How to Support LGBTQ+ Youth

AwarenessMental Health
Written By Jaycee Wendell

In a society where cisnormativity and heteronormativity are dominant, LGBTQ+ youth are at a higher risk for experiencing fear, shame, rejection, harm, isolation and discrimination. Compounded with minority stress, adverse events and trauma, gender diverse and sexual minority populations are more than twice as likely as their heterosexual counterparts to develop mental health conditions. Not only that but the rate of suicide attempts is four times greater for lesbian, gay and bisexual youth, and two times greater for questioning youth than heterosexual counterparts (according to Mental Health America and American Psychiatric Association). These statistics are incredibly alarming. To better understand how we can support LGBTQ+ youth and help offset these statistics, I reached out to different individuals to garner their insights and experiences.

Jae (he/they) is a current high school student at Gloucester County Institute of Technology in the digital media program. Jae is also a student at Rowan College of South Jersey. He is a member of the Village Youth Leadership program and PTK youth. Jae is an avid birder and wishes to pursue a career in ornithology and conservation.

How are you involved in the LGBTQ+ community?

I am involved with the community through the Village Youth Leadership Program and at my school. At my school, I’m a member of the LGBTQ+ Acceptance Club, which promotes the teaching of LGBTQ+ history and provides a safe space for LGBTQ+ students who wish to be a part of it. I’m also a member of my school’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.

How can we better support LGBTQ+ youth?

I think an important way to reduce discrimination is to discuss LGBTQ+ topics in an age-appropriate way in all grade levels. I think making these topics a part of normal discussion will help those who are exposed to homophobic and/or transphobic views at home be able to learn about others’ experiences in a more unbiased environment. I think we should also educate teachers on how to lead discussions with students about LGBTQ+ topics and intervene in a productive way.

 

Rochelle Balan (she/her) is a Community Educator at the Mental Health Association in Delaware where she is passionate about advocating, educating and supporting communities who are experiencing mental health challenges. Soon after graduating from the University of Delaware in 2016, she enrolled into Widener University’s Social Work Graduate program. Rochelle recently graduated with her MSW in August of 2021. Rochelle started her helping career at the YMCA of Delaware as a School-Age Site Coordinator. Then, she began to work at the Mental Health Association in Delaware and has been with the organization for 5 years where she dedicates her time educating Delawareans on mental health awareness and suicide prevention. She is committed to helping children, families and communities find resourceful information about mental and emotional health.

How are you involved in the LGBTQ+ community?

I identify within the community. As well, I’ve always wanted to make a positive impact in the world, especially with those with similar struggles, barriers and experiences as my own. I have been an active member of the PRIDE Council for 5 years and work on numerous LGBTQ+ initiatives offered throughout Delaware. My work focuses on creating safety, support and education for young people identifying in the LGBTQ+ community. In addition, I provide suicide prevention trainings and education opportunities to other populations wanting to learn more about LGBTQ+ information in regards to mental health and suicide.

How can we better support LGBTQ+ youth?

From my own experience and working with LGBTQ+ youth, each individual experiences their unique pathway in coming out, navigating socially and safety on a continuing basis. For some, it is an easy and accepting process. However, for most, we see this agonizing stress and potential trauma that comes into play. LGBTQ+ youth are more at risk to suicidal thoughts and mental health challenges. As a community, we need adult role models who provide leadership and support to these young people that can relate. And at the center, we need a real sense of empathy and compassion. LGBTQ+ youth need adults, especially in the school system (since most youth spend a lot of their days in school settings), who actually provide LGBTQ+ friendly spaces. Often, we see the little rainbow flag, Human Rights Campaign and other iconic associations to the LGBTQ+ community being displayed on doors and windows for decoration. When I go into these education settings, I always ask myself, “Is the staff conscious on how to support a young LGBTQ+ person? Do these adults actually know what it means and what it stands for? Are we as a community being respectful to our LGBTQ+ youth and giving them a voice?” What would be so helpful is if teachers, therapy faculty, staff and adults who work with LGBTQ+ youth take the time to continuously learn and educate themselves on what it actually means to have an LGBTQ+ friendly environment and space for these youth. I am no expert at LGBTQ+ terminology, culture etc., but I make the most effort in learning about the relevant changes that LGBTQ+ youth advocate for.

 

Golda Duncan (she/her) is an AmeriCorps Public Allies Apprentice, interning for MHA. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, a passion for the mental health community and wants to make a change.

How are you involved in the LGBTQ+ community?

I am involved in the LGBTQ+ community as well as the mental health community.  Not only because I identify as such,, but also because I lead a LGBTQ Wellness Group every Monday at 6:30pm. I wanted to create a safe place for the community to be able to talk about the history of the queer community and stigma that we face every day to fight against it.

How can we better support LGBTQ+ youth?

