GLSEN’s E.D. Calls Out OK Senator’s Staffer On His Anti-LGB Message
September 30, 2009
Last week media reported on various aspects of the Value Voters Summit, a yearly forum for ultra-conservatives. Last year, the summit made headlines for its wares depicting then presidential candidate Barack Obama as a racial stereotype. This year one of the more alarming things to come out of the summit happened during a breakout session titled “The New Masculinity,” which brought speakers together to discuss “principles and ideals for a new masculinism.” During this session, the final speaker, Michael Schwartz, Sen. Tom Colburn’s (R-Okla.) Chief of Staff, made this statement:
“But it is my observation that boys at that age [10 – 12 years of age] have less tolerance for homosexuality than just about any other class of people. They speak badly about homosexuals. And that’s because they don’t want to be that way. They don’t want to fall into it. And that’s a good instinct. After all, homosexuality, we know, studies have been done by the National Institute of Health to try to prove that it’s genetic and all those studies have proved its not genetic. Homosexuality is inflicted on people.”
Just days later, The New York Times published an article online titled Coming Out in Middle School, which also appeared in the New York Times Magazine. The article profiles several gay and bisexual youth from across the country, some of whom live in Oklahoma. Though the article’s subjects came out in middle school, two report being aware of their sexual orientations earlier, at age ten and eleven. The article also references studies that put the mean age for recognizing same-sex attraction at age ten.
In response to Schwartz’s remarks, Dr. Eliza Byard, Executive Director of the Gay and Lesbian Education Network (GLSEN), who is also quoted in the Times article, penned a piece that was published in the Huffington Post, titled Colliding Realities In America’s Middle Schools.
Byard delivers a cautionary tale, urging readers to consider:
“…the clash of those two realities–10-year-olds intolerant of gay people and 10-year-olds realizing they are gay–playing out in both hidden and public ways every day in school hallways.”
She goes on to quote stark statistics from the recently released GLSEN Research brief:
“The brief reveals that middle school LGBT students reported rates of harassment and assault that were significantly higher than those reported by high school LGBT students: more middle school students had been verbally harassed, and a shocking 63% had heard homophobic remarks made by school staff. About two of every five LGBT middle school students had been assaulted – punched, kicked or threatened with a weapon – at school, as compared to “only” one in five of the high school respondents.”
This information is stark indeed and bears ill portent if Schwartz’s remarks are left unchecked by the media. His statements very clearly reinforce and even encourage homophobia in youth who are already, according to GLSEN’s data, committing acts of harassment and violence against their LGBT peers more frequently in middle school than high school.
During the course of his speech, where he addressed what men who are already good husbands and fathers can do to change the culture, Schwartz noted:
“If you don’t have love in you life it’s not a very complete life and yet we fail to talk about it to our sons and to their friends. They’re the ones that need to hear it the most.”
Perhaps someone ought to remind him that LGBT youth are deserving of that same love, acceptance and familial support, and that includes a life free from fear of harassment and violence.
Related Posts:Tyra Banks Show Features Story of Teen’s Alarming Attempt to Turn Straight
September 28, 2009
Tyra Banks interviewed sixteen-year-old Jeffrey who was the subject of a dramatic video posted on YouTube by Manifested Glory Ministries in Bridgeport, Connecticut, where ministers targeted him for a “casting out of evil spirits.” The video shows Jeffrey flailing on the floor surrounded by several church members who call out for the “homosexual demon” to exit the boy’s body—and of him throwing up during the process.
Jeffrey, still sixteen, shared that he was aware of being gay at age five and began to date other boys when he became a teen. He reached out to counselors at True Colors, a pro-LGBT youth organization but three days after a gay prom, sponsored by True Colors, he participated in the exorcism and now says the “evil spirit” is gone but the removal of attractions is “a process.”
Tyra brought on both the ministers from Manifested Glory Ministries and Kamora Herrington of True Colors to discuss the impact of “the belief that gay people are going to hell and are possessed by evil spirits.” Ms. Herrington said that she deals with the harm of these beliefs every week in her work with young gay people— and that too often kids harm themselves because of these beliefs.
