LGBT Youth Need Us They Don’t Have Anybody Else
“John Selig Outspoken” Podcast
Episode 8 August 18, 2007
I hope you were moved by Bob Miskinis’s description of the
challenges faced by Youth First Texas and the youth it serves. I cannot
imagine that anybody listening to Moriah Sherman and Chaaz Quigley share
their stories had a dry eye by the end of their interview.
We hear how much better things are for gay people than they were just
ten years ago. More Americans are accepting of us and there is strong
support for hate crimes protection and employment
nondiscrimination. Samesex marriage is gaining more support
each year. The Democratic Presidential candidates are courting our
support and votes. More Americans know gay people than ever before.
There are now gay characters in the movies and on TV that aren’t
serial killers or child molesters.
And yet, it is still horrendous being a young gay person navigating
through endless harassment at school, hate speech from the pulpit and
far too many parents who are less than accepting or worse downright
negligent and abusive.
Moriah and Chaaz are just two of the many youth who frequent Youth
First Texas. Each of the youth served by the organization, which is an
essential lifeline for many, has an equally compelling story.
Unfortunately, those served by Youth First Texas and other similar
organizations throughout the country are a tiny percentage of the
millions of gay youth out there. Most suffer in silence. They tough it
through a life at home that is far from supportive. They brave the halls
of school suffering constant ridicule or worse. Many have no one to turn
to for support and guidance. It’s no wonder that LGBT youth
suicide is at such high levels.
Statistics can be hard to swallow and it is easy to glaze over when
being exposed to them. In April of 2006 the Gay, Lesbian and Straight
Education Network released these sobering results from their 2005
National School Climate Survey. While the interview with Moriah and
Chaaz is still fresh in your mind, chew on these for a few
minutes:
- Three quarter of students heard derogatory remarks such as
“faggot” or “dyke” frequently or often at
school, and nearly nine out of ten reported hearing “that’s
so gay” or “you’re so gay” meaning stupid
or worthless frequently or often.
- Over a third of students experienced physical harassment at school
on the basis of sexual orientation and more than a quarter on the basis
of their gender expression. Nearly onefifth of students had been
physically assaulted because of their sexual orientation and over a
tenth because of their gender expression.
- LGBT students were five times more likely to report having skipped
school in the last month because of safety concerns than the general
population of students.
- LGBT students who experience more frequent physical harassment were
more likely to report they did not plan to go to college. Overall, LGBT
students were twice as likely as the general population of students to
report they were not planning to pursue any postsecondary
education.
And then there are the challenges of homelessness caused by parents
throwing their kids into the street with many of the GLBT homeless youth
turning to prostitution and drug dealing as their only means of
support.
As LGBT adults what responsibility do we have to the next
generation? Look back on your own childhood and ask yourselves how
much better your life would have been if you had a helping hand from
somebody who really knew what you were going through!
My goal with the “John Selig Outspoken” podcasts is to
educate listeners by providing insight into issues that are critical to
our community, to inspire observation of our community through fresh
eyes, to think about what we might do to help make the world a better
place for gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgenders and to encourage
action on our part to do our share to make it happen. No group is more
in need or more deserving of support than the young. Without gay adults
they have nobody else.
Look in your own community for organizations like Youth First Texas
that can use your financial assistance and, even more importantly, your
volunteer time. There is no finer reward than making a difference in a
young person’s life.
One more thing, I am not making money by producing this podcast. I do
so because I hope our community will benefit from getting to know the
many role models that are featured. This episode on Youth First Texas
needs to be heard far and wide. If you share the “John Selig
Outspoken” podcasts with friends on your email list more of the
community (both LGBT and gay supportive) will have the
opportunity to get to know some folks that really make a difference and
obtain tools to lend a hand in leaving their world a better place than
the way they found it.
“John Selig Outspoken” Episode 8 ››
© 2007 John R. Selig. All rights reserved.
LGBT Youth Need Us They Don’t Have Anybody Else
“John Selig Outspoken” Podcast
Episode 8 August 18, 2007
I hope you were moved by Bob Miskinis’s description of the challenges faced by Youth First Texas and the youth it serves. I cannot imagine that anybody listening to Moriah Sherman and Chaaz Quigley share their stories had a dry eye by the end of their interview.
We hear how much better things are for gay people than they were just ten years ago. More Americans are accepting of us and there is strong support for hate crimes protection and employment nondiscrimination. Samesex marriage is gaining more support each year. The Democratic Presidential candidates are courting our support and votes. More Americans know gay people than ever before. There are now gay characters in the movies and on TV that aren’t serial killers or child molesters.
And yet, it is still horrendous being a young gay person navigating through endless harassment at school, hate speech from the pulpit and far too many parents who are less than accepting or worse downright negligent and abusive.
Moriah and Chaaz are just two of the many youth who frequent Youth First Texas. Each of the youth served by the organization, which is an essential lifeline for many, has an equally compelling story. Unfortunately, those served by Youth First Texas and other similar organizations throughout the country are a tiny percentage of the millions of gay youth out there. Most suffer in silence. They tough it through a life at home that is far from supportive. They brave the halls of school suffering constant ridicule or worse. Many have no one to turn to for support and guidance. It’s no wonder that LGBT youth suicide is at such high levels.
Statistics can be hard to swallow and it is easy to glaze over when being exposed to them. In April of 2006 the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network released these sobering results from their 2005 National School Climate Survey. While the interview with Moriah and Chaaz is still fresh in your mind, chew on these for a few minutes:
And then there are the challenges of homelessness caused by parents throwing their kids into the street with many of the GLBT homeless youth turning to prostitution and drug dealing as their only means of support.
As LGBT adults what responsibility do we have to the next generation? Look back on your own childhood and ask yourselves how much better your life would have been if you had a helping hand from somebody who really knew what you were going through!
My goal with the “John Selig Outspoken” podcasts is to educate listeners by providing insight into issues that are critical to our community, to inspire observation of our community through fresh eyes, to think about what we might do to help make the world a better place for gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgenders and to encourage action on our part to do our share to make it happen. No group is more in need or more deserving of support than the young. Without gay adults they have nobody else.
Look in your own community for organizations like Youth First Texas that can use your financial assistance and, even more importantly, your volunteer time. There is no finer reward than making a difference in a young person’s life.
One more thing, I am not making money by producing this podcast. I do so because I hope our community will benefit from getting to know the many role models that are featured. This episode on Youth First Texas needs to be heard far and wide. If you share the “John Selig Outspoken” podcasts with friends on your email list more of the community (both LGBT and gay supportive) will have the opportunity to get to know some folks that really make a difference and obtain tools to lend a hand in leaving their world a better place than the way they found it.
“John Selig Outspoken” Episode 8 ››
© 2007 John R. Selig. All rights reserved.