Mentoring Sexual Minority Youth

It is estimated that up to 10 percent of the U.S. population is lesbian or gay. Thus, one can assume that some of the teenagers being served by mentoring programs are members of this sizeable minority group. Understanding the issues these young people face can help programs create an environment where gay and lesbian youth benefit from the adult caring and support that is at the heart of mentoring. This technical assistance packet, written by P/PV and published by the National Mentoring Center at the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory, describes the significant obstacles confronting lesbian and gay youth. It also suggests initial steps and mentor training that programs can implement to make gay and lesbian youth feel safe and welcome

LGBTQ Youth Harmed by Homelessness

Severe family conflict, abuse, neglect, and abandonment all contribute to the social crisis of family displacement and homelessness for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth in America. A growing body of research points to the conclusion that each year, hundreds of thousands lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth will experience homelessness. LGBTQ youth are not only over-represented in homeless youth populations, but studies indicate that this population experiences greater physical and sexual exploitation while homeless than their heterosexual peers. Unfortunately, most American communities lack an adequate capacity of programs and resources to offer support to prevent and end homelessness for LGBTQ homeless youth. Once homeless, LGBTQ youth experience instability, abuse, and exploitation during a critical human development stage. Without residential stability, nurturance, and opportunities for positive youth development, LGBTQ homeless youth are set up for further challenges as adults

The Success of Gay–Straight Alliances in Waterloo Region, Ontario: A Confluence of Political and Social Factors

This article outlines how gay–straight alliances (GSAs) work to connect youth with community resources, and outlines the political and social context of GSAs in Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Fifteen individuals (youth, teachers, and a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer [LGBTQ] youth service provider) participated in interviews about the role of GSAs in creating supportive school environments for LGBTQ youth and their allies. Analyses of the interview data found that, apart from providing direct support to LGBTQ students, GSAs in Waterloo Region decrease isolation by connecting youth with other LGBTQ community members, events, and resources. This article discusses how the confluence of government and school board policy and community agency support facilitates the implementation, maintenance, and success of GSAs

The Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual Youth Program (LGBYP): Quality of Life for Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youth

Lesbian, gay, bisexual youth face formidable risks caused by societal stigmatization of homosexuality. Responding to these needs requires approaches beyond traditional and individualizing counselling supports. The Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Youth Program (LGBYP) of Central Toronto Youth Services can serve as a unique model for those wishing to develop more appropriate community-based services for these youth. Its programs enhance quality of life for lesbian, gay and bisexual youth through empowerment-focussed counselling, action research, advocacy and community development, and community education. This article outlines LGBYP’s programs, the principles which guide them, and the unique role they play in addressing hte broad needs of lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth

Gay-Straight Alliances as Settings to Discuss Health Topics: Individual and Group Factors Associated with Substance Use, Mental Health, and Sexual Health Discussions

Sexual minority (e.g. lesbian, gay, bisexual, questioning; LGBQ) and gender minority (e.g. transgender) youth experience myriad health risks. Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) are school-based settings where they may have opportunities to discuss substance use, mental health, and sexual health issues in ways that are safe and tailored to their experiences. Attention to these topics in GSAs could aid in developing programming for these settings. Among 295 youth from 33 Massachusetts high-school GSAs (69% LGBQ, 68% cisgender female, 68% White, Mage = 16.06), we examined how often youth discussed these topics within their GSA and identified factors associated with having more of these discussions. Youth and GSAs as a whole varied in their frequency of discussing these topics. Youth who accessed more information/resources in the GSA and did more advocacy more frequently engaged in discussions around substance use, mental health and sexual health. Youth who reported greater victimization more often discussed substance use and mental health, but not sexual health. Finally, GSAs whose members collectively reported greater victimization more frequently discussed these topics. These findings can assist the development of health programming to be delivered within GSAs

Gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth at risk for low self-esteem and depression

The purpose of this research was to determine if gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth are at a higher risk for low self-esteem and depression than straight male and female youth. This study further investigated whether gay and bisexual male youth are at a higher risk for low self-esteem and depression than lesbian and bisexual female youth. The 59 participants, ages 15 to 21, were obtained through a general undergraduate college sample and a selected sample of subjects involved in gay/lesbian community youth groups and college organizations. Of the 59 subjects, 29 were straight males and females and 30 were gay, lesbian, and bisexual males and females. Each subject completed two self-administered measures: the Self-Esteem index (SEI) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Four independent measures t-tests were conducted utilizing the scores of the SEI and the BDI. The analysis of results demonstrated that there was a significant difference in the levels of self-esteem and depression between gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth and straight male and female youth. There were no significant differences in the levels of self-esteem and depression between gay and bisexual males and lesbian and bisexual females

Is Ageism Alive in Date Selection Among Men? Age Requests Among Gay and Straight Men in Internet Personal Ads

We examine 2,400 personal ads from male advertisers collected from the Internet, focusing on age preference by race and sexual orientation. We look at whether advertisers display any age preference in personal ads and whether the preference varies by race and sexual orientation. We find that gay men are more likely than straight men to state an age preference. Also, the preference for younger partners intensified among the older advertisers regardless of race and sexual orientation. Youth is still a treasured commodity in date selection for men. However, some men, especially gay men, prefer more mature partners. At least 20 percent of gay Asian men in all three age groups prefer older partners. Further research is recommended to explore this exception among gay Asian men

Case Study: Out of the Box: Queer Youth in South Africa Today

Describes LGBTI youths' challenges in negotiating being gay in a straight environment, lack of inclusive policy, and effects of homophobia; youths' perspectives on efforts toward change; and ways to build their confidence in youth groups and at school

LG MS 44 Lewiston-Auburn Gay Youth Collection

Provenance: The Lewiston/Auburn Gay Youth Collection was donated in August, 2008 by Heidi Conn, a former Guidance Counselor at Edward Little High School. Additional materials were donated by Ryan Conrad, the Edward Little Gay Straight Alliance, Penny Sargent, and Sarah Holmes. The Lewiston Auburn Gay Youth Collection contains print material and photographs of activities of Outright Lewiston/ Auburn and the Edward Little High School Gay Straight Alliance between the years 2008 and 2011. Ownership and Literary Rights: The Lewiston/ Auburn Gay Youth Collection are the physical property of the University of Southern Maine Libraries. Literary rights, including copyright, belong to the creator or his/her legal heirs and assigns. For further information, consult the Head of Special Collections

The Role of Family Interactions in HIV Risk for Gay and Bisexual Male Youth: A Pilot Study

Despite ongoing prevention efforts, young gay and bisexual males continue to engage in sexual behaviors that place them at disproportionately high risk for HIV infection. Parental monitoring and parent-child communication have been found to be associated with low-risk sexual behavior among heterosexual youth, but the role of family interactions for gay and bisexual male youth remains largely unexplored. To help address this gap, an exploratory study of recorded and coded interactions among 35 gay and bisexual youth and their parents was done to begin to identify which types of family interactions were associated with youth high-risk sexual behavior. Parent-son communication that was mutual and low in conflict was found to be most prevalent among youth with the fewest reported high-risk sexual behaviors. These preliminary findings, along with a case example, demonstrate how social workers can coach families to engage in productive and potentially influential interactions that reduce HIV-related sexual behaviors among young gay and bisexual males