GLAAD continues to provide resources to journalists about so-called “ex-gay” programs. When the exorcism video first came out in June, GLAAD directed The Associated Press to speak to the Rev. Roland Stringfellow, who spoke firsthand as an African American who had been subjected to exorcisms as a young gay man. He said he was put in front of the church as members shouted “demon of homosexuality come out of him” and said, “it caused nothing but shame and embarrassment.”
It is also important that media outlets who cover this topic know that the American Psychological Association recently concluded there is no scientific evidence that therapies to change orientation work—and these attempts can be harmful.
Related Posts:Mormon LGBT Group Challenges LDS on Anti-Gay Practices
September 22, 2009
Affirmation Gay and Lesbian Mormons celebrated 30 years of support and advocacy on September 18-20. More than 200 members from across the country convened in Salt Lake City, Utah, to explore next steps toward equality in the Mormon Church and society.
GLAAD staff was on hand to provide media assistance for a press conference where Affirmation launched its “Keep Them and Love Them” website. The site provides accurate information in accessible language to prevent family and church rejection when a loved one comes out. People who are coming out, their families and church leaders need accurate information to reduce homelessness, despair and suicide.
Robert Moore/Photo Courtesy of Salt Lake Tribune
Affirmation’s director of youth work, Robert Moore, shared his story of being a seventh generation Mormon who was thrown out of his family’s home as a teen when they discovered he was gay. He was homeless for many months but worked to support himself. Today, he says, “We cannot keep treating our young people like trash.”
GLAAD staff helped Affirmation with media releases and prepared them for follow-up television interviews. With coverage by the Salt Lake City Tribune, the Deseret News and local Fox TV, hundreds of thousands of Utah residents know that gay Mormons are shining a light on the harm caused by misinformation and discrimination.
The high profile role of Mormons in the Proposition 8 campaign in California mobilized an increasing number of pro-LGBT Mormons and ramped up additional political actions to urge Utah government officials and Mormon leaders to support pro-LGBT legislation and families with gay members. While up-front funding of anti-equality work has diminished, leaders in Iowa recently pointed toward the well-known anti-equality group, National Organization for Marriage, as a conduit for Mormon monies.
Affirmation’s media engagement paves the way for two separate early October meetings with Utah Governor Gary Herbert. One is with the Foundation for Reconciliation and the other is with leaders of Equality Utah. Both meetings were precipitated by earlier media work by the Foundation for Reconciliation as assisted by GLAAD in response to Utah’s Governor comparing legal protections for LGBT people to legal protections for “blue-eyed blonds.”
Related Posts:Minnesota Based Online GLBTQ High School to Start Classes in January
August 5, 2009
According to the Pioneer Press in the Twin Cities, a new online high school will make it easier for GLBTQ students feel comfortable while working towards their diploma. The GLBTQ Online High School will open its doors in January 2010, becoming the first institution of its kind.
Up until this point there have been online high schools and brick and mortar GLBTQ high schools, but never an online school explicitly for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer youth.
The GLBTQ Online High School is based out of Maplewood, MN, and the idea was executed by David Glick, Minnesota’s first online coordinator at the Minnesota Department of Education. Glick created it after he saw that there was a need to reach out to young GLBTQ people who live in places where there are not a lot of other GLBTQ people to relate to or who live in a potentially hostile environment where they are not accepted.
Critics of the school say that it would further isolate teens who may already be at risk. Glick, however, believes otherwise. He said, “We may not bring people closer physically — but we will in every other way. We want to make them feel more confident about who they are.”
Curriculum at the school includes courses that meet national criteria, but also includes lesson plans that help to abolish negative messages about GLBTQ people. The school will also include courses that use online communication tools and highlight GLBTQ people in history, a subject matter that is glaringly absent from most public school education.
