Resource Links -- Youth Issues

Policy Statements of Professional Organizations

American Academy of Pediatrics
“Sexual Orientation and Adolescents” (2004)
From the Abstract: “The American Academy of Pediatrics issued its first statement on homosexuality and adolescents in 1983, with a revision in 1993. This report reflects the growing understanding of youth of differing sexual orientations. Young people are recognizing their sexual orientation earlier than in the past, making this a topic of importance to pediatricians. Pediatricians should be aware that some youths in their care may have concerns about their sexual orientation or that of siblings, friends, parents, relatives, or others. Health care professionals should provide factual, current, nonjudgmental information in a confidential manner.”
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/113/6/1827

National Education Association

Statement on Safe Schools for Everyone
“NEA believes that a great public school is a fundamental right of every child—free from intimidation and harassment, and safe for all students, including those who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered."
http://www.nea.org/schoolsafety/glbt.html

Report of the 2002 Task Force on Sexual Orientation
“Put most simply, the overriding need of g/l/b/t students is to be educated in a safe and hospitable environment, and the overriding need of g/l/b/t education employees is to work in such an environment.”
http://www.nea.org/nr/02taskforce.html

Resources

Just the Facts About Sexual Orientation & Youth:
A Primer for Principals, Educators and School Personnel (Updated 2008 edition)
http://www.apa.org/pi/lgbc/publications/justthefacts.pdf (PDF 254K)

Developed and endorsed by the following organizations:

American Academy of Pediatrics

American Counseling Association

American Association of School Administrators

American Federation of Teachers

American Psychological Association

American School Health Association

Interfaith Alliance Foundation

National Association of School Psychologists

National Association of Social Workers

National Education Association

Mental Health America (formerly known as the National Mental Health Association)

“Bullying in Schools: Harassment Puts Gay Youth at Risk”
http://www.nmha.org/index.cfm?objectid=CA866DCF-1372-4D20-C8EB26EEB30B9982

GLSEN (Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network)

2005 National School Climate Survey Sheds New Light on Experiences of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Students
http://www.glsen.org/cgi-bin/iowa/all/library/record/1927.html

From Teasing to Torment: School Climate in America - A National Report on School Bullying (2005)
http://www.glsen.org/cgi-bin/iowa/all/library/record/1859.html

California Safe Schools Coalition

Safe Schools Research Brief: LGBT Issues in the Curriculum Promotes School Safety
http://wwwcasafeschools.org/FactSheet-curriculum.pdf

Safe Schools Research Brief: LGBT Student Safety: Steps Schools Can Take
http://wwwcasafeschools.org/CSSC_Research_Brief_3.pdf

Safe Schools Research Brief: Harassment Based on Sexual Orientation and its Consequences
http://wwwcasafeschools.org/CSSC_Research_Brief_2.pdf

Safe Schools Research Brief: District Policies and Trainings
http://wwwcasafeschools.org/DistPolFACTSHEET_rev1a.pdf

Suicide risk and prevention for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth

A report from The Suicide Prevention Resource Center. Written by Center staff and reviewed by experts in sexual and gender minority issues, suicide, and suicide prevention, and by youth, this publication addresses the special concerns related to suicide prevention among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth. Research conducted by experts in mental health, suicide prevention, and other fields shows that a higher proportion of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) youth consider and attempt suicide compared to their heterosexual peers. Based on the higher rate of suicide attempts among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) youth and the relative seriousness of these attempts, the authors of this report postulate that it is likely these youth experience higher rates of suicide deaths than non-LGB youth. Less research about transgender youth is available, but these youth generally share risk factors associated with suicidal behavior (such as victimization, depression and substance abuse) with their LGB peers.

Suicide risk and prevention for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth draws on research from the past ten years to summarize the current state of knowledge about suicidality in LGBT youth, and outlines twenty-one recommendations for helping to reduce suicidal behavior in this group. These recommendations are appropriate for agencies, organizations, and individuals such as school staff, health and social service providers, suicide prevention programs, and researchers, as well as funders and organizations serving LGBT youth.

Recommendations are in the following areas:

lowering risk specific to or disparately affecting LGBT youth
improving provider recognition of youth at risk
increasing outreach and access to services
increasing coping and protective factors among these youth

The paper, coauthored by Effie Malley, Marc Posner, and Lloyd Potter, includes a resource appendix and an extensive bibliography. The paper may be downloaded from the SPRC site at http://www.sprc.org/library/SPRC_LGBT_Youth.pdf

Rockway Institute News Releases

Anti-gay slurs may be damaging to heterosexual students too
A study of middle-school students in Central Illinois has found that being called anti-gay names significantly predicts higher levels of trauma for students regardless of sexual orientation. Such name-calling may lead to anxiety, depression, personal distress, and a lower sense of school belonging. (more)

Victimization of NYC Gay Youth Linked to Post-Traumatic Stress

Nine percent of young people in a New York City study of lesbian and gay youth meet the criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The research found that for nearly one in ten of the young participants, experiences growing up lesbian or gay are linked to the same condition that affects many adults who are the victims of violent crime or are in an accident or natural disaster. (more)