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| February 2010 |
Vol 1, Issue 3 |
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Vantage Point
Professional advice & practical solutions
for families of every kind
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| Greetings! |
Family + LGBT Whereas, "family" is generally used to describe relationships based upon biology and psychological ties, "LGBT" is a generally accepted acronym used to reference the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community in most English-speaking countries. Apart, these two terms can seem peripherally paired, comfortably independent to many, together...they herald a new way of thinking; they flag our attention to the cultural shift colorfully blossoming within American households everywhere. For example, the 2000 U.S. Census reported 601,209 total gay and lesbian families: 304,148 gay male families, and 297,061 lesbian families. And, this number may represent a clear undercount of the actual number of gay or lesbian families in the United States. Possible explanations for this include continued prejudice and discrimination against gay and lesbian people.
Consequently, the articles presented in this month's issue of Vantage Point pay homage to the obvious inclusion of the LGBT community into the ever-evolving definition of the American family. Namely, we have included groundbreaking research about the interaction between family acceptance and poor health outcomes for lesbian, gay and bisexual youth; there are opportunities to learn about the burden social stigma places upon transgender youth; practical tips for lesbian and gay parents raising teenagers; and supportive resources for parents and professionals.
I sincerely hope you find this month's newsletter as interesting as it is helpful. Please feel free to forward a copy to colleagues, friends, and family. Remember: Knowledge is power. So, be powerful! |
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| Do you have questions for Tony? |
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| About Tony |
To learn more about Tony,
visit his website at:
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| Research Study Discovers Link between Family Acceptance and High-risk Behaviors in Lesbian, Gay and Bi-sexual Youth |
A recent study published in a 2009 issue of Pediatrics, entitled "Family Rejection as a Predictor of Negative Health Outcomes in White and Latino Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Young Adults" suggests that youth who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB) and experience rejecting family reactions to their sexual orientation are at greater risk for poor health outcomes as adults. Moreover, the study found that higher amounts of rejection expressed by families of LGB youth is correlated with higher rates of negative health outcomes for these youth as adults.
The Research
The study, led by Caitlin Ryan, Ph.D., ACSW, director of the Family Acceptance Project (FAP) in San Francisco, CA assessed the health and wellbeing of 224 white and Latino LGB adults, between the ages of 21 and 25, who reported having experienced rejecting behaviors from family as youth. She established the participants' level of susceptibility to poor health outcomes through measures of 9 negative health indicators, including mental health, substance abuse and sexual risk. The findings were eye-opening. The study showed that LGB adults who experienced higher levels of family rejection as youth were "8.4 times more likely to report having attempted suicide, 5.9 times more likely to report high levels of depression, 3.4 times more likely to use illegal drugs, and 3.4 times more likely to report having engaged in unprotected sexual intercourse compared with peers from families that reported no or low levels of family rejection."
The Recommendations
In addition to illuminating the impact of family rejection upon LGB youth, the article also included specific recommendations for health care professionals working with LGB youth who may be experiencing rejecting reactions from family. The following is an excerpt from the article:
· Ask LGB adolescents about family reactions to their sexual orientation and gender expression and refer to LGB community support programs and for supportive counseling as needed.
· Identify LGB support programs in the community and online resources to educate parents about how to help their LGB children. Parents need access to positive parental role models to help decrease rejection and increase family support for their LGB children.
· Advise parents that negative reactions to their adolescent's LGB identity may negatively influence their child's health and mental health.
· Expand anticipatory guidance to include information on the need for support and the link between family rejection and negative health problems in LGB young people.
These are just a few steps in the right direction toward meeting the needs of youth who identify with the LGB community. By providing mental health professionals and healthcare workers better tools to use, it will help to ensure a more productive and positive lifestyle amongst these youth.
You can read the online version of this article, along with updated information and services, on the World Wide Web at: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/123/1/346
- Louis Stanley, M.S.W., M.Ed. is an Associate Clinical Social Worker providing mental health services to the LGBT community under the supervision of Tony Madril, L.C.S.W., B.C.D. |
| Transgender Youth At Risk |
 Transgender youth are among the most misunderstood and most overlooked members of our society. There are very few research studies of transgender youth, and even fewer resource documents that social service providers can use to educate themselves on the subject. When the very same people who have the responsibility to protect our children are constantly denying their identity, a variety of stress-related problems can develop. However, it must be emphasized that many psychosocial difficulties that transgender youth experience are typically not because of his or her gender identity. It is because of the social environment that the youth experiences, including at school and on the streets, and the lack of acceptance of the youth's gender within that environment. However, with a supportive environment within the family, foster home or social service agency, many of those risks can be avoided.