People of any sexual orientation can enroll, and there are programs in place to help teens come out to their families before applying. The school has already started accepting applications.
http://www.glbtqonlinehighschool.com/
It’s encouraging to see more educational options like this one that offer a safe leanring space for GLBTQ students. GLAAD will continue to monitor media coverage about the GLBTQ Online High School.
Related Posts:Anti-Gay Group Targets LGBT Prom and Exploits Youth.
June 30, 2009
LGBT youth proms like the one that BAGLY (Boston Alliance of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Youth) hosts annually in Boston, MA give young members of the LGBT community an opportunity to participate in and enjoy high school prom in a safe and supportive environment that affirms who they are.
On May 9, 2009, MassResistance, an anti-gay group self described as “a pro-family action center” sent a 20-year-old referred to only as “Max” to infiltrate the BAGLY prom. When he returned, he wrote a report about the prom on the group’s website that was picked up by WorldNetDaily staff writer Chelsea Schilling. She wrote about the event and Max’s report in her article “Kids attend prom from ‘sexual hell’”.
Max’s report uses offensive and dehumanizing language in reference to the prom attendees, often misconstruing the sexual orientations and gender identities of those he writes about. He underplays the security of the event, which included 100 adult chaperones (including BAGLY staff, police officers and parents), mandatory bag checks and metal detectors. He refers to the adults present as “homosexual recruiting gangs,” and paints a crude, deliberately misleading picture of what was actually an inclusive and celebratory event for young people.
The report targets these LGBT youth and puts them in harms way by exploiting and misrepresenting what was suposed to be a safe and inclusive opportunity to relax and have fun. Max misrepresented himself as a member of the community and took photos of these young people, which were posted on the MassResistance webpage without the permission of the attendees or their parents or guardians. An event that was supposed to serve as a safe space for local LGBT youth was turned into the opposite by MassResistance.
This incident highlights exactly why LGBT proms and similar events and institutions are especially important. It is essential that young people have a safe and secure environment to express themselves without being subjected to harassment. Groups such as BAGLY are vitally important because of their dedication in providing these kinds of safe spaces for LGBT youth.
Related Posts:UPDATE: KRXQ Responds to GLAAD’s Call to Action
June 2, 2009
Yesterday, we alerted our readers to our work with Trans Youth Family Allies in responding to a reprehensible May 28 segment on the Rob, Arnie & Dawn in the Morning radio show. The show is heard in Sacramento, California on KRXQ 98.5FM and Reno, Nevada on KDOT 104.5FM. You can find our original blog post about the defamatory comments here.
In a vile diatribe, radio show hosts Rob Williams and Arnie States spent more than a half hour making highly offensive comments about transgender children when discussing a recent story about a transgender child and her parents’ decision to support her transition in Omaha, NE.
The two hosts encouraged child abuse as a so-called “cure” for their gender identity with even one host later suggesting shock therapy. You can listen to the entire segment here.
Hosts of the show Rob Arnie & Dawn
Yesterday, we reached out to KRXQ management to raise our deepest concerns and demand an apology for the radio broadcast. We not only called, but also emailed the KRXQ General Manager, John Geary.
GLAAD received a reply from Mr. Geary on Tuesday, June 2 at 9:21am EST.
He wrote:
I was out of the office yesterday, so I have yet to hear the segment in question. Let me review it and get back to you later today. Thanks. – John
After waiting for hours with no response, GLAAD issued a Call to Action demanding the radio hosts to apologize for encouraging violence against transgender children.
Because of the many supporters who reach out to the station and hosts, we received a phone call from John Geary at 5:00pm EST today. Geary let us us know that he took our concerns seriously and he claimed to have read all of the emails sent to him about the radio segment.
Geary also told us that the hosts plan to address this issue in the 7:00am PST (10:00am EST) hour on their Wednesday, June 3 broadcast (listen live here).
GLAAD has sent over key resources on transgender issues to inform the radio hosts on what kinds of obstacles transgender people face.
In 2008, Ruby Molina was murdered in Sacramento for being a transgender woman.
