The Facts: Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Youth: At Risk and Underserved

Abstract:
Lesbian, gay and bisexual adolescents face tremendous challenges to growing up physically and mentally healthy in a culture that is almost uniformly anti-homosexual. Often, these youth face an increased risk of medical and psychosocial problems, caused not by their sexual orientation, but by society's extremely negative reaction to it. Gay, lesbian and bisexual youth face rejection, isolation, verbal harassment and physical violence at home, in school and in religious institutions. Responding to these pressures, many lesbian, gay and bisexual young people engage in an array of risky behaviors. Research findings support the assertion that these young people are at higher risk for depression, suicide and HIV and other sexually transmitted disease infection. Anecdotal evidence suggests that gay, lesbian and bisexual youth are also at risk for alcohol and other substance abuse as well as pregnancies resulting from heterosexual experimentation. While interest in the experience of lesbian, gay and bisexual youth is growing, the body of research is small and virtually no research focuses on the specific experiences of young lesbians.

Author(s): Messina, Susan


Date Published: 9/1/1992

Pages: 1

Location Code: 6134