1. LGBTQ 101: Foundational Information for Effective Practice Presented by: Sarah R. Young, MSW Presented for: ALGBTICAL Winter Workshop February 21, 2013

2. A brief bio Macro practice focus (policy, organizing, advocacy) Micro practice start CNN Mississippi Clip

3. Overview of Training Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer 101 Major issues facing LGBTQ youth populations Key resources Questions

4. LGBTQ 101 Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer

5. Professional Language

6. Terms to Use

8. LGBTQ 101 Sex Sexual Orientation Gender Identity Gender Expression

9. 02/25/12 Vocabulary Girl Boy

10. 02/25/12 Vocabulary Gender, Sex, Sexual Orientation, and Gender Expression are NOT necessarily linked

11. 02/25/12 Vocabulary Girl

12. Preferred Gender Pronouns (PGPs)

14. Key Take-Aways Use of professional language (non-stigmatizing) Duty to continuing education Professional language = safety for our clients Rule of thumb: let clients self-identify

15. Major Issues Facing LGBTQ Populations Family Acceptance Coming Out and Invisibility Issues Educational Outcomes, Bullying & Harassment Suicide and Self-Harm Substance Misuse Sex Education and Health Issues

16. We all have needs.

17. Family Acceptance Matters. Sexual health and HIV risk Mental health and well-being Suicide risk Substance use Depression

18. Family Acceptance is a Process. A process that social workers and helping professionals can work to support by: Linking families to resources Being a safe and non-judgmental person the family can talk with Educating the family about LGBTQ youth issues and importance of family acceptance

19. Coming Out and Invisibility What is it? How might you support LGBTQ youth in this process? How might you support family/friends in this process?

20. Need to be seen and acknowledged Parents might not want their child to be “out” Teachers/administrators might not want child to be “out” Data ignores this population, so we don’t always know how best to serve LGBTQ youth

21. Coming out Not all LGBTQ people want to (or have to) come out Legal issues with “outting” a youth Ethical issues with “outting” a youth

22. Homelessness One in four homeless youth are LGBTQ identified Compared to one in 10 youth at large

23. Homelessness

24. Foster Care 74% of youth in foster care reported at least some type of discrimination 42% of youth in care were there due to family rejection or conflict of LGBTQ identity Many youth report withholding LGBTQ identity from workers and caretakers

25. School Safety, Harassment & Bullying Bullying and harassment are serious issues in school (for many youth) Students have the right to a safe learning environment. Teachers/administrators have a duty to protect youth Alabama state law requires all schools to have an anti-bullying plan in place (HB 216, 2009)

26. School Safety, Harassment & Bullying 9 of 10 LGBTQ youth report experiencing some form of bullying in schools Non-LGBTQ youth are bullied for being perceived as LGBTQ Harassment impedes learning and well-being, drops graduation rates,

27. Where Alabama Ranks

28. Suicide and Self-Harm For every ONE non-LGBTQ youth who attempts suicide, there are FOUR LGBTQ youth who attempt suicide

29. Key Resources Magic City Acceptance Project & Youth Voice Project Alabama Safe Schools Coalition Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) Southern Poverty Law Center Trevor Project Equality Alabama

30. Key Takeaways Self-awareness and duty to educate oneself Dignity and worth of all clients and families Know resources (local, national) to link clients to Advocacy in the face of injustice Policy change and implementing best practices Ask for support if you ever are in over your heads

31. Any questions? Sarah R. Young, MSW sryoung1@crimson.ua.edu