Rob Williams and Arnie States have become active contributors to a vicious cycle of ill-informed and cruel rhetoric. Such hateful speech has already shown its devastating effects on transgender people and the communities they belong to.
In 2008 alone, the Transgender Day of Remembrance reported 21 murders of transgender and gender non-conforming people, including:
- January 21, 2008: Adolphus Simmons, 18, (Charleston, SC) who was gunned down while taking out the trash;
- February 10, 2008: Sanesha Stewart (Bronx, NY), stabbed by an acquaintance and left to die alone in her apartment;
- February 12, 2008: Lawrence King, 15, (Oxnard, CA) shot in the head by a 14 year old fellow classmate
- February 22, 2008: Simmie Williams, 17, (Fort Lauderdale, FL) who was shot an dkilled; no arrests have been made;
- July 1, 2008: Ebony Whitaker, 20, (Memphis, TN) who was shot near a daycare center; no arrests have been made;
- July 21, 2008: Angie Zepata, 18, (Greeley, CO) who was beaten to death in her own apartment with a fire extinguisher;
- August 20, 2008: Nakhia Williams, 29, (Louisville, KY) who died 10 days after she was shot and beaten by a group of people outside her apartment;
- September 21, 2008: Ruby Molina, 22, (Sacramento, CA) who was found dead in the American River by fishermen in September;
- November 9, 2008: Duanna Johnson, 42, (Memphis, TN) who was shot to death just weeks ago by unidentified assailants on Nov. 9 after making news earlier when she was beaten by police officers in February. Johnson’s lawsuit against the city of Memphis was still pending at the time of her murder.
- November 14, 2008: Lateisha “Teish” Cannon, 22, (Syracuse, NY) who was shot inside her car with her brother and friend;
- December 26, 2008: Taysia “Taysha” Elzy, 34, (Indianapolis, IN) who was shot and killed along with her boyfriend.
In 2007, the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Projects (NCAVP) reported that 16% of their overall reports were motivated by anti-transgender bias, and that 231 transgender women filed reports of violence. Since violence is often underreported, and the identities of transgender murder victims often misreported, there is no way to know accurate numbers.
It should also be noted the Human Rights Campaign estimates that transgender Americans face a one-in-12 change of being murdered. Statistics from the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) show that in schools 14.2% of transgender students report being physically assaulted as a result of their gender expression, while 30.4% experienced physical harassment.
We hope Rob Williams and Arnie States consider these important and sobering pieces of information when addressing the issue tomorrow.
GLAAD will be monitoring tomorrow’s response by the hosts. Please continue to check back for any possible updates or alerts on this developing story.
Homofrecuencia: Latin@ Youth Frequency
March 25, 2009
The faces of Homofrecuencia./Las caras de Homofrecuencia.
Every Monday Homofrecuencia hits the airwaves on 90.5FM Radio Arte Chicago. Homofrecuencia is the only Spanish language radio show in the United States for and by the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning community produced by youth.
It is produced by students, graduates and volunteers of the Radio Arte Journalism and Media Training Program.
“We’re ahead of other programs because we talk about things that are still controversial in our community…We have people who have been straight allies who have been the most amazing team members. They learn a lot about our community,” says Managing Producer Emmanuel Garcia.
Todos los lunes Homofrecuencia se puede escuchar por 90.5FM Radio Arte Chicago. Homofrecuencia es el único programa radial en español en los Estados Unidos hecho por y para la comunidad lesbiana, gay, bisexual, transgénero y “queer” producido por jovenes. Es producido por estudiantes, graduados y voluntarios del programa de periodismo y capacitación en los medios de Radio Arte.
“Estamos al frente de otros programas por que hablamos de cosas que aun son controversiales en nuestra comunidad…Tenemos a personas heterosexuales que han formado parte del equipo y han sido compañeros formidables. Aprenden mucho de nuestra comunidad”, dice el gerente de producción Emmanuel Garcia.
Reaching the community./Llegando a la comunidad.
Homofrecuencia consists of news, music, commentary, documentaries and discussions within the human rights context of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning community. “A lot of people tend to run into us that aren’t part of our community.
