Adolescence Three stages of adolescence: Early (10-14 years) The main deal: Puberty! (for better or worse…) Middle (15-17 years) The main deal: Contact with peers becomes crucial. Late (18-20 years) The main deal: Transition to adulthood. Most participants in studies reviewed in the Anhalt & Morris chapter (2003) are between 14 and 20 years old, with most participants 15 and older.

What are the most important things about GLB adolescence? Gender Non-Conformity Same-Gender Sexual Behavior and Identification as GLB Coming Out Dating and Love Relationships

The First Two… Gender Non-Conformity As we’ve previously discussed, children on their way to being GLB may have cross-gender behaviors (especially boys) Same-Gender Sexual Behavior and Identification as GLB Most studies since the 1970s focus on sexual behavior, not thoughts, attractions, feelings, or fantasies, and show: 3-17% of adolescent boys, and 6% of adolscent girls, have had one or more same-gender sexual experiences In a 1992 study of a large, diverse sample of mostly white Minnesota adolescents: 4.5% had same-gender attractions, and 2.6% had same-gender fantasies 88% identified as straight, 11% as questioning, 1% as GLB

Coming Out To self: I recognize a number of things about myself and my life and get it: “I’m a lesbian!” First awareness of same-gender attraction: 10-11 years old for bi/lesbian young women, 9-13 years old for bi/gay young men First same-gender sexual experience: 15-17 years old for bi/lesbian young women, 13-16 years old years old for bi/gay young men First self-identifying as GLB: 14-17 years old for bi/lesbian young women, 12-17 years old for bi/gay young men To others: I tell friends, family, coworkers, people on the bus: “I’m gay!” or “I’m bi!” First disclosure to people: two years following self-identification for bi/lesbian young women, 16-20 years old for bi/gay young men Both are usually a series of steps

Coming Out Outcomes of coming out: There’s a correlation between self-identifying, or coming out to oneself, and positive self-esteem Difficulty accepting GLB orientation means lower self-esteem Duh. Coming out to others is more of a stressor, however, because of the possibilities of: Victimization Fear and negative consequences

Victimization In a large 1995 study of a very diverse group of GLB adolescents nationwide: Average number of instances of victimization each participant experienced so far: 2.7 Percentages of participants who experienced specific victimization based on sexual orientation: Verbal insults: 80% Threats of physical violence: 44% Objects thrown at them: 33% Being chased or followed: 31% Sexually assaulted: 22% Physically assaulted (hit, kicked, punched): 20% Spit on: 13%

Fear & Negative Consequences In the same study/others: 67% of participants said thinking about coming out to family is somewhat to extremely troubling 22% feared verbal abuse and this made them less likely to come out to family 36% of youths verbally assaulted by immediate family member (related to sexual orientation) 10% experienced physical harm from family member (related to sexual orientation) Stress is compounded by changes in the relationship to the family member 27% of young women/36% of young men fear losing friends by coming out to them 54% of young women/43% of young men report actually losing friends by coming out This is more stressful in adolescence than other times…

Adjustment Issues for GLB Adolescents Suicide Attempts Risk Factors for Suicide Attempts Conduct Problems Substance Use/Problems with Substance Use Academic Difficulties

A poster from www.belongto.org BeLonG To is a Youth Project, funded by the Department of Education, which was set up in March 2003 for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) young people. Since then, the project has been working with LGBT young people, providing them with a safe, relaxed, comfortable environment, where they can make friends with other young people in similar situations and find support, inclusion, acceptance and social justice. They also have the option of one-to-one support and access to information on education, health and legal services.