Lepone Aagard

What fraction of LGBT youth, in the study, could be diagnosed with one or more mental disorder? What percentage of young adults identify as LGBT, and what is the percentage LGBT population amongst homeless youth? What is the largest National LGBT youth homeless shelter organization?

The American Journal of Public Health released a statistic on LGBT youth with mental illnesses, that characterized mental illnesses as they are diagnosed in the Manual of Mental Disorders (Fourth Edition) they found among a group of 246 racially diverse year olds that self identified as LGBT, that 1/3 of them met the criteria for one or more of the following: Major depression, Post- traumatic stress disorder, suicide attempts, and conduct disorders. Nearly 70% of LGBT young adults weren’t characterized with any of the any disorder. 10% met criteria for PTSD. Another 15% for Major Depression. 1/3 of all participants made an attempt at suicide in their live time. At lease 6% made a suicide attempt within the year. Contrary to previously held believes Bisexual participants seemed to be the most stable overall group. The study found that LGBT youth has a higher prevalence of mental disorders than youth in the National sample. But when compared to their peers they seemed to be average, suggesting that mental disorders/illness don’t correlate with LGBT status. LGBT youth and Mental illness. (Mustanski)

Homelessness (American Progress) There is an estimated 1.6 to 2.8 million homeless youth in the United States. An astounding 20-40% of the homeless population identify as LGBT. But only making up 5-10% of young adult population. The average age for Lesbian and Gay New York teens is 14.4 and 13.5 for Transgender youth. Charts pulled from American Progress Website. “58 percent: The portion of homeless gay and transgender youth who have been sexually assaulted, compared to 33 percent of homeless heterosexual youth.” “44 percent: The portion of homeless gay and transgender youth who reported being asked by someone on the street to exchange sex for money, food, drugs, shelter, or clothes, compared to 26 percent of straight homeless youth.” “62 percent: The portion of homeless gay and transgender youth who experience discrimination from their families, compared to 30 percent of their heterosexual peers.”

Resources The Ali Forney Center is a New York based LGBT homeless shelter that offer their services to LGBT homeless youth. They offer a same haven in the furiously growing anti LGBT New York. Ali Forney was a gay and trans* African-American New Yorker. Around the time of Ali’s death there was only one LGBT youth homeless shelter run by a Christian religious sect. LGBT youth often felt safer on the street than in the shelter. Ali was shot in the head, and after the attack his friend who had been working with LGBT youth, Carl Siciliano, started the Ali Forney Center to offer a safer more friendly alternative to what they have been previously given. It’s now the largest housing project and shelter for LGBT youth in the country.

Citations: Mustanski, Brian S., Robert Garofalo, and Erin M. Emerson. "Mental Health Disorders, Psychological Distress, And Suicidality In A Diverse Sample Of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, And Transgender Youths." American Journal Of Public Health (2010): Business Source Premier. Web. 30 Apr