The National Children’s Campaign is a nonpartisan organization that advocates for policies that look to build on the progress LGBTQ+ Americans have made great towards equality and inclusion in public opinion and under the law. However, they are still a long way from being fully equal, especially LGBTQ+ youth who face a unique set of challenges that must be addressed.
Compared to their peers, LGBTQ+ youth experience an alarming number of mental health issues, stemming from harassment, family and peer rejection, bullying, and isolation. As a result, LGBTQ+ youth tend to have much higher rates of depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and alcohol and drug use. For example, 23% of LGBTQ+ high school students have attempted suicide, compared with 5.4% of heterosexual students.1 LGBTQ+ youth also tend to struggle with accessing affirming, culturally competent, and supportive counseling services, both within schools and in the broader healthcare system.2 Additionally, many states still allow conversion therapy, a dangerous practice that has been likened to torture, despite overwhelming evidence showing the harm it causes LGBTQ+ youth.3
The majority of LGBTQ+ youth still experience negative and even hostile school environments. They are twice as likely to report being physically assaulted at school than their classmates.4 An alarming 11% of LGBTQ+ youth report having been sexually attacked or raped because of their actual or assumed identity, and 77% report receiving unwanted sexual comments, jokes, and gestures in the past year.2 Furthermore, 73% of LGBTQ+ youth have experienced verbal threats because of their actual or perceived identity.2
The majority of states have not enacted anti-bullying and non-discrimination laws, which has resulted in many LGBTQ+ students being harassed and discriminated against; which includes being denied access to facilities, sports teams, and clubs.9 Without such policies in place nationwide, LGBTQ+ youth remain vulnerable to discrimination and harassment from peers, teachers, and administrators.
For example, 51% of transgender and gender-non-conforming/non-binary youth report being barred from using locker rooms or bathroom facilities that match their gender identity and not being addressed by the appropriate pronouns or their chosen names, further contributing to hostile learning environments where they feel unsafe and unprotected.2 What’s more, the vast majority of LGBTQ+ youth lack proper LGBTQ+ inclusive sex education and history in school.2
LGBTQ+ youth are also disproportionately represented in the foster care system and the juvenile justice system. Research shows they are more than twice as likely as their peers to report being treated poorly by the foster care system.5 Additionally, 40% of all homeless youth identify as LGBTQ+.6 Discrimination also confronts LGBTQ+ adults when trying to adopt and/or become foster parents, which results in more children and youth remaining in these systems and without parents7.
In addition to discrimination stemming from their identities, LGBTQ+ youth of color may also encounter racism and discrimination that can further complicate their ability to express and explore their identities.2 This can often lead to further stress and adverse effects on their health and wellbeing. For LGBTQ+ youth of color, the challenges in finding LGBTQ+ counselors of color or programs that relate directly to their experiences with LGBTQ+ and race-based discrimination often lead to additional feelings of isolation and a lack of a sense of belonging8.
The Trump Administration and the GOP are actively working to circumvent the progress that has been made by rescinding civil rights and protections for LGBTQ+ youth. By opposing legislation that would help end discrimination against LGBTQ+ youth and ensure their equal protection under the law, the federal government is putting millions at risk. These intolerant and dangerous attacks on civil rights have only exacerbated the problems facing the LGBTQ+ community, which is why it is more important than ever to stand up for equal rights for all Americans and protect the LGBTQ+ youth of America.
Legislative Priorities:
- Support federal/state funding for LGBTQ-competent suicide prevention and research.
- Increase government data collection pertaining to LGBTQ+ issues, specifically LGBTQ+ youth, and suicide.
- Enact LGBTQ+ non-discrimination and anti-bullying laws at the national, state and local level.
- Advocate for LGBTQ+-inclusive anti-bullying and anti-harassment laws and policies in schools.
- Support prohibitions on dangerous practices such as conversion therapy.
- Promote protections in areas where LGBTQ+ youth are overrepresented, including youth homelessness services, foster care, and the juvenile justice system.
- Require adoption/foster agencies to allow LGBTQ+ parents to adopt and/or become foster parents.
- Require the teaching of LGBTQ+ history and LGBTQ+-inclusive sex-education in public schools.
If you are a young person in crisis, feeling suicidal, or in need of a safe and judgment-free place to talk, call the TrevorLifeline now at 1-866-488-7386. The Trevor Project’s trained counselors are here to support you 24/7.
1 Williams Institute: Safe Schools and Youth Research (July 2014)
2 Human Rights Campaign: 2018 Youth Report
3 Movement Advancement Project: Conversion Therapy Equality Maps
4 Human Rights Campaign: Youth Report Statistics
5 Williams Institute: Los Angeles LGBTQ Youth in Foster Care
6 Williams Institute: America’s Shame
7 Movement Advancement Project: All Children Matter
8 Human Rights Campaign: 2019 Black and African American LGBTQ Youth Report