisexual women
have had heterosexual intercourse at some point in their lives, (Johnson,
1987). Moreover, at least 30% have been pregnant, (Ryan, 1988).
Lesbian
and bisexual teens might have heterosexual experiences for a number of
reasons, including curiosity, wanting to hide or "change" their sexual
identity, or as a result of rape. Findings from a study published in Family
Planning Perspectives ("Sexual Intercourse, Abuse and Pregnancy
Among Adolescent Women: Does Sexual Orientation Make a Difference?,"
Saewyc et al., 1999) indicate that reproductive health care
providers should not assume that pregnant teenagers are heterosexual,
or that teens who identify as bisexual, or lesbian, or are unsure of their
sexual orientation do not need family planning counseling.
The study
also highlights a need for health interventions that target lesbian and
bisexual young women to prevent sexual and physical violence, as well
as reduce risky sexual behaviors. According to its authors, "Clinicians
who work with [lesbian and bisexual] adolescents need to be aware of the
multiple psychosocial abuse, early sexual debut, frequent sexual intercourse,
participation in prostitution and ineffective contraceptive use." They
urge further research to explore such issues, including the "interactions"
between sexual identity development in teens and risky sexual behavior.
Other emotional
and physical health concerns...
Apart from
pregnancy prevention specifically, there are other related issues faced
by GLBTQ youth. Safe schools are a top priority for parents and teachers.
However, according to PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians
and Gays), students are not safe in schools. In fact, harassment
from other students is a primary concern for GLBTQ youth.
- The average
high school student hears 25 anti-gay slurs daily.
(Source: Carter, Kelley, "Gay Slurs Abound," in The Des Moines Register,
March 7, 1997, p.1.)
- As many
as 97% of high school students regularly hear homophobic remarks.
(Source: Making Schools Safe for Gay and Lesbian
Youth: Report of the Massachusetts Governor’s Commission on Gay
and Lesbian Youth, 1993.)
- One study
found 18.4% of the gay, lesbian, and bisexual students had been in a
physical fight resulting in treatment by a doctor or nurse compared
to 4% of their peers, and 22.2% skipped school in the past month because
they felt unsafe on route to or at school, compared to 4.2% of their
peers.
(Source: Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior Survey, Massachusetts
Department of Education, 1997.)
- According
to the same study, of 4,159 Massachusetts high school students, 31.2%
identifying as lesbian, gay, or bisexual, were threatened/injured with
a weapon at school in the past year compared to 6.9% of their peers.
(Source: Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior Survey,
Massachusetts Department of Education, 1997.)
- In a
national survey, youth described being called lesbian or gay as the
most deeply upsetting form of sexual harassment they experienced.
(Source: American Association of University Women, 1993.
A total of 1,632 field surveys were completed by public school students,
grades 8-11, in 79 schools across the U.S.)
- The Gay,
Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) recently completed
a National School Climate Survey of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
(LGBT) students affiliated with local youth service organizations around
the country.
GLSEN is the largest national organization working to end homophobia
in K-12 schools. Their survey findings include reported data on homophobic
remarks in school, harassment and overall comfort in school. For example,
91.4% of a total of 496 LGBT youth reported that they sometimes or frequently
hear homophobic remarks in their school, with one-third reporting that
no one ever intervened in these circumstances. More information is available
from GLSEN's web site: www.glsen.org/
Because
GLBTQ youth are more frequently harassed, they are also more likely to
skip classes, drop out of school, and be forced to leave home or become
runaways.
- Service providers estimate that lesbian, gay and bisexual youth make
up 20-40% of homeless youth in urban areas.
(Source: "The National Network
of Runaway and Youth Services. To Whom Do They Belong?: Runaway, Homeless
and Other Youth in High-Risk Situations in the 1990’s." Washington,
D.C. The National Network, 1991.)
Another
critical health issue for GLBTQ youth is drug and alcohol abuse.
The P.E.R.S.O.N.
Project's Appendix V: Research on Health Education Needs of LGBT Youth
indicates that "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth are
at special risk for misuse of substances such as alcohol, tobacco, and
drugs due to the stresses to which a hostile society and homophobic educational
system subject them."
GLBTQ youth
are also at increased risk to attempt and commit suicide.
- Studies
on youth suicide consistently find that lesbian and gay youth are 2-6
times more likely to attempt suicide than other youth and may account
for 30% of all completed suicides among teens.
(Source: Report of the Secretary’s
Task Force on Youth Suicide, US Department of Health and Human Services,
1989.)
- In a
study of 4,159 Massachusetts high school students, 46% who identified
as lesbian, gay or bisexual had attempted suicide in the past year compared
to 8.8% of their peers, and 23.5% required medical attention as a result
of a suicide attempt compared to 3.3% of their peers.
(Source: Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior Survey, Massachusetts Department
of Education, 1997.)
What
Educators Can Do
- Be
Sensitive to
factors which may contribute to low self-esteem. The first step is simply
becoming aware of the special needs and concerns faced by GLBTQ youth.
Examine your own biases. Since most of us have come from a homophobic
society, we are likely to be influenced by misinformation and fear-based
attitudes. And whatever our health education setting, we can make sure
to set and enforce clear boundaries (rules and norms) to ensure respectful
behavior between individuals and to prevent harassment.
- Be
aware of heterosexism or assumptions that identifying as
heterosexual and having sexual and romantic attractions only to members
of the other gender is good and desirable, that other sexual identities
and attractions are bad and unacceptable, and that anyone whose sexual
identity is not known is heterosexual.
- Use
"inclusive" language. Unwittingly, many educators alienate gay and
lesbian youth with the language they use. Creating a classroom climate
that is safe for and inclusive of gay and lesbian youth is important
if we want to include them in the learning process. (See the ReCAPP
Learning Activity "Six Simple
Strategies for Including Gay and Lesbian Youth.")
- PFLAG offers 12 informative "Tips for Professionals Who Work
with Gay Youth." Find these at www.pflag.org/store/resource/tips.html.
Other Resources for Safe Schools & Youth are available for ordering
at www.pflag.org/schools/schoolresources.htm.
- We recommend
another resource which can be viewed online and downloaded. "Just
the Facts About Sexual Orientation & Youth" was developed as
a primer for educators and is endorsed by several organizations who
share a concern for the health and education of all students. Organizations
including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Association
of School Administrators, the Interfaith Alliance Foundation, and the
National Education Association developed this document to help guide
school personnel dealing with controversies about homosexuality in their
schools. This primer addresses sexual orientation development, reparative
therapy, transformational ministries, relevant legal principles, and
identifies other resources as well. You can view it online at www.glsen.org/.
More
Information/Resources
Check out
other web sites including:
Parents,
Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)
www.pflag.org
Advocates
for Youth
www.advocatesforyouth.org
bi.org
www.bi.org
Gender
Identity Center
www.transgender.org/tg/gic/
Children
of Lesbians and Gays Everywhere
www.colage.org
Gay, Lesbian
& Straight Education Network
www.glsen.org
Lambda
Legal Defense & Education Fund www.lambdalegal.org
National
Youth Advocacy Coalition
www.nyacyouth.org
The P.E.R.S.O.N.
Project
www.youth.org/loco/PERSONProject/
Safe Schools
Coalition of Washington
www.safeschools-wa.org
Sexual
Information and Education Council of the United States
www.siecus.org
Sexual
Minority Youth Assistance League
www.smyal.org
Youth
Resource
www.youthresource.com
Please
note: ReCAPP does not necessarily endorse the viewpoints that may
be presented on these sites. These sites are run by independent organizations,
and these links are provided to you for obtaining additional information.
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