Presentation Transcript
Relating to Gay and Lesbian Teens :Relating to Gay and Lesbian Teens (Yes, they’re in your schools)
Why are we talking about this? :Why are we talking about this? Stigma
(“You never see a cake that says 'Good for you, you're gay!’”)
Depression
Loss of “normal life”
Suicidality
Lack of “safe spaces”
You come into contact with them :You come into contact with them Sexual identity often begins to develop in preadolescence
Estimated 10% of population (often disputed)
Someone, somewhere in your school population
Typical supports :Typical supports “Strength-based” model of adolescent development
Typical adolescent psychosocial history is focused on risk factors (eg. substance use, sexual activity, risk taking, etc.)
Church groups
Athletics
Other extracurriculars
Not a whole lot of lesbians here :Not a whole lot of lesbians here
He might be… :He might be…
Or… :Or…
Your gay student :Your gay student Lead in the school musical
Lots of female friends
Flamboyant and proud
Not fooling anyone (and may not be trying)
Or… :Or… Star hockey player
Lots of girlfriends (in the usual sense of the word)
Closeted, isolated, fearful of discovery
Fooling everyone
She might be… :She might be…
Or… :Or…
Your lesbian student :Your lesbian student Star hockey player
“One of the guys”
High-achieving industrial arts whiz
Not fooling anyone (and may not be trying)
Or… :Or… Captain of the cheerleading squad
Dating the captain of the football team
Depressed, anxious, fearful of discovery
Fooling everyone
Don’t assume! :Don’t assume! You never know.
It may come up! :It may come up! DO
Use neutral phrasing (“Have you started dating?” “Are you seeing anyone?” “Anything serious?”)
Assure confidentiality
Keep the conversation open
Avoid judgements DON’T
Make assumptions (“Do you have a girlfriend/boyfriend?”)
Apply pressure (no matter how 100%, beyond the shadow of a doubt sure you are) to “come out”
“Lalalala…. I can’t heeeeeear yoooooouuu!!”
Close the book on the conversation
The good you can do :The good you can do Have honest conversations about safer sex
Heterosexually-focused health classes may not have felt applicable
Prevent substance abuse
Alleviate depression, or help detect it and secure treatment
Provide support for a desperately lonely, isolated and afraid young person
A final note :A final note We always remember the support
we received from those we told first.
Questions? :Questions? For more information, go to:
http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/glbtq.htm