Youth
When you’re young and LGBTQ+, coming out is only half the battle. Learn more about the issues affecting LGBTQ+ youths and what can be done to change their reality.
Dee
Who is Dee?
Hi! I’m here to help you learn more about what it means to be young and LGBTQ+. If growing up is hard, growing up LGBTQ+ can be harder. LGBTQ+ youths are trying to find their place in the world, as they grapple with unique challenges, dangers and systemic problems. There’s a lot to unpack, so let’s get started.
Coming home
What would happen if you couldn’t come home? Or if being at home didn't feel safe? Explore some of the staggering statistics and harsh realities of being young and LGBTQ+.
On the street
Homelessness among LGBTQ+ youths isn't just an issue; it's a full-blown epidemic.
A good man
The day Bryan Wilmoth’s father discovered he was gay was the last day Bryan spent in his family home.
Home But Not Safe
Imagine what it's like not to feel safe in your own home. That's the experience of many LGBTQ+ young adults who are living with their family during the pandemic.
Under attack
Being different has always made people vulnerable to rejection, abuse and even violence--whether that be a difference of race, religious beliefs or political views. The same goes for differences in sexual and gender identities. Explore the impact of rejection, bullying and outright attacks on LGBTQ+ youth.
“I had to do whatever it took to not be gay”
When a love letter from a boy came addressed to Nathan Hoskins, his mother drove him out to the country, a shotgun in her hands.
Unintended consequences
Conversion therapy touts itself as a way to turn gay kids straight. But the effects can be far more damaging.
Bullied for being gay
The children at 13-year-old Tyrone Unsworth's school told him relentlessly to take his own life. So one day, Tyrone did.
Safety, in numbers
Cyber bullying gets a lot of attention these days. But among LGBTQ+ youths, physical violence is still a very real threat.
Lasting Impact
For LGBTQ+ youths, the effects of bullying at a young age can last well into adulthood.
Beyond the schoolyard
Angie Zapata, a transgender woman, was just 18 years old when she met the man who would end her life.
Young people at risk
Check out the findings of the 2024 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People.
Getting accepted
Explore the impact of support over rejection among LGBTQ+ youth.
Family support matters
Why are many LGBTQ+ young people flourishing even as others face significant challenges? Studies show the #1 factor is family support vs. rejection.
Home court advantage
When young people come out as gay, bisexual or transgender, having the support of their families makes all the difference.
A new place to call home
When Dylan Lewis's mother kicked him out for being gay, he found a new home — in the Deep South.
Happy and Queer
Listen to Kaysen Ford and their mother reflect on Kaysen's recent high school graduation and share hopes and dreams for the future.
“My dad is the greatest ever”
There are positive stories of coming out to family and friends — like this one from Morgan Marsh, who has "the greatest dad ever."
A journey toward acceptance
"I wanted you to meet a good husband, have a child and live well," says Elena's Korean-born grandmother. But things don't always work out as expected.
A way forward
The studies and stories highlighting the issues impacting LGBTQ+ youth are also showing us solutions--a way forward. Learn more about the work being done to change the status quo and turn the tide for LGBTQ+ youth.
Making a difference
Schools haven't always been supportive of LGBTQ+ students. But some educators are finding ways to change that.
Getting schooled
Schools can be intimidating places for LGBTQ+ youths. But research shows the solution is simple — and it starts with this toolbox.
A network of support
LGBTQ+ youths have a lot of very specific needs, and yet, of the programs in place to help this population, few are designed to actually fill those needs. Learn how that's starting to change.
Questioning Teens
Adolescence is a time of exploration and learning about oneself, and that can include sexual orientation.
What works for LGBTQ+ students?
Learn from the largest body of research on LGBTQ+ students in the U.S.
The power of listening
For LGBTQ+ youth, having adults who know how to listen makes all the difference.
The Stats
Learn about the demographics of LGBTQ+ youth in the US
Discrimination takes its toll
A new study reports alarming rates of suicide risk among young people who identify as Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) and LGBTQ+. Find out what these youth are facing.
A mental health crisis
Acceptance is key to addressing the mental health crisis among LGBTQ+ young people today. What does that mean for us adults?