GAY YOUTH STATISTICS

Important statistics about the impact of homophobia on gay and lesbian youth selected from GLSEN’s website.

Please note that HOMOPHOBIA is the cause of these problems, NOT being homosexual.

school

§         97 % of students in public high schools report regularly hearing homophobic remarks from their peers[1]

§         53% of students report hearing homophobic comments made by school staff[2]

§         80% of prospective teachers report negative attitudes toward gay and lesbian people[3]

§         two-thirds of guidance counselors harbor negative feelings toward gay and lesbian people[4]

§          

home

§         11.5% of gay and lesbian youth report being physically attacked by family members[5]

§         42% of homeless youth self-identify as gay/lesbian[6]

 

anti-gay violence and harassment

§         homosexuals are probably the most frequent victims [of hate crimes] in the U.S.[7]

§         45% of gay males and 20% of lesbians report having experienced verbal harassment and/or physical violence as a result of their sexual orientation during high school[8]

§         42% of adolescent lesbians and 34% of adolescent gay males who have suffered physical attack also attempt suicide[9]

 

health issues

§         30% of gay and bisexual adolescent males attempt suicide at least once[10]

§         83% of adolescent lesbians use alcohol, 56% use other drugs, and 11% use crack and/or cocaine[11]

§         68% of adolescent gay males use alcohol, 44% use other drugs[12]


[1] Making Schools Safer for Gay and Lesbian Youth: Report of Massachusetts Governor’s Commission on Gay and Lesbian Youth, 1993.

[2] ibid

[3] Sears, James. “Educators, Homosexuality, and Homosexual Students: Are Personal Feelings related to Professional Beliefs?”, in Harbeck, Karen, Harrington Park Press, 1992.

[4] ibid

[5] Hetrick-Martin Institute Violence Report, 1988.

[6] Victims Services/Traveler’s Aid, “Streetowork Project Study,” 1991.

[7] US Department of Justice, The Response of the Criminal Justice System to Bias Crime: An Exploratory View, 1987.

[8] National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, “National Anti-Gay/Lesbian Victimization Report,” 1984.

[9] Hetrick-Martin Institute Violence Report, 1988.

[10] Remafedi, Gary, et al. “Risk Factors for Attempted Suicide in Gay and Bisexual Youth,” in Pediatrics, 1991.

[11] Hunter, Joyce, et al. Unpublished research by the Columbia University HIV center for Clinical and Behavior Studies, 1992.

[12]ibid