We’re not just preaching to the choir…We’re talking about marriage. A lot of Latinos don’t know what that means. With all that happened in California and Florida and Latinos voting a certain way, it’s really important to educate the public about why we’re protesting,” Garcia says.
Working it out on the board./Trabajando duro.
Homofrecuencia consiste de noticias, música, comentarios, documentales y discusiones dentro del contexto de los derechos humanos para la comunidad lesbiana, gay, bisexual, transgénero y “queer”. “Mucha gente que no forma parte de nuestra comunidad sintoniza por accidente.
No estamos solamente predicando a los convertidos…Estamos hablando sobre el matrimonio. Muchos latinos no saben que significa esto. Con todo lo que pasó en California y Florida y como votaron los latinos, es importante educar al público el por que estamos protestando”, dice Garcia.
Nestor Rivera, Ireri Unzueta Carrasco, Tayben Ramirez, Eduardo Culbeaux y Deyanira Ávila Zapata
For more information about Homofrecuencia and to listen live on Mondays from 7-9pm CST/8-10pm EST visit: www.wrte.org/homofrecuencia
Para más información sobre Homofrecuencia y para escuchar el programa en vivo los lunes de 7-9pm CST/8-10pm EST visita: www.wrte.org/homofrecuencia.
Chicago’s Queer Prom 2009: Amor sin fronteras/Love Without Borders
March 6, 2009
Dancing it up at Queer Prom 2008.
“Amor sin fronteras” or “Love Without Borders” is this year’s theme for the only prom for and by LGBT youth in the Chicago area. Queer Prom 2009 will take place on May 29th at the National Museum of Mexican Art.
“We want to provide a feeling of community, an event that identifies the Latin@ community, the gay community and Pilsen as a neighborhood…I think a lot times a young gay person, especially in schools in La Villita [a predominantly Mexican neighborhood] feel isolated from the gay community. The only thing they know is Boystown [a predominantly gay white male neighborhood in Chicago], clubs and the commercial aspects of being gay. We mean to connect them to another aspect of the community, ” said Tania Unzueta, Coordinator of Queer Prom 2009.
“Amor sin fronteras” es el título del Queer Prom 2009 que es el único evento de este tipo para la juventud en el area de Chicago. El evento se llevará acabo el 29 de mayo en el Museo Nacional de Arte Mexicano.
“Queremos proveer un sentido de comunidad, un evento que identifica a la comunidad latina, la comunidad gay y Pilsen como barrio…Creo que muchas veces los jóvenes gays, especialmente en La Villita [barrio predominantemente mexicano] se sienten aislados de la comunidad gay. Lo único que conocen es Boystown [barrio predominantemente de hombres gays anglosajones], centros nocturnos y el aspecto comercial de ser gay. Nosotros buscamos conectarlos a otras partes de la comunidad”, comentó la coordinadora del evento Tania Unzueta.
The first Queer Prom
The first Queer Prom took place in 2004 with the theme, “Noche de arcoiris” or “Rainbow Night” as an event sponsored by Homofrecuencia, the only Spanish language radio show by and for LGBT youth in the United States and recipient of a Special Recognition at the 19th Annual GLAAD Media Awards. The coordinators were not sure what was going to happen.
El primer Queer Prom se llevó acabo en el 2004 con el título de “Noche de Arcoiris”. El evento fue patrocinado por Homofrecuencia, el único programa radial en español ejecutado por y para los jóvenes LGBT en EU y recipiente de un reconocimiento especial en la 19ª entrega de los Premios GLAAD. Los coordinadores en ese entonces no sabían que iba pasar.
All dressed up.
“The community in general has asked us, ‘Why have an event that segregates gay youth?’ Our response to that is that when all youth are able to go to school feeling safe then there won’t be a need for such events,” said Unzueta. T
he coordinator of Queer Prom 2009 states that some of the challenges they’ve received to the event parallel those that have also challenged the proposed Social Justice High School – Pride Campus.
