According to various surveys and research it is estimated that there are 24,000 GLBT adolescents over the age of 11 who are in out-of-home care. 78% of gay youth and those thought to be gay report being teased or bullied in school, and faculty intervene to stop this abuse only 3% of the time. 28% drop out of high school because of verbal and physical abuse. Half of families with GLBT children reject them after they child comes out: 26% are forced by faimily members to leave often resulting in youth becoming homeless with a high exposure to becoming a prostitute or to substance abuse.
Helping professionals working with youth have a special responsibility to understand the dynamics of sexual discovery and the need for GLBT youth to have a safe and accepting environment to develop their identity.
ORGANIZATIONS
- Camp Out (Camping For GLBTQ families)
- Family & Coming Out Issues for Asian Americans
- Family and Coming Out Issues for Latinos and Latinas
- Children of Lesbians and Gays Everywhere (COLAGE)
- GLBT National Help Center
- National Runaway Safeline
- Trans Youth Equality Foundation
- The Trevor Project (Crisis Intervention and Advocacy)
RESOURCES
- Assisting Students with Sexual Orientation Disclosure (American Psychological Association)
- LGBT Youth Homelessness (Human Rights Campaign)
- LGBT Homelessness (Housing and Urban Development Department)
- Transgender Homelessness (National Center for Transgender Equality)
- LGBT Homelessness (Youth.Gov)
- Resources to Help LGBT Youth(SAMSHA)
- Resources for LGBTQ Youth by State: Lambda Legal
- Working with Homeless LGBTQ Youth: Lambda Legal
- LGBTQ Youth Resources(CDC)
- Explore: Children and Youth (Human Rights Campaign)
- LGBT Wellness (Focus on Youth), American Academy of Pediatrics
- LGBTQ Youth: A Guide for Foster Parents, Counselors and Social Workers (Ohio University)
Youth