Many LGBTQ+ Youth Are Suffering and Here's Why

LGBTQ+ youth are facing disproportionate amounts of bullying in comparison to Non-LGBTQ+ youth. The effects are beyond devastating. 

                               Philadelphia Gay News: LGBTQ+ students face disproportionately high rates of discipline in schools, research shows

Are you in the LGBTQ+ community or do you know someone who is? Here's a terrifying statistic: LGBTQ+ youth are more than four times as likely to commit suicide than their peers. The question is why?

It’s an easy question to answer as it's no surprise that for years the LGBTQ+ community has been neglected and mistreated for simply existing in our society. This has caused a generational cycle of hatred towards the community, one that is still in effect today and one that is now negatively affecting LGBTQ+ youth.

Correspondingly, The American Psychological Association shares that countless recent studies have demonstrated that schools are unsafe for LGBTQ+ youth, who are increasingly likely in comparison to their heterosexual peers to be bullied, harassed, or victimized in school or in school contexts.

It is the truth that LGBTQ+ youth, a large portion of the future of our society- are facing increased mental health issues due to bullying, harassment, and violence. However, educators and staff have the resources and the power to end bullying against LGBTQ+ youth in schools by creating an inclusive environment for all students.

Bullying and LGBTQ+ Youth

We all know what bullying is and some of us may have experienced it throughout elementary, middle, and or high school. Many who have been bullied still experience the effects today through feelings of self-doubt and worthlessness, or mental illnesses such as depression or anxiety. For LGBTQ+ youth, who already may experience neglect from family members or guardians, bullying, harassment, and violence is increased in schools, and the effects are scarily dangerous.

According to Stomp Out Bullying, 9 out of 10 LGBTQ+ students reported being harassed and bullied last year. Sadly, it gets worse. Over one-third of these students are physically assaulted at school, two-thirds reported sexual harassment- this includes sexual remarks and inappropriate touching-, and over half report hearing homophobic remarks.

This is in school: a place that is supposed to stimulate intellectual growth and accept students regardless of their abilities, ethnicities, gender identity, or sexual orientation amongst other elements of their culture or background.  

The Effects

Studies show that LGBTQ+ youth who have experienced bullying, harassment, and violence whether in their own school environment or home, are affected devastatingly.

The American Academy on Pediatrics states that lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) youth are more than twice as likely as their heterosexual, or straight, peers to experience persistent sadness or hopelessness. Additionally, transgender and gender diverse (TGD) youth are more than twice as likely as their non-TGD peers to experience depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, or suicide attempts.

Found on The Trevor Project, facts on LGBTQ+ youth suicide state that suicide is the second leading cause of death amongst youth age 10 to 24. In comparison, LGBTQ+ youth are at a higher risk with 45% seriously considering suicide in the past year, including more than half of transgender and nonbinary youth.

Without a doubt, change needs to happen. Without change, LGBTQ+ youth are going to disproportionately and continuously suffer with suicidal ideations and ultimately, death. Are the lives of LGBTQ+ youth not precious?

Why To Care

Many of you may think, "Why should I care about LGBTQ+ youth and bullying?" or "There are many anti-bullying programs that these students can use, why not get them to use one of them?" This is a valid concern and argument, but the truth of the matter is that many programs are not inclusive or simply do not know how to be. This is where educators and staff must come in to implement inclusivity for all students, especially minority students- in this case LGBTQ+ youth- to end bullying, harassment, and violence in schools. 

Bullying has horrible effects on non-LGBTQ+ youth, what about the effects on LGBTQ+ youth who face increased negative treatment due to their sexuality and identification? The effects are worse. This is why it is vital that anti-bullying programs become more inclusive and LGBTQ+ students are represented in many areas- especially schools. 

On top of being discriminated against in many ways due to the toxic mindset that LGBTQ+ people are atypical in comparison to non-LGBTQ+ people, many LGBTQ+ youth must deal with homelessness or the idea of it. 

                                                              People's World: Homeless gay youth are our youth

The Trevor Project explains that 28% of LGBTQ+ youth reported experiencing homelessness or housing instability at some point in their lives due to running away from home, mistreatment, fear of mistreatment, or being kicked out and abandoned due to their identity.  

Change For the Youth 

To change the devastating and disproportionate demographic of mental health disparities, suicidal ideations, and suicide attempts within LGBTQ+ youth, a lot must change. This includes social support and acceptance from adults and peers, the creation of affirming spaces and activities, and policies and practices which support transgender and nonbinary youth.

This means that educators and staff in schools have a big role in creating safe and welcoming school environments for LGBTQ+ youth.

For school, district leaders, educators, and school staff to create inclusive learning environments for all students, GLSEN shares that they should: set and support a vision that is welcoming and inclusive of LGBTQ+ students, monitor school climate regularly, implement non-discrimination policies, ensure that policies include protections for all LGBTQ+ students, and form an affirming environment.

An article by Western Governors University aimed towards educators explains that to create an inclusive classroom environment, an educator must educate themselves on LGBTQ+ issues in schools through programs and media, plan inclusive activities in the classroom which allows students to express the name they go by and their pronouns, use nongendered language, take a stand on bullying by addressing classroom issues, form an LGBTQ+ positive curriculum, and encourage healthy social relationships between students.

LGBTQ+ youth, all human, deserve to feel safe and welcomed in school without the worry of bullying, violence, or harassment by others. This can be achieved through educators and staff taking action. Without this action, there will be detrimental effects on LGBTQ+ youth mental health and lifestyles. LGBTQ+ youth today create a large portion of our future society and they deserve the same treatment as heterosexual and cisgender youth. Just like educators and staff must take hold of this issue, so must you. What will you do to help LGBTQ+ youth today?

Link to Microsoft Word essay: UNIT 3 FULL COMPLETION