The high school aims to have a curriculum and environment that is inclusive of LGBT students. Currently, Chicago Public Schools has delayed a Board of Education vote on the campus that would be a first in the area and only second in the country to the Harvey Milk High School in New York City.
“La comunidad en general nos ha preguntado, ‘Por qué tener un evento donde se estan aislando?’. Nuestro argumento es que cuando todos los jóevens tengan el derecho de ir a la escuela y sentirse seguros no habrá necesidad de estos eventos”, comentó Unzueta.
La coordinadora del Queer Prom 2009 comenta que algunos de los comentarios en contra de el evento son parecidos a aquellos comentarios que retan al Social Justice High School – Pride Campus. Esta escuela aspira tener un plan de estudio que incluye la historia de la comunidad gay y también de crear un espacio donde los jóvenes LGBT se sientan seguros.
El departamento de educación de Chicago ha demorado el voto para implementar esta escuela que sería la primera de su tipo en esta area y la segunda en el país. La primera fue la Harvey Milk High School en Nueva York.
Smiling faces.
Queer Prom is more than just a party. The coordinators and attendees feel that they are uniting to celebrate their common experiences, “How beautiful to gay! How beautiful to be Latin@!,” Unzueta finalizes. For more information about Queer Prom 2009 visit www.wrte.org/homofrecuencia or call 312-455-9455 x203.
Queer Prom es más que una fiesta. Los coordinadores y participantes sienten que se estan reuniendo para apreciar sus experiencias comunes, “Que bonito es ser gay! Que bonito es ser latino!”, finalizó Unzueta. Para más información sobre el Queer Prom 2009 visita www.wrte.org/homofrecuencia o llama 312-455-9455 x203.
One Year Later: Vigils in Lawrence King’s Memory Held Next Week
February 6, 2009
Feb. 12, 2008 a junior high school student shot his 15-year-old classmate, Lawrence King, in the head because Lawrence had a crush on him. This year, local LGBT communities across the country are remember
ing Lawrence’s life the week of Feb. 9.
Advocates in Ventura, California, where Lawrence lived and was murdered, are holding a vigil Feb. 12. Local community members, including faith leaders and the city’s Youth Empowerment Program, are sponsoring the event. The community was among dozens that held vigils last year.
Community members in Oklahoma are also holding a vigil next thursday in Okemah City Park. A local LGBT theatre in Minnesota is dedicating a Feb. 11 show, “Be Our Valentine,” to Lawrence’s memory.
For the most complete, up-to-date listing of events in Lawrence King’s memory, or to register your community’s local event, please check www.rememberinglawrence.org, a project of GLSEN.
GLAAD urges the media to report fairly on the intersection of anti-LGBT bullying and violence when covering the life and tragic death of Lawrence King.
Share Your Stories From the Holiday Table
January 6, 2009
Last year, GLAAD partnered with Mitchell Gold, editor of the anthology Crisis, to urge folks to share their stories with friends and family during the holiday season.
That’s exactly what my family did this year. Our big annual holiday dinner included the usual grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, along with three of us openly gay grandchildren.
CRISIS examines the overwhelming effects of prejudice and discrimination on the lives of gay youth.
In preparation for our big meal, my mom added one task to her list of things to do – to call everyone coming over for dinner and let them know we were having two special guests: my brother and my cousin’s partners. To my mom’s surprise, everyone was just fine with the inclusion of our gay family members. I wasn’t too surprised, though. I work for GLAAD, and every day I get to see examples demonstrating that our work is making a difference in eliminating homophobia.
As part of being GLAAD’s Central Region Media Field Strategist, I work to ensure media coverage of our community in the region (which includes my family’s home base, Ohio) is fair, accurate, and inclusive. Going into the holiday season, I knew that my extended family has been seeing more and more images of gay and transgender people in the media regularly, and that these positive portrayals are inevitably playing a role in changing their hearts and minds.
