Why are gay and lesbian youth self destructive?

[dsc]

It is a sad, but undeniable fact, that gay and lesbian youth have much higher incidence of suicide and addiction than straight youth. I would like to give you some possible answers.

The fact is gay and lesbian youth face, even in this day and age, a pretty consistent message from society that they are immoral, or sick. They are told they are not equal to their straight peers. Many are bullied or picked on. And unlike virtually everyone else, they have no role models to turn to when this happens. That might explain why so many of our youth are self destructive. Before you think we are entirely to blame for his, take a long hard look at the mirror society is. Maybe, just maybe, the fault isn't all ours.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

1. It sucked being a heterosexual teenager

I can't imagine the trauma of knowing you are gay in a society that neither respects nor protects you. Raging hormones, peer pressures and societal messages make adolescence horrible. It is 100 times worse for gays.

[Fleshdancer]

2. growing up is hard enough

What saddens me the most is many of these young people have parents who perpetuate the very messages you talk about.

I knew the suicide rates were much higher among homosexual teenagers, but I didn't know about other self destructive behaviors. I imagine drug use would be pretty high...given the need to escape reality when life beats you down. What other behaviors are we discussing?

[dsc]

4. Probably all sorts frankly

This was in regards to Brandon Teena's behavior but I think a lot of gay youth take risks they shouldn't on sexual fronts and others as well.

[Fleshdancer]

13. all teenagers take stupid risks on sexual fronts

It wouldn't be fair to single out teens just because they're homosexual and say they are the ones who take sexual risks. My straight friends in highschool were FAR more whorish than my homosexual friends. In fact, my homosexual friends were very tame and mild in comparison.

Not to make light of the problems of course, self destructive behavior (ie: unsafe sex, random unknown partners, etc) should be taken very seriously if they indeed exist.

[flamingyouth]

3. Not to mention if they see the news now

With our so-called political and religious "leaders" condemning them constantly. It's absolutely sickening. When we read that ridiculous full-page ad in the Sunday paper, we about barfed up our morning tea (in case you didn't see it, it was by a bunch of fundie wackos thanking * for his "bravery" with the marriage issue, and even comparing him to Lincoln).

Yes, it's one more reason out of about 8,796,789 why we have to dump this monstrous administration this November.

[dsc]

6. No I hadn't seen that one

guess I didn't miss much by not getting the Sunday paper.

[flamingyouth]

8. It was in both the Seattle and the New York Times

And it really pissed us off. I wonder if either paper would run a full-page ad by the Aryan Youth or the KKK? :shrug:

[Fleshdancer]

9. good point

although I do find comfort in knowing that my daughter hopefully won't understand what all the fuss was about back in 2004. She's 4 right now so I'm confident this will be the case. Then again, she was barely 2 when I took her to her first Gay Pride parade...I put her in a t-shirt that said "LOVE" on the front with each letter being a different color. Everyone adored her. I refuse to raise an asshole, that's for sure.

[flamingyouth]

11. That is a classic quote, Gloria!

"I refuse to raise an asshole." :7 I love it! (And good for you!!!)

[RoeBear]

5. Are lesbians picked on by straight girls...

...as much as gay boys are picked on by straight boys?

I know that gay boys are picked on unmercifully and could certainly see that as a reason for a higher suicide rate.

[dsc]

7. I am really not sure

but would imagine yes. Girls can be real pistols when it comes to being bullies.

[flamingyouth]

10. Yes, there was a lesbian girl at my school who was

Of course her main tormentor was one of those people who just picked on everyone who was at all "different" (or had a brain, which the mean person was sadly lacking). Every school had a pack of bullies like that who peak in high school and then we never hear from any of them again.

[Fleshdancer]

14. yes but it's done differently

girls bully differently than boys for the most part (although I understand girls are getting more and more violent these days).

It was always the stupid rumor mill. And the use of the word "dyke"...at least at my school, this was just as bad as calling a girl a "slut". Girls bully with words, looks, fake rumor stories that don't die...that sort of thing. Very under the radar.

[PVnRT]

12. You just answered your own question

n/t

[dsc]

15. kick