Tag: LGBT youth

Advocates worry the move could put an already vulnerable group at even greater risk. The Department of Justice has signaled it wants to stop asking 16- and 17-year-olds about their sexual orientation and gender identity. Conducted twice a year, the National Crime Victimization Survey tracks crimes from theft and burglary to sexual assault, to measure trends, including the vulnerability of minority communities. Since July 2016, all respondents 16 and older have been asked to identify if they are LGBT, but the DOJ...

A new study explores the effects of sexual orientation discordance on high-schoolers. A disturbing new report reveals just how deadly the closet can be for young people: Published in The American Journal of Preventive Medicine the study found that 46% of closeted teens had seriously considered suicide, compared to 22% of those who were comfortable with their sexuality. Researchers at the CDC examined “sexual orientation discordance,” or when a person’s internal sexual desire doesn’t match their actions. Specifically they were looking...

We wish we had these books when we were tots. Whether you have kids of your own or just want to dote on someone else’s, it’s never too soon to introduce children to the wonders of literature. And if you can incorporate positive representations of the LGBT community, so much the better. Unfortunately, publishers frequently face backlash and even boycotts by anti-LGBT groups. But we can make sure they don’t succeed by buying books aimed at making the future more inclusive...

Do we all have it good? There are many of us that have a great job, a wonderful roof over our heads, and not too many worries that our sexuality is an issue with those and the community around us. Life could always be better, a heck of a lot better, but the core is there and strong. But there are many that don't and we hear from them, too. There are messages weekly that say "can you help me"...

A new movie explores the search for identity among the grittiness and beauty of New York’s homeless LGBT youth. In an era when many films tend to cater to a box office formula, one story sticks out: Saturday Church, written and directed by Damon Cardasis. Critics are calling it “Moonlight meets La La Land” due to its poetic and emotional storytelling mixed with minor musical moments that run deep into the heartstrings. The film’s lead character, Ulysses (Luca Kain), is a...

Over ten thousand UK LGBTI young people were made homeless this year Over ten thousand LGBTI young people were made homeless in the UK this year, new Liberal Democrat figures show. The UK centrist political party say the extent of the ‘national scandal’ UK homeless youth face is now clear. Freedom of information requests from 234 councils across the country shows 45,000 18-24 year-olds came forward to local authorities in past year. Figures from Albert Kennedy Trust show that of young homeless people...

Justin Timberlake delivered a heartfelt message to LGBT youth at last night’s iHeartRadio Music Awards. “I wrote this song because I wanted it to be about inclusion, about being together,” Timberlake said while accepting the ‘Song of the Year’ award for “Can’t Stop The Feeling.” “I guess I want to take this opportunity and speak to young people right now ‘cause there’s a lot of you looking at me.” “If you’re gay, or you’re lesbian, or you are trans, or maybe you’re...

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Many public schools are still hostile environments for LGBT students, an international human rights organization concluded in a report released Wednesday. The lengthy report from Human Rights Watch was based on interviews primarily with current and former high school students, parents, administrators and teachers in Alabama, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas and Utah. It documented several challenges lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender students face, including in-person and online bullying, limits on LGBT student groups, exclusion of...