LGBTQ IDENTITY

LGBTQ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer or questioning. Many other identities fall under the LGBTQ umbrella that are not specifically referenced in the acronym, including nonbinary, asexual, genderqueer, intersex, and more.

“Over the past two decades, Americans have experienced a significant evolution in their understanding and cultural acceptance of LGBTQ people” according to media-monitoring organization GLAAD. Marriage equality has become the law of the land, and media portrayals of LGBTQ people have gone from running jokes to fully formed characters on scripted and reality series.

Unfortunately, many LGBTQ people, especially LGBTQ youth, still experience considerable levels of both overt and covert discrimination, which can lead to much higher rates of depression, anxiety, alcohol and drug use, and lower self-esteem compared to their nonLGBTQ peers, according to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC).

In June 2019, the world marked the fiftieth anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, which took place in New York City’s Greenwich Village in 1969. All across the country, people celebrated in parades and marches and gathered in greater numbers than ever before to show their pride. Sadly, during this period there was a spike in violence against LGBTQ people, according to a report by the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP). In the two months around the Stone-wall anniversary, there were 10 hate-related murders of LGBTQ people and the majority of those were Black trans women.

LGBTQ youth living with homophobic and transphobic relatives have even higher rates of stress and depression, leaving them at greater risk for substance abuse. In many cases, “their fear of rejection is compounded by the negative comments they hear about the LGBTQ community from their parents or family members,” says HRC.

LGBTQ youth of color can face an extraordinary amount of bullying, harassment, and bias because, in addition to homophobia or transphobia, they may also experience racism. Studies show that this compounds their feelings of isolation and lack of belonging.

Additionally, LGBTQ youth are more likely to be homeless, in foster care, and in the juvenile justice system. According to True Colors United, 40 percent of the 1.6 million youth experiencing homelessness identify as LGBTQ. Accepting families, however, can lead to greater self-esteem, well-being, and resilience among LGBTQ youth, lowering their risk of adverse health effects.