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23 NOVEMBER 2009
NO 1517
LGBTQ youth
Dr. Alfred Kinsey, in his 1948 publication Sexual Behavior in the Human Male, highlighted the over simplification of human sexuality when sexual orientation is polarized as a 'homosexual versus heterosexual' dichotomy. Through his work, Kinsey demonstrated that sexual orientation is a complex and fluid facet of a person's sense of self consisting of three key elements: thoughts, feelings and behaviors. Further, Kinsey concluded that each of these elements may evolve at different points throughout an individual's life span. While this fluid evolution is the case, it has been noted that discussions concerning LGBT people – scholarly or otherwise – frequently neglect multiple aspects of one's identity (Crawley and Broad, 2004; Harper and Schneider, 2003) and choose to use a reductionist view of sexual orientation. Such broad minimization serves only to differentiate those who are, or who are perceived to be, non-heterosexual from heterosexuals, often resulting in the marginalization and oppression of those who do not identify as heterosexual – members of the LGBTQ community.
When deconstructing the marginalization and oppression of members of the LGBTQ community, several risk factors can be noted. It should be cautioned however that these risk factors are not directly linked to an inherent component of one's sexual orientation. Rather, these risks are often the manifestations of dominant societal discourses that serve to dictate and influence how members of the LGBTQ community view themselves. Further, these discourses influence how members of the LGBTQ community, and those suspected to be LGBTQ, are to be viewed and treated by other members of society.
Empirical research extensively documents the challenges experienced by youth whose sexual orientation and or identity is not heterosexual (Garofalo, Wolf, Wissow, Woods and Goodman, 1999; Gibson, 1989; Hay, 2004; Hunter, 1990; O'Brien, Travers and Bell, 1993; Rosario, Hunter and Rotheram-Borus, 1994; Stanley, 2003; Yates, Mackenzie, Pennbridge and Swofford, 1991). Although these authors report numerous challenges experienced by LGBTQ youth such as increased suicide rate, heightened rates of victimization and substance use/abuse, diminished school performance, and greater representation amongst those whom are forced to live on the streets, empirical research also shows that the experiences of LGBTQ youth's are not monolithic. Thus, while some youth have negative experiences, this is not the experience of all queer youth (Gibson, 1989; Harper, 2004; O'Brien, 1993). Such data often refer to the fact that youth who enjoy a positive relationship with family and peers and who are not subjected to institutional homophobia and discrimination often have a radically different experience in negotiating and coming to terms with their sexual orientation/identity.
BILL WALTERS
Walters, B. (2007). Using an ecological lens to review
and understand risk and protective factors for lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender, questioning (LGBTQ) youth. Relational Child and Youth
Care Practice, 20, 1. pp. 60-70.
REFERENCES
Crawley, S. and Broad, K. (2004). Be your (real lesbian) self: mobilizing sexual formula stories through personal (and political) storytelling. Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, 33, 1. pp. 39-71.
Garofalo, R., Goodman, E., Wolf,C., Wissow, L. and Woods, L. (1999). Sexual orientation and risk of suicide attempts among representative sample of youth. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 152. pp. 487-493.
Gibson, P. (1989). Gay male and lesbian suicide. In M.R. Feinleib (Ed.), Report of the Secretary's Task Force on Youth Suicide. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Public Health Service, 3. pp.110-142.
Harper, G., and Schneider, M. (2003). Oppression and discrimination among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered people and communities. American Journal of Community Psychology 31, 3-4. pp. 243-252.
Harper, G. (2004). A journey towards liberation: confronting heterosexism and the oppression of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people. In Geoff Nelson and Isaac Prilleltensky (pp. 382-404). Community Psychology: In pursuit of Liberation and Well-being. Pre-publication draft.
Hay, M. (2004). Commercial sexual exploitation of children and youth. B.C. Medical Journal, 46, 3. pp. 119-122.
Hunter, J. (1990). Violence against lesbian and gay male youth. Journal of Interpersonal, 5, 3. pp. 295-300.
O'Brien, C.A., Travers, R. and Bell, L. (1993). No safe bed: Lesbian, gay and bisexual youth in residential services. Toronto: Central Toronto Youth Services.
Rosario, M., Hunter, J. and Rotheram-Borus, M. (1994). Suicidal behaviour and gay-related stress among gay and bisexual male adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Research, 9, 4. pp. 498-508.
Stanley, J. (2003). An applied collaborative training program for graduate students in community psychology. American Journal of Community Psychology, 31, 3-4. pp. 253-265.
Yates, G. L., Mackenzie, R. G., Pennbridge, J. and
Swofford, A. (1991). A risk profile comparison of homeless youth
involved in prostitution and homeless youth not involved. Journal of
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