Many argue in American society that the deck is stacked against young people growing up lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender in the U.S. Official government discrimination or indifference along with social ostracism leaves many teens disaffected and disconnected in their own homes and neighborhoods. With an increase in public awareness about anti-LGBT bullying and harassment and the strikingly high number of LGBT youth who are homeless, in foster care, or living in high-risk situations, it is critical that we get a better understanding of the experiences, needs, and concerns of LGBT youth.
In a new released report issued by Human Rights Counsel (HRC), Growing Up LGBT in America, a groundbreaking survey of more than 10,000 LGBT-identified youth ages 13-17, a stark picture is painted of the difficulties LGBT youth face. Some 67% of straight kids described themselves as happy, but only 37% of LGBT kids could say the same. 83% of LGBT youth believe they will one day be happy.
Although 56% said they are out to their families, a third of respondents said their family is not accepting of them. More than half of LGBT youth said they’d been verbally harassed, and 47% said they don’t “fit in.” By comparison, just 25% of straight student said they’d been called names and 16% of straight youth said they didn’t fit in. Read the complete survey results here.