Reflection

LGBTQ adolescents, also called sexual minority youth, have a higher risk of developing mental and emotional problems than heterosexual youth, and also face more bullying, harassment, and victimization due to homophobia (Craig, Austin, & McInroy, 2014). In order to address their needs, the researchers used group therapy that was based on

Case Study 14.1: David’s coming Out Process 1. What are the developmental challenges for sexual minority youth, as articulated in David’s story? David’s story points out the complicated lives that LGBTQ youth experience, youth who identify as transgender, lesbian, gay, bisexual, or queer are more than twice as likely to attempt suicide, and studies show that that higher risk stems from their experiences of discrimination and victimization. David’s journey as a gay teen reveals the challenges some young people face just for being who they are.

The first three sets of theory incorporated the levels, shifting levels of identities shaped by outside agencies for LGBT youth. Another social factor that impending on young sexual minorities are the threats of poverty. These threats cause LGBT youth to experience vulnerability and detriment to their identities. Corliss et al. research validates that statement. In their article, “High Burden of Homelessness Among Sexual-Minority Adolescents: Findings From a Representative, Massachusetts High School, Sample,” they review the prevalence of homelessness in LGBT and heterosexual adolescents (Corliss et al. 1683). Their findings include: 40% LGBT student in the Massachusetts

The Lesbian, Gay, Bi, and Transgendered (LGBT) youth population is one of the most vulnerable groups in our community. Being gay does not lead to risky behaviors or bad decision making, rather, societal stigma and discrimination can lead LGBT youth to seek emotional outlets. Today’s society has improved immensely towards the LGBT community, although it has not always been this way. Society can affect a person in shocking ways, influencing one’s unhealthy and unsafe physical and mental behaviors. This current vulnerable population deserves a voice and the simplicity of someone listening to them in order for both sides, accepting and non-accepting, to find a common ground and settle the violence.

Society’s view of the LGBTQ population has changed dramatically over time. Until 1973, the American Psychological Association had considered homosexuality to be a mental disorder (Silvestre, Beatty, & Friedman, 2013). Today, many LGBTQ couples are getting married and raising children. Although these individuals are receiving more legal benefits, they still must struggle with the stigma that society has associated with these gender and sexual identities (Hequembourg & Dearing, 2013). This stigma has contributed to a variety of issues for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, and queer or questioning individuals. Although little research has been done on LGBTQ families and substance abuse, studies have shown that there are high rates of substance abuse for individuals who are of sexual minorities (McCabe, West, Hughes, & Boyd, 2013; Senreich, 2009; Silvestre, Beatty, & Friedman, 2013). In addition to high rates of substance abuse for LGBTQ individuals, many problems exist for those in families with LGBTQ members. Youth may have a

Most LGBT youth become happy with who they are which gives them room to thrive during their adolescent years. Attending a school that has a safe and comfortable environment for every student is especially important. Positive environments can help all youth achieve good grades and maintain good mental and physical health. However, some youths are more likely than their straight peers to experience bad health and life outcomes. Experiences with violence, compared to other students, come easy to LGBT individuals that can cause increased risks for unfortunate circumstances.‘Violence’ includes behaviors such as teasing, harassment, and physical assault. It is important that students at risk have access to resources and support to deal with any questions or challenges they may have or face as they mature. Surveyed LGBT students reported 10% were threatened or injured, 34% were bullied, and 28% were bullied electronically.

To expect greatness in any field of life, it all starts from a place of quality education and that's what America has constantly strived for. School is the place where everyone is given equal opportunity to learn and shape himself or herself into contributing members of society. At the same time each individual’s academic success defines what it means to have a good life. Unfortunately, schools face lots of problems trying to do the right thing. Among major challenges that schools face, bullying has a strong attribution to the poor academic experience among student victims. Today, students still risk being bullied everyday. This paper studies bullying in secondary school with

The purpose of this review is to show that the LGBT community is at higher risk for mental health disorders and psychological distress. This review will show that discrimination among the LGBT community is linked to the risk of mental health disorders and psychological distress and also demonstrate that lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth have high levels of emotional distress. This paper will investigate mental health and discrimination focusing on