I feel we can support LGBTQ youth by opening more organizations that are created to support them. Education is key, such as talking about safe sex and what healthy relationships should look like. We need resources that are available to go to when they have nowhere else to go. Many of our youth get into really bad situations seeking shelter, protection, love, and care. A good idea would be to have an outlet for them when those situations occur so they are not in danger. Building houses for runaway teens and teens who have been disowned by their guardians is a great way to keep them off the street. Mental health is a big issue in our community- for one, it’s looked down upon so when someone tries to open up how they feel, oftentimes their feelings get dismissed. We don’t feel validated, so it doesn’t feel like we can go to anyone- that’s why the suicide rates are very high. The world has to be more inclusive to the LGBTQ+ community by accepting them for who they are. A good example of being inclusive is how not long ago, gay marriage was passed in 2015, which was only seven years ago. We need to do better with our policies, laws, bills and rights because everyone should have the same respect. As an African American, disabled women who is a lesbian, we still have a long way to go. But with allies by our side, we can fight stigma and inequality.

 

El Mora (they/them) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with two decades of experience providing education and advocacy on LGBTQ issues. Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, El currently resides in New Castle, Delaware. El is the Clinical Director at AIDS Delaware, founder of The Village DE (an LGBTQ community organization) and previously served as President of the Board for the Delaware Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. El attended Mills College, where they received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Studio Art, and subsequently graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Southern California with a Master of Social Work. El’s clinical areas of focus include gender, sexuality, HIV/AIDS, trauma and resilience, intimate partner/family violence, harm reduction, gambling, and substance abuse.

How are you involved in the LGBTQ+ community?

I would say about 50-75% of my work is with the LGBTQ community, which is a DREAM! I’ve always wanted to be able to focus on and serve my community and I feel humbled and honored to do the work I do. I am currently the Clinical Director at AIDS Delaware, where I manage the Clinical Mental Health Program for folks affected by and at risk for contracting HIV. We provide therapy to a large number of LGBTQ+ folks, as well as curate the Village Youth Leadership Team. In this capacity, we provide a Peer-Based Empowerment Program for LGBTQ+ youth. We also offer LGBTQ+ Literacy trainings for the community at-large.

How can we better support LGBTQ+ youth?

First, there are disparate numbers of LGBTQ+ homeless youth. I hear regularly about LGBTQ+ youth who need emergency housing, and there are no good, safe options for them. Most housing programs are gender-segregated with no transgender-affirming in policy or practice. We need LGBTQ+ housing for all ages, and we should work on creating host homes that are supportive for this population and encouraging the state’s foster and family services departments to provide LGBTQ+ cultural humility trainings and resources. Second, because of COVID, many GSAs have ceased being operational. This can be the only safe place some youth have to be themselves without fear of reprisal/discrimination and it would be really excellent to see a statewide effort to create a virtual, regular GSA-type meeting. Third, it would be great to have a community clothing closet for LGBTQ+ folks, especially for those who do not fit inside traditional gender norms, where clothes could be tried on in non-gendered dressing rooms and for different types of settings.

Fourth, with the national push to discriminate against gender diverse youth from sports, I increasingly worry about access to affirming extracurricular activities. I think there are many people and organizations that could offer this, but the state needs to offer more grants and funding to support this kind of initiative. Fifth, most states have a GLSEN chapter, but Delaware does not. GLSEN helps create safer school curricula for presenting to k-12, and we would benefit from a chapter in the state to help eradicate fear and ignorance and counter misinformation about LGBTQ+ identities. Sixth, there are not enough gender-affirming therapists! We also need to have better options for where to send youth who need in-patient psychiatric care. More education, oversight and punitive responses for staff who actively cause harm to vulnerable clients are needed. Seventh, having just one supportive adult can make ALL the difference, and I encourage everyone who has the heart to offer this kind of support to really consider it. As a queer kid abandoned by my own family, I can attest that a single teacher literally saved my life. She was not even*my*teacher, she just somehow knew I needed her in my life. She is the reason I was able to get through and graduate high school and what she did was as simple as providing me a safe place to eat lunch and offer non-judgmental support.

If you want to be a supportive adult, try to educate yourself on LGBTQ+ topics, and know that you don’t have to get it perfect for it to be everything someone might need. If you misgender someone, just apologize and commit to doing better. If you accidentally make a false assumption, try and remember to ask next time, and just learn more about that topic. Consider fostering/adopting LGBTQ+ youth, who represent 40-60% of youth who are without safe homes. Stand up against microaggressions and discrimination. Sometimes the only person whose voice is heard or who is even invited to “the table” is the ally, and not the person/people directly affected. Commit to labeling discrimination as violence and not allowing it to go unchallenged whenever possible. Then, invite the impacted people/population to speak on behalf of themselves in those spaces. Also, prioritize marginalized folks whenever possible, not just LGBTQ+ people. Hire us! (If you do, make sure to pay us – our lived experiences are valuable and emotional labor should not be free.) Lastly, but ever so importantly, do your research to find out about political issues and how candidates measure up. Vote as if your life depends on it – ours literally does.