The following are excerpts from, The GLSEN 2001 National School Climate Survey: The School-Related Experiences of Our Nation's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Youth:
"Hearing homophobic, racist or sexist remarks in school, regardless of whether these remarks are aimed at any particular student, can create a hostile environment for the students. LGBT youth may feel unsafe in their school particularly because of their sexual orientation or their gender expression... Youth most commonly reported that they felt unsafe in their school because of their sexual orientation or their gender expression; with over two-thirds of youth (68.6%) reporting that they felt unsafe in their school because of their sexual orientation and almost half reporting that they felt unsafe because of their gender expression (45.7%)." p.12
"Almost two-thirds of [LGBT] youth (65.4%) reported having been sexually harassed during the past school year. The frequency of sexual harassment was higher for female and transgender youth in the sample: 74.2% of female youth and 73.7% of transgender youth reported being sexually harassed during the past school year compared to 57.8% of male youth." pp.14-15
"The percentage of transgender youth who reported feeling unsafe in their school because of their gender was significantly higher than for females and males and the percentage of females who reported feeling unsafe because of their gender was significantly higher than males - 36.6% of transgender, 16.6% of females and 3.5% of males. Transgender youth were also significantly more likely to report feeling unsafe in school because of their gender expression - almost all of the transgender youth reported feeling unsafe in school because of their gender expression (89.5%) compared to less than half of males and females." p.21
"There were significant differences by gender in reported experiences of verbal and physical harassment and physical assault because of sexual orientation, gender and gender expression (see Figure 40). Transgender youth tended to report higher frequencies of harassment and assault overall; males tended to report higher frequencies of harassment and assault related to their sexual orientation, and females tended to report higher frequencies of harassment related to their gender." p.22
Homeless LGBTQ Youth in Illinois
Thrown out of their homes by parents or running away to escape abusive families, the number of unaccompanied homeless teenagers in Illinois has been estimated at over 12,000 . Nearly 35% of Illinois' homeless youth population self-identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgendered. These youth often find their access to homeless services limited by service providers who are indifferent, fearful, or not educated about this population. Left with no place to turn, homeless youth often find themselves neglected, invisible, and forgotten; at increased risk for drug addiction, prostitution, violence, HIV infection, and suicide.
The following are excerpts from Towards Healthier Transgender Youth by Richard Haynes:
"Recent studies of homeless youth, unsurprisingly, show many pressing health care needs. Because of the exposure they endure on the street, these youth are particularly susceptible to many negative health conditions. Violence, rape, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), tuberculosis (TB), HIV/AIDS, poor nutrition, poor hygiene, chemical dependency and a host of other health-related issues that are the result of surviving on the street are not uncommon. However, one study also showed that when youth on the street have a respectful, trusting and meaningful relationship with an outreach worker they are more likely to seek health care services - both acute services (like STD treatment) and preventive services (like immunizations). Also, when connected to a respectful outreach worker or team offering referrals, they are apt to seek social and psychosocial services from youth-serving agencies. They are even more likely to access care when those health and social services are appropriate to their needs, respectful, and accessible on all levels (no cost, easily reachable location, culturally competent staff).
Many youth expressing non-gender conforming behavior or identifying as transgender find themselves rejected by family, school, church, peers and other communities of origin. They often become homeless and unemployable, and are forced into the street economy - very often into sex work. Compared to their gay, lesbian and bisexual (GLB) peers, transgender youth are often far more marginalized and disenfranchised, often finding themselves unwelcome even at GLB youth-serving agencies. 'Traditional' housing alternatives, drug treatment programs, health centers and other services are ill-prepared to work with transgender youth in any kind of affirming, supportive manner. The educational system, while slowly moving towards a more GLB friendly environment is still transgender-ignorant and -phobic. These places for youth refuse to deal with young people who do not fit their 'norms.' Youth who present these challenges are often just left out."
This article is courtesy of Illinois Gender Advocates, a 501 (3)(c) organization that
focuses on legal, legislative, and youth advocacy for the transgender community.
You can find additional resources and information by visiting their website at:
www.genderadvocates.org.
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| Practical Tips for Lesbian and Gay Parents Raising Teenagers |
No doubt adolescence is tough. And for teens growing-up in lesbian and gay households, it can be even tougher. Nevertheless, lesbian and gay parents who are aware of the particular challenges their teens are likely to face can respond with a set of interventions that are meaningful as they are practical. Delivered thoughtfully, these focused actions can help lesbian and gay parents ease the stress of a sometimes burdensome period of family life.
Lesbian and gay parents can expect that their teens will face some challenging issues related to their entry into adolescence; they might also expect the possibility of their teens encountering the social stigmas often associated with children who are raised within non-traditional families. Therefore, setting a foundation of sound preparation, support and instruction can enable lesbian and gay parents to increase positive developmental outcomes for their adolescent sons and daughters.
Read the rest of this article by clicking here |
| Resources for Families with LGBT Adolescents |
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PFLAG
Education, information, and support for parents and families with LGBT family members; referrals to LGB community resources and services: www.pflag.org
PFLAG for Families of Color & Allies (New York City)
Education, information, and support for families of color with LGBT family members, including information, resources, and support in Spanish: www.pflagfamiliesofcolor.org
API Family Pride
Education, information, and support for Asian and Pacific Islander (API) families with LGBT family members: www.apifamilypride.org
Family Acceptance Project
Research-based education and services for ethnically diverse families with LGBT children in English, Spanish, and Chinese; currently developing provider assessment tools and interventions to help increase family support for ethnically diverse LGBT children and youth:
Gender Spectrum Education & Training
Family information, support, and annual conference for families with gender-variant children; training on gender identity and expression for schools and providers for helping gender non-conforming and transgender children and youth: www.genderspectrum.org | |
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We sincerely hope you enjoyed reading this issue of Vantage Point. Look for it again next month. Until then...be well!
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Call for an appointment: (310) 804-1890
We are open evenings and Saturdays. | |
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