LGBTQA YOUTH & HEALTH School Based Clinic

School Clinic  Services  Cost  Location  Registration

Today  LGBTQA Youth & Health  Safer Space for learning  Remember you don’t know the experiences of others  Will talk about possibly triggering topics  Use respectful language  Harmful language will not be tolerated

LGBTQA: Sexual orientations Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans* Queer Asexual

What you’ve heard What have you heard about LGBTQA people and health? Do the health needs/concerns of LGBTQA young people differ from those of straight-identified youth? How? What factors impact the health of LGBTQA youth that may not impact the health of straight-identified youth?

LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) youth face heightened health risks due to:  lack of cultural competency  health effects of discrimination  increased rates of homelessness  Increased rates of disconnection from schools and birth families From the CDC What are the common themes here?

Health Disparities Health disparities exist among specific population groups, and are shown by differences in the  Incidence,  Prevalence,  Mortality, &  Burden of diseases

Health Disparities Health disparities are NOT usually the result of biological differences. What social factors could cause health disparities?  Lack of access to health care  Unsafe environment (air pollution, violence, etc.)  Lack of access to healthy foods  Uneducated health care providers  Lack of access to jobs or education  Socioeconomic class  Cultural norms  Oppression  Discrimination

LGBT Youth Health Disparities  LGBT youth are 2 to 3 times more likely to attempt suicide  LGBT youth are more likely to be homeless  40% of U.S. homeless youth identify as LGBT  5 to 10% of U.S. population identify as LGBT

LGBT Health Disparities  Lesbians are less likely to get preventive services for cancer  Gay men are at higher risk of HIV and other STDs, especially among communities of color  Transgender people have a high prevalence of HIV/STDs, victimization, mental health issues, and suicide  LGBT populations have the highest rates of tobacco, alcohol, and other drug use

LGBT Youth & HIV/AIDS  Young Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) are at higher risk for contracting HIV/AIDS than their heterosexual counterparts  Rates of risky sexual behavior among young MSM are higher than among older MSM  Recent CDC study– 59% of the young MSM men who tested positive believed that they were at low or very low risk  Young black MSM were more likely to be unaware of their infection—about 90% of young black MSM were unaware compared with 60% of young white MSM. Why?

LGBT Youth & School Harassment & Assault  A 2009 survey of more than 7,000 LGBT middle and high school students aged 13–21 years found that in the past year, because of their sexual orientation—  80% had been verbally harassed at school  40% had been physically harassed at school  60% felt unsafe at school  20% had been the victim of a physical assault at school How could this affect health?

Risks of Harassment & Violence Long term effects of harassment & violence can include:  Depression  Post-traumatic stress disorder  Anxiety  Decreased educational achievement  Eating Disorders  Suicide attempts

LGBT Youth of Color  Youth of color are significantly less likely than white LGBT youth to have told their parents their sexual orientation  African American LGBT youth may be more likely to suffer from low self-esteem, depression, and suicidal thoughts than LGBT youth of other ethnicities  LGBT youth of color report feeling pressure to choose between their ethnic and their sexual identities  LGBT youth of color are less likely to be involved in gay social and cultural activities than their white counterparts Why?

Compounded Oppressions  In the United States, people of color suffer worse health outcomes than their white counterparts for virtually every health indicator  LGBT youth of color may face compounded oppressions on the basis of their race & their sexuality  This may increase health disparities and adverse health outcomes

Your Communities  What health disparities do you see in your communities?  In school: do you see bullying and discrimination? How does this impact health?  How can the school help create a safer environment?  How can you help?  What’s standing in your way?

Greater Communities  What can health care providers do to better serve their LGBT patients?  What would you like to see happen next time you visit a clinic or doctor?  In your mind, what are the biggest things that need to change to decrease health disparities for LGBT communities in the U.S.?

How can the Clinic help?  Safer Space  Physical Health  Mental Health  Sexual Health  Nutrition  Referrals

Community Resources  Family Tree Clinic: LGBT friendly sexual health clinic in St. Paul  Face to Face: Clinic and youth-serving organization in St. Paul  Drop-in center for homeless & runaway youth  YouthLink: Youth-serving organization and clinic in Minneapolis  Annex Teen Clinic: LGBT friendly youth clinic in Robbinsdale  MyHealth for Teens and Young Adult: LGBT friendly youth clinic in the Western Suburbs  Trans Youth Support Network: Advocacy & support organization in Minneapolis for trans youth  RECLAIM: provides mental health services in Minneapolis for LGBT youth

Thank you!