 

Maya Thomas (she/her) holds a Bachelor of Social Work from Georgia State University and a Master of Social Work from Delaware State University. Maya is currently working towards her clinical social work license and has served as Secretary of the Delaware chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. Maya has experience working with underserved communities, social justice, human rights, HIV/AIDS, and adolescents. Maya works as a clinical counselor at AIDS Delaware and is a Community Organizer and Supervisor for the Village.

How are you involved in the LGBTQ+ community?

I am a clinical counselor at AIDS Delaware, working with adults who are HIV positive or at higher risk of getting HIV. I also work as a Community Organizer and Supervisor for the Village Youth Leadership Team. The Village Youth Leadership Team (VYLT) is a competitive 14-week program to empower and support Sexual- and Gender-Minority (LGBTQ+) youth ages 13-24. VYLT promotes self-esteem, health, harm reduction, resilience and community support while developing and enhancing leadership skills for participants. VYLT is a civic engagement effort of AIDS Delaware, focusing on creating safer spaces for the LGBTQ+ community in Delaware to offset social determinants of health that put this demographic more at risk than cisgender, heterosexual peers. My role is to onboard our two youth Program Coordinators and assist with weekly programming and instruction.

How can we better support LGBTQ+ youth?

As a cis-gendered heterosexual woman, I need to be visible in LGBTQ+ youth spaces. Our role of allyship consists of validating feelings and experiences and including and uplifting all perspectives. I learn a lot while participating in the VYLT and can educate my friends and colleagues. Being an ally is a verb- big or small, it has an impact. To be a supportive ally, one can listen and learn from youth or anyone within the LGBTQ+ community. Hear their stories and expand your knowledge and understanding. It is okay not to know everything, but showing empathy and a willingness to listen is key to forming allyship and creating safety for youth who often face harassment and harm.

 

Jaycee Wendell (they/them) is a recent cum laude graduate from the University of Delaware with dual degrees in Human Services- Clinical Concentration and Sociology. They are a Community Educator at The Mental Health Association in Delaware. Jaycee is passionate about advocacy, social issues and human rights, especially for the LGBTQ+ community and disability community. In their free time, they like to be creative, go on adventures and explore nature.

How are you involved in the LGBTQ+ community?

I feel deeply connected to the LGBTQ+ community, as I identify within the community and feel passionate about LGBTQ+ rights and issues. Last summer, I participated in AIDS Delaware’s the Village Leadership Program for LGBTQ+ youth. Upon graduating the program, I was given the opportunity to become one of the Program Coordinators for this summer, which I’m really excited about! As well, I’ve recently joined the United Way of Delaware’s PRIDE Council, in which I am involved in the council’s Mental Health Committee in hopes to help address the unique challenges facing the LGBTQ+ community.

How can we better support LGBTQ+ youth?

There is no one right answer that will adequately provide effective solutions. But rather, there are several changes and initiatives that need to be made on the individual, interpersonal, organizational, communal, governmental and societal levels to better support LGBTQ+ youth. While daunting, it is possible to make small, yet powerful, transformations one step at a time. And that step can start with you. Embrace being curious and learn about the issues impacting LGBTQ+ youth through doing research, following positive queer role models and activists, attending cultural humility trainings, engaging in open conversations with LGBTQ+ folxs and more. Do not be afraid to ask yourself difficult questions such as, “Am I a true ally, or a performative ally?,” and “Do my beliefs and values narrowly align with the heteronormative and cisnormative narratives?” Part of the beauty of having access to more information than ever is to ensure that our learning does not become stagnant. As the LGBTQ+ community is ever-evolving, it is important to prioritize being open-minded and respectful. Understand that being a young queer individual can be terrifying, isolating and exhausting, as their safety, authenticity, relationships, health and so much more are threatened on a daily basis. It is crucial for LGBTQ+ youth to know that they deserve to love and be loved for who they are. Know that words and actions do matter significantly. As such, be sure to take the time to show support (e.g. use inclusive language), empower LGBTQ+ youth (e.g. foster positive experiences inside and outside classrooms) and allow their voices to be heard (e.g. give them the safe space to share their passions, frustrations, etc.).

There are many ways we can better support LGBTQ+ youth from the individual level to societal level in effort to decrease disparities. As a vulnerable population, LGBTQ+ youth deserve culturally responsive care, protective legislation, inclusive education, positive role models, effective allyship and so much more. Collectively, we can work together to create an environment that fosters respect and understanding across cultural and social groups, irrespective of sexual orientation and gender identity. If you want to check out resources on education, trainings and more, here is a non-exhaustive list:

References:

Jaycee Wendell
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