The Effect Of LGBT Teens On Homeless Youth
Studies show between 25% and 50% of homeless youth are LGBT, and on the streets because of their sexual orientation. Half of the youth who come out to their parents experience a negative reaction and in 26% of these experiences the child is thrown out of their home. Gay teens are 8.4 times more likely to report trying to commit suicide, and 5.9 times more likely to report being depressed compared to teens from families that have no or low chance of family rejection. The average GPA for LGBT students who are often physically harassed because of their sexual orientation is half a grade lower than students who are not LGBT. The foster care system has an abundance number of LGBT teens in their care, because of parents who abandon their children
for their sexual preference. This often happens in a time where the child needs support and guidance trying to figure out who they are, in addition being rejected by their family leaves a big wound, which leads to depression and in some cases suicide. In other cases, the lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender person does not tell their parents who their sexually attracted to until they become adults. In fear of being rejected by their families, some LGBT people create their substitute family with close friends or their spouse. In 1999, a study of the Second National Incidence Study of Missing, Abducted, Runaway, and Thrownaway Children determined that 1.7 million juveniles experienced at least one moment of homelessness each year. Depression is a common mental disorder in the United States, it affects about 15.7 million adults and 2.8 million adolescents, according to the National Institution of Mental Health. Depression affects LGBT people at much higher rates than the heterosexual population, and LGBT youths are more open to report high levels of drug use and feeling depressed than heterosexual students. In a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is the third main cause of death from the ages of 10-24 in the United States. LGBT students that range in grades 7th through 12th are twice as likely to have suicidal thoughts, than their heterosexual peers in the same grade. In school sixteen percent of LGBT students are assaulted or injured with a weapon, because of their sexual orientation, 11 percent because of their gender expression. For example 13th year old Asher Brown, who went to Hamilton Junior High School committed suicide, because students bullied him for more than two years after his appearance, religious beliefs and sexual orientation. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students face discrimination and harassment in school. In many school LGBT students go through being bullied and harassed because of who they are sexually attracted to. Many school officials are not aware that the law requires them to protect LGBT students, therefore when not doing anything to protect them, they are breaking the law. Under the U.S Constitution, public schools have to report any harassment against LGBT students, the same way as if it were for any other student. In school over one-third of LGBT students are assaulted because of their sexual orientation and gender identity. LGBT students who are harassed and bullied, are twice as likely to say they are not planning on finishing high school or attempting to move on to college. In conclusion, the LGBT youth go through a lot, they experience being discriminated, assaulted, bullied, and harassed. They have a harder time feeling normal and focusing on their education. Imagine going through what they go through, imagine being physically abused, being called names, having your family reject you because of your sexaul orientation, this is what most of them have gone through. In my opinion I believe weather you are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender, you should still have equal rights as the heterosexual population, and be treated the same regardless of your sexual preference.
for their sexual preference. This often happens in a time where the child needs support and guidance trying to figure out who they are, in addition being rejected by their family leaves a big wound, which leads to depression and in some cases suicide. In other cases, the lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender person does not tell their parents who their sexually attracted to until they become adults. In fear of being rejected by their families, some LGBT people create their substitute family with close friends or their spouse. In 1999, a study of the Second National Incidence Study of Missing, Abducted, Runaway, and Thrownaway Children determined that 1.7 million juveniles experienced at least one moment of homelessness each year. Depression is a common mental disorder in the United States, it affects about 15.7 million adults and 2.8 million adolescents, according to the National Institution of Mental Health. Depression affects LGBT people at much higher rates than the heterosexual population, and LGBT youths are more open to report high levels of drug use and feeling depressed than heterosexual students. In a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is the third main cause of death from the ages of 10-24 in the United States. LGBT students that range in grades 7th through 12th are twice as likely to have suicidal thoughts, than their heterosexual peers in the same grade. In school sixteen percent of LGBT students are assaulted or injured with a weapon, because of their sexual orientation, 11 percent because of their gender expression. For example 13th year old Asher Brown, who went to Hamilton Junior High School committed suicide, because students bullied him for more than two years after his appearance, religious beliefs and sexual orientation. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students face discrimination and harassment in school. In many school LGBT students go through being bullied and harassed because of who they are sexually attracted to. Many school officials are not aware that the law requires them to protect LGBT students, therefore when not doing anything to protect them, they are breaking the law. Under the U.S Constitution, public schools have to report any harassment against LGBT students, the same way as if it were for any other student. In school over one-third of LGBT students are assaulted because of their sexual orientation and gender identity. LGBT students who are harassed and bullied, are twice as likely to say they are not planning on finishing high school or attempting to move on to college. In conclusion, the LGBT youth go through a lot, they experience being discriminated, assaulted, bullied, and harassed. They have a harder time feeling normal and focusing on their education. Imagine going through what they go through, imagine being physically abused, being called names, having your family reject you because of your sexaul orientation, this is what most of them have gone through. In my opinion I believe weather you are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender, you should still have equal rights as the heterosexual population, and be treated the same regardless of your sexual preference.