LGBTQ
Survey Results
Perhaps the best explanation as to why teachers, parents, and
community members must strive to better understand LGBTQ students are
the alarming statistics evidencing their often times difficult
adolescent growth. LGBTQ youth are of the most at-risk students,
therefore, making it the responsibility of the teacher, and by
extention, the larger educational community, to understand various
threats.
According to the Executive
Summary of the 2003 Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior Survey,
and in comparison
to other youth, LGBTQ youth are:
2.4 times more likely to
be in a fight at school
3 times more likely to have
been threatened or injured with a weapon at school
3.4 times more likely to have
carried a weapon at school
4.1 times more likely to attempt suicide
3.3 times more likely to skip school because they feel unsafe
1.4 times more likely to have
used marijuana
3.2 times more likely to have
used cocaine
4.3 times more likely to have
used methamphetamines
9 times more likely to have injected drugs
2.3 times more likely to have
experienced sexual contact against
their will
4.8 times more likely to have
been diagnosed with an STD
Massachusetts Department
of Education. (2005). Health, safety and student support services. In Executive Summary of the 2003
Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Retrieved April 15,
2005, from http://www.doe.mass.edu/hssss/yrbs/03/execsum_letter.html.