ADVOCATES FOR YOUTH

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Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning (GLBTQ) Youth

Gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (GLBTQ) youth face tremendous difficulties growing up in a society where heterosexuality is often presented as the only acceptable orientation, and homosexuality is regarded as deviant. Research suggests that homophobia and heterosexism greatly contribute to higher rates of suicide, violence victimization, risk behavior for HIV infection, and substance abuse among GLBTQ youth as compared to their heterosexual peers. In recent years, however, a number of promising programs have been established to help GLBTQ youth gain the skills and support they need to develop into healthy adults in a society that largely rejects them.

What You Should Know

• Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning (GLBTQ) Youth Initiative
• Antihomophobia/Transphobia Project
• GLBTQ Youth
• Frequently Asked Questions about Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
• Adolescent Sexual Health and the Dynamics of Oppression: A Call for Cultural Competency
• HIV/STD Prevention and Young Men Who Have Sex with Men
  • en español—La prevención del VIH/ETS y los hombres jóvenes que tienen relaciones sexuales con hombres
• The Impact of Homophobia and Racism on GLBTQ Youth of Color
• Young Men Who Have Sex with Men: At Risk for HIV and STDs
  • en español—Hombres jóvenes que tienen relaciones sexuales con hombres: en riesgo de contraer el VIH y otras ETS
• Young Women Who Have Sex with Women: Falling through Cracks for Sexual Health Care
• Sign up for the YouthResource/GLBTQ Initiative Newsletter
• Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Education: Abandoning Responsibility to GLBTQ Youth
• Also see publications on GLBTQ youth below

For Educators

• Creating Safe Space for GLBTQ Youth: A Toolkit—Lesson plans, tips and strategies, background information, and additional resources to help youth-serving professionals create safe space for young people of all sexual orientations and gender identities
• Lesson Plans
  • Addressing Discrimination
  • Circles of Human Sexuality
  • How to Be a Super Activist and/or Ally
  • Hunting for Diversity
  • Introduction to Gender Identity and Gender Expression
  • Introduction to Sexual Orientation
  • What Can I Do to Create Safe Space

For Parents

• Ten Tips for Parents of a Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, or Transgender Child

For Youth

• AmbienteJoven.org: Apoyo para Jóvenes GLBTQ (Page will open in new window.)
• YouthResource.com: Support for GLBTQ Youth (Page will open in new window.)
• I Think I Might Be Bisexual, Now What Do I Do?
• I Think I Might Be Gay, Now What Do I Do?
• I Think I Might Be Lesbian, Now What Do I Do?
• I Think I Might Be Transgender, Now What Do I Do?
• Resources for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Youth

Advocates' Publications on Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning (GLBTQ) Youth:

• Respecting the Rights of GLBTQ Youth, A Responsibility of Youth-Serving Professionals (Transitions) [html] [pdf]
• Tips and Strategies for Addressing the Challenges that Face Transgender Youth (From Research to Practice) [html]
• Tips and Strategies for Addressing Harassment (From Research to Practice) [html]
• Tips and Strategies for Assessing Youth Programs and Agencies (From Research to Practice) [html]
• Tips and Strategies for Creating Inclusive Programs (From Research to Practice) [html]
• Tips and Strategies for Creating a Safe Space for GLBTQ Youth: Recommendations from the Safe Space Resource Circle (From Research to Practice) [html]
• Tips and Strategies for Meeting the Needs of GLBTQ Youth of Color (From Research to Practice) [html]
• Tips and Strategies for Meeting the Needs of Transgender Youth (From Research to Practice) [html]
• Tips and Strategies for Taking Steps to Cultural Fairness (From Research to Practice) [html]
• A Youth Leader's Guide to Building Cultural Competence [html] [pdf]

Related Resources

• Adolescent sexual behavior
• Cultural Competency
• HIV/STI
• Youth of Color