Adolescence can be difficult enough at times, but for gay and lesbian youth their differences often leave them feeling isolated and confused. Born into a culture that assumes everyone to be heterosexual, gay and lesbian youth often lack the acceptance, understanding and support their heterosexual peers receive. Society's ignorance and negative views of homosexuality leave many gay and lesbian youth feeling confused, ashamed, guilty, afraid and alone, placing them at greater risk for suicide, drug and alcohol abuse, homelessness, and sexually transmitted diseases.
- Gay and lesbian teens are two to three times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers and account for up to 30% of all completed suicides among teens; In 1989, suicide was the leading cause of death among gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered youth.
~Gibson, P. "Gay Male and Lesbian Youth Suicide, Report of the Secretary's Task Force on Youth Suicide", U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1989.
- In a study of 686 gay men, 337 heterosexual men, 293 lesbian women, and 140 heterosexual women: 8% of gay men attempted suicide, compared to 3% of heterosexual men. 23% of lesbians attempted suicide compared to 14% of heterosexual women. The majority of attempts by gays and lesbians were before the age of 20, and almost 1/3 were before the age of 17.
~Bell, A.P. and Weinberg, M.S. Homosexualities: A study of Human Diversity, New York: Simon & Schuster, 1978.
- In a study of 137 gay and bisexual males, 41 had attempted suicide and 18 young men made multiple attempts. The average age of those attempting was 15.5 years old.
~Remafedi, G., Farrow, J., and Dwisher, R. "Risk Factors for Attempted Suicide in Gay and Bisexual Youth." Pediatrics, 87, 1991.
- Statistics from a homeless youth shelter revealed that 65% of gay youth entering the shelter had attempted suicide as compared to 19% of the heterosexual youth.
~Larkin St. Youth Center. San Francisco, 1984.
- 50% of lesbian and gay youth report parental rejection because of their sexual orientation.
~Remafedi G. "Male Homosexuality: The Adolescent's Perspective." Pediatrics, 79: 326-330, 1987.
- 26% of gay and lesbian youth are forced to leave home because of conflict with family members about their sexual orientation.
~National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, "Anti-Gay/Lesbian Victimization", New York 1984; Remafedi G, "Male Homosexuality: The Adolescent's Perspective," Pediatrics, 79: 326-330, 1987.
- Up to half of the gay and bisexual males forced from their homes engage in prostitution as a means to support themselves.
~Savin-Williams R. "Theoretical Perspectives Accounting for Adolescent Homosexuality", Health Care, 9(2):95-104, 1988.
- In 1992 the Hetrick-Martin Institute reports that 80% of gay and lesbian teens experience feelings of severe isolation. "They experience social isolation (having no one to talk to), emotional isolation (feeling distanced from family and peers because of their sexual identity), and cognitive isolation (lack of access to good information about sexual orientation and homosexuality)."
~"Factfile: Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youth." Hetrick-Martin Institute. New York, 1992.
- 45% of gay males, and 20% of lesbians experience physical or verbal assault while in high school, and 28% of these teenagers feel forced to drop out of school because of harassment about their sexual orientation.
~National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, "Anti-Gay/Lesbian Victimization", New York 1984; Remafedi G, "Male Homosexuality: The Adolescent's Perspective," Pediatrics, 79: 326-330, 1987.
- The average age at which gays and lesbians acknowledge their same-sex orientation is between 14 and 16 years of age for males and between 16 and 19 years of age for females.
~Saghir, Robins, Walbian. Male and Female Homosexuality. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins,1973.
- 97% of high school students report hearing homophobic remarks regularly from peers.
~"Making Schools Safe For Gay and Lesbian Youth: Report of the Massachusetts Governor's Commission On Gay and Lesbian Youth," 1993.
- 53% of students report hearing homophobic comments made by school staff.
~Philadelphia Lesbian and Gay Task Force. "Discrimination and Violence toward Lesbian Women and Gay Men in the Philadelphia and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania," 1992.
- 19% of gay men and 25% of lesbians report suffering physical violence at the hands of a family members as a result of the sexual orientation.
~Philadelphia Lesbian and Gay Task Force. "Discrimination and Violence toward Lesbian Women and Gay Men in the Philadelphia and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania," 1992.
- 42% of homeless youth identify as gay or lesbian.
~Streetwork Project Study, 1991.
- "Homosexuals are probably the most frequent victims [of hate-crimes] in the United States".
~U.S. Department of Justice, "The Response of the Criminal Justice System to Bias Crimes: An Exploratory View," 1987.
- 45% of gay males and 20% of lesbians report verbal or physical violence because of their sexual orientation during high school.
~National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. "National Anti-Gay and Lesbian Victimization Report," 1984.
- In a study of gay male adolescents, 68% reported alcohol use; 26% reporting the use of alcohol once or more per week. 44% report using other drugs, and 8% consider themselves drug dependent. 83% of young lesbians report alcohol use, and 56% report using other drugs. 11% had used crack/cocaine in the three months preceding the study.
~Rosariou M., Hunter J, Rotheram-Borus MJ. "Unpublished data on lesbian adolescents," HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, New York State Psychiatric Institute, 1992.