Lgbt

How Are LGBT Youths Affected by Discrimination and What Can Schools Do

to Help?

This essay shows how discrimination leads to increased high school drop out rates for LGBT

youths and, of greater concern, increased rates of suicide and substance abuse.

Gaell Jocelyn-Blackman

Abstract

In this paper, I will discuss the different types of discrimination that LGBT youths are

faced with and the effects on these youths. The paper will elaborate on the severe

impacts on LGBT youths not only caused by discrimination but also due to lack of

support and guidance. The paper will also discuss the roles of the parents and schools

in helping minimize discrimination against LGBT youths. This paper will also hopefully

instruct schools and parents to accept and support gay students rather than add to the

discrimination that they already face. Doing so will reduce the high school drop out rate

and most importantly the youth suicide rate. In essence, the purpose of this research

paper is to identify the different effects on LGBT youths due to discrimination and to

explore various actions that can and should be taken by schools and parents to help

these youths live a normal and happy life. Therefore, my target audience is the school

system as well as the parents of LGBT youths.

Suicide is the leading cause of death among gay and lesbian youths. Gay and

lesbian youths are 2 to 6 times more likely to attempt suicide than heterosexual

youth. Over 30% of all reported teen suicides each year are committed by gay and

lesbian youths. . . . Gays and lesbians are at much higher risk than the heterosexual

population for alcohol and drug abuse. Approximately 30% of both the lesbian and

gay male populations have problems with alcohol. Gay and lesbian youth are at

greater risk for school failure than heterosexual children. (U.S. Department of Health

and Human Services, 1989, as cited in “Today’s Gay Youth,” n.d., n.p.)

Substantially higher proportions of homosexual people use alcohol, marijuana...