My grandma’s reaction to the news that two new members of the family would be joining our holiday meal was amazing. I know how important the media advocacy work we do here at GLAAD is, but it hit home for me as I watched my grandmother simply smile and say, “That’s great. You know this guy on one of my soaps, he’s gay. I love all my grandchildren, this doesn’t change anything.”
The actors who play Luke and Noah on As the World Turns received a GLAAD Media Award this year.
Towards the end of 2008, GLAAD commissioned a poll from Harris Interactive, the results of which told us that if someone knows a gay person, they are more likely to favor legal protections for our community. In fact, 19% of survey respondents reported that their feelings toward gay and lesbian people have become more favorable over the past five years. The number one factor for this change of heart was knowing someone who is gay or lesbian.
I firmly believe that the fact that my brother, my cousin, and I have all come out to our family, coupled with the fact that my family regularly sees fair and accurate media coverage of our community has made all the difference.
Not only have we built up a great group of allies in our extended family, but we’ve paved the way for any future family members who may be gay. They will be comforted to know that Grandma loves Luke and Noah on As the World Turns, and that openly gay folks are welcomed to our family’s holiday meal table every year.
Please feel free to share your story from the holidays in the comments section below.
New Study On Families Reactions to Teens Coming Out
January 5, 2009
Over the holidays, the results of an important new study about the role that family reactions to teenagers coming out can have later in life was released. Especially at this time of year, it was an important reminder of how much it matters that family members are supportive of the LGBT people in their families.
The study, conducted by San Francisco State University’s Family Acceptance Project, was released in the January issue of Pediatrics, the official journal of The American Academy of Pediatrics and picked up in a wide range of media outlets, from The Associated Press to U.S. News and World Report.
The AP talked about the importance of parental response to lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) teens, and the potential implications later in life:
“Parents love their children and want the best for them,” said lead researcher Caitlin Ryan, a social worker who directs the university’s Family Acceptance Project. “Now that we have measured all these behaviors, we can see that some of them put youth at extremely high risk and others are wellness-promoting.”
Among other findings, the study showed that teens who experienced negative feedback were more than eight times as likely to have attempted suicide, nearly six times as vulnerable to severe depression and more than three times at risk of drug use.
More significantly, Ryan said, ongoing work at San Francisco State suggests that parents who take even baby steps to respond with equanimity instead of rejection can dramatically improve a gay youth’s mental health outlook.
One of the most startling findings was that being forbidden to associate with gay peers was as damaging as being physically beaten or verbally abused by their parents in terms of negative feedback, Ryan said.
The study first looked at 51 families and documented a variety of reactions to the coming out process, and then divided those reactions along a spectrum from “accepting” to “rejecting.” The researchers then spoke with 225 LGB adults, documented the responses and reactions they experienced from their families when they came out as teens, and then looked at their behaviors as adults.
Sten Vermund, a Vanderbilt University pediatrician familiar with the study and Ryan’s work, underscored the point that the data is especially significant for doctors and families working to provide guidance to LGB teens:
“So many families of children who are gay, bisexual or transgender, particularly families of gay male youth, think that if they are tough on the kid and tell him how unsatisfactory his gay lifestyle is to the family, he will have it knocked out of him,” Vermund said.
Vermund said he also was impressed by Ryan’s finding that a little bit of familial acceptance could go a long way in increasing a child’s chances for future happiness.
“The Southern Baptist doesn’t have to become a Unitarian,” he said. “Someone can still be uncomfortable with their child’s sexual orientation, but if they are somewhat more accepting and do the best the can, they will do the youth a lot of good. That to me is an important message.”
While some of the language used in these articles misses the mark, the overall message is vitally important We have seen time and time again through our work just how vital that family acceptance is, particularly for young people, and our Be An Ally & A Friend resource has information to help family members and friends be accepting of the LGBT people in their lives.
The response that we’ve had from young people – and their parents – to our public service announcements and the storylines about LGBT teens that we’ve collaborated on for shows like South of Nowhere and All My Children has been an important reminder about how important it is to be supportive of young people. And this study – and the media coverage of the study – gives us even more concrete evidence to remind us of that fact.