It can be very difficult for LGBTQ children to be open about their sexuality or gender orientation, especially if they do not receive support from the ones who are supposed to love them no matter what. Parents positively influence the health of their LGBTQ children by providing support an encouragement. Children should be able to talk to their parents about their issues and receive beneficial advice and support. Parents’ influence on the health of lesbian, gay, and bisexual teens: What parents and families should know explained that parents who support their LGBTQ children decrease the risk of the children becoming depressed, abusing drugs or alcohol, and committing suicide(Centers for Disease Control). Therefore, I believe that parents of LGBTQ youth can have a significant impact on the health of their children. As a country, we must encourage each other to accept people for who they are. It is imperative that this acceptance beings in the home and at

Slurs and derogatory terms have influenced America’s adolescents, and weak parental figures have also acted as a cause in the nonexistent correction concerning this issue. In addition, if America does not begin to recognize that 9 out 10 LGBT students are being publicly harassed, both mental and physical, then the already high suicide rate will witness another increase. Parents need to start caring for their children's well-being. The emergence of communities built around

It can stand to reason that Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) adolescents and their straight counterparts have distinctly varying experiences in school. Furthermore, LGBT students are “disproportionately at risk for experiencing negative psychosocial well-being and health problems” (Toomey, Ryan, Diaz, & Russell, 2011). Creating spaces in which LGBT students can combat the odds could ‘level the playing field’ so to speak.

“As the Equity Project points out, heterosexism and homophobia can have disastrous results for lesbian, gays, bisexual, transgender youth” (Bates & Swan, Pg. 155). In this week’s journal, the question arises. Looking back over the course of your teenage and childhood years, what are some ways that can now recognize as heterosexism and/or homophobia affecting young people? More so my middle school years, teens who were heterosexism and homophobia tended to be isolated from the big group of kids. Further, they were segregated from the popular clique and were looked at as the “weird” kids. Being labeled as the weird kids, they frequently tried to cope things out with drugs and alcohol. Like the article states, “LGBT youth often become homeless

Inside the homeless youth population, youth who are lesbian, gay, cross-sexual, transgender or addressing (LGBTQ) are at significantly expanded hazard for building up a psychological wellness disorder (Forge, 2014). Reports in discrete studies that adolescent who are According to Hirsch, homeless and LGBTQ youth are at the most astounding danger and in basic need of wellbeing and emotional wellness administrations (Forge, 2014). A connection has been recognized between family dismissal and negative emotional wellness results for youth who are LGBTQ with more than 40 percent of white and Latino lesbian, gay and bi-sexual youth endeavoring suicide at any rate once in their lifetime (Hirsch, 2014). While family dismissal is one connection to psychological

Along with verbal abuse, LGBTQ youth also experience physical violence in schools across the country everyday. Back in the 1980’s and 1990’s sociologists such as Joyce Hunter thought that much of the physical abuse happening towards the LGBTQ population stemmed from the stigma and fear that came from the AIDS epidemic that was spreading rapidly among the gay community in that time. In a study as recent as 2003, 60% of LGBTQ youth had reported being assaulted physically due to their sexual orientation (Chesir-Taran, 2003) These physical actions towards the gay and lesbian youth has caused many to fear going to school. In fact, many LGBTQ students avoid school in order to escape the physical harassment. This drop in attendance has detrimental effects on the student’s academics (American Educational Research Association).

The purpose of this paper is to address various types of discrimination among lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered youth (LGBT). This research will identify the different types of discrimination that affect LGBT students, grades 9 through 12, and the mental health impacts discrimination has on LGBT youth. The data provided is from a school-based, empirical survey conducted in 2009 by Joanna Almeida, Renee M. Johnson, Heather L. Corliss, Beth E. Molnar and Deborah Azrael. Their survey measured the number of LGBT youth in Boston, Massachusetts, during the 2008-2009 school year. Factors that were accounted for in the survey include sexual minorities, individual race and ethnicity, depressive symptomatology, self-harm, and suicidality (likelihood of completed suicide). This paper is targeted at school administrators and community leaders dealing with LGBT youth.