Victimization is a Big Problem
A recent national study of LGBTQ youth found that 89% had been victimized due to gender expression and sexual orientation (Greytak, et al., 2016, as cited in Day, et al., 2019). Eighty-nine percent is extremely high. That is almost nearly all LGBTQ youth. Currently, 1 in 6 adults from Generation Z (born 1997-2002) identify as LGBTQ (Jones, 2020) and that number has increased over the years. If that trend continues, there are more youth today identifying as LGBTQ than ever before. This means the number of youth in that 89% will continue to grow.
Another frightening number to be aware of is 1.8 million LGBTQ youth seriously consider suicide each year. Of course, these youth have varying reasons they consider taking their own lives, but some of the biggest reasons they list are victimization, bullying, parent rejection, lack of support from family and friends, especially at school, mental health disorders, homelessness, social stigma, and discrimination (Gorse, 2020).
Much of the research out there is about these negative factors, but there are more studies being done to test the effectiveness of increased protective factors to reduce these staggering statistics. The most helpful protective factor to reduce suicidal ideation is for LGBTQ youth to have a supportive and affirming environment (Gorse, 2020), whether that be at home or school, or both. There are some small things that you can personally do to help create that type of environment. One way to begin is to use inclusive language.
Inclusive Language
LGBTQ youth feel safer when they are in an inclusive environment (Steck & Perry, 2018). Using inclusive language is one of the easiest ways to create an inclusive and affirming environment. Inclusive language begins with knowing and understanding LGBTQ terminology and respecting pronoun usage. We understand that the term LGBTQ is not all-encompassing. It has evolved over time to be more inclusive, and the term is currently LGBTTQQIAAP+, but for the sake of brevity, we will use the abbreviated form LGBTQ as it is still considered correct usage. The + at the end is an extra element of inclusion for those that do not fit into one of the represented categories. The image below gives a brief explanation of what each letter stands for.
When we are using terminology that affirms who a person is and how they identify, we are creating a safe space for them. Another way to do this is to use their pronouns.
Pronouns. Are They Really a Big Deal? What’s in a Name?
How would you feel if someone deliberately kept calling you by the wrong name or pronouns? When I was in grade school every day my peers would intentionally call my best friend by the wrong pronouns. It resulted in depression, self-harming, eating disorders, and a suicide attempt. Purposefully not calling someone by their chosen name/pronouns is a cruel form of bullying.
Many LGBTQ youth change their names and/or proclaim their desired pronouns to fit their gender identity. Resnick (2021) reported, “A person who has been misgendered is invalidated and alienated from others. Additionally, incorrect pronoun use can increase that person's dysphoria, further complicating and even potentially harming their relationship with their body”.
What impact is made in an LGBTQ youth's life when we affirm their identity? According to Pollitt et al., (2021) respectfully acknowledging the chosen name of transgender youth can support their mental health. In addition, Pollitt et al., (2021) found that most youth’s names are affirmed at home but not at school, which can lead to increased prejudice and harassment.
The Trevor Project’s 2020 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health reported that transgender non-binary youth disclosed that when their pronouns were used by a majority of their village their suicide rates were cut in half compared to those whose pronouns were not honored. After learning how the risks are reduced by this simple change, do you feel more motivated to make any adjustments?
The following chart can help you understand the different pronouns someone might use. The nonbinary Ze is less commonly used but is included for reference should you hear someone use it.
Take a few minutes to check out this video to understand what words transgender people associate with the word pronoun and what that word means to them.
Mistakes Happen; We Are Only Human
What if, despite your best efforts, you use the wrong pronoun? Try using the acronym CLAIM if someone calls you out, or you're called in to help with pronouns…
What about all the different flags? What do they mean?
You may have been driving down a street and noticed a rainbow flag, or some variation of a rainbow flag and wondered what it represented. There are many different flags that represent a rainbow (pun intended) of different LGBTQ identities. The following image represents the flags that might be most commonly seen.
People fly the flags for different reasons. They may fly it as a way to come out, to share their pride, or to feel like they belong. They might fly it to show support for a friend or loved one, or to spread hope. Understanding the meaning a certain flag holds for someone can help them to feel seen and validated.
Grow Yourself
Choose one, or more, of the following challenges to help you put into practice what you learned from reading this lesson material.
Spend some time online this week learning any of the vocabulary words you are unfamiliar with that were associated with this lesson.
Try introducing yourself to someone with your name and your pronouns.
Share this lesson with a friend that you think would benefit from learning the information presented here.
Be sure to check out Lesson 2. We will cover creating safe environments for LGBTQ youth full of love and acceptance.
Useful resources
Looking for more? Check out one of these amazing resources:
To learn more about LGBTQ youth statistics, or to find additional helpful LGBTQ information, and crisis services try https://www.thetrevorproject.org
For a more comprehensive LGBTQ glossary of terms visit https://upsu.net/post/MTCDF3DC39/the-lgbtq-glossary
To learn more about pronouns try https://www.mypronouns.org/
“Disclaimer: The authors of this online curriculum are not therapists, and are not authorized to give personalized advice to any of the readers. The content of this lesson plan is the creation of the authors alone and does not represent any other entity or organization.”
References
Cut. (2015, August 11). Pronouns, trans, one word, cut [Video]. Youtube. https://youtu.be/Nn1TC7VEpf4
Day, J. K., Fish, J., Grossman, A. H. & Russell, S.T. (2019). Gay-Straight alliances, inclusive policy, and school climate: LGBTQ youths’ experiences of social support and bullying. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 30 (S2), 418-430. https://doi.org/10.1111/jora.12487
Gorse, M. (2020). Risk and protective factors to LGBTQ+ youth suicide: A review of the literature. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-020-00710-3
Jones, J. M. (2021, February 24). LGBTQ identification rises to 5.6% in latest U.S. estimate. Gallup. https://news.gallup.com/poll/329708/lgbt-identification-rises-latest-estimate.asp
Paely, A. (2020). National survey on LGBTQ youth mental health 2020. The Trevor Project. https://www.thetrevorproject.org/survey-2020/?section=Introduction
Paely, A. (2021). National survey on LGBTQ youth mental health 2021. The Trevor Project. https://www.thetrevorproject.org/survey-2021/?section=Introduction
Pollitt, A. M., Ioverno, S., Russell, S. T., Li, G. & Grossman, A. H. (2021). Predictors and mental health benefits of chosen name use among transgender youth. Youth & Society, 53(2), 320-341. https://doi.org/10.1177/0044118X19855898
Resnick, A. (2021 September 12). Gender identity, why pronouns use matters. Verywellmind. https://www.verywellmind.com/why-pronoun-use-matters-5113217#:~:text=A%20person%20who%20has%20been,their%20relationship%20with%20their%20body
Steck, A. K. & Perry, D. (2018). Challenging heteronormativity: Creating a safe and inclusive environment for LGBTQ students. Journal of School Violence, 17(2), 227-243. https://doi.org/10.1080/15388220.2017.1308255
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