LGBTQ Youth

Findings from the GLSEN 2015 National School Climate Survey demonstrate that Maine schools were not safe for most lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) secondary school students.

In America, nearly 1.6 million youth experience homelessness each year. The statistics for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) homeless youth are even more shocking, as this group represents up to 40% all young people experiencing homelessness.

The first national study of U.S. lesbian, gay, and bisexual high school students, released by the CDC in 2016, finds that lesbian, gay, and bisexual students (trans youth were not included in survey) experience substantially higher levels of physical and sexual violence and bullying than other students. While violence and bullying are serious health dangers on their own, a combination of factors can place young people at high risk for suicide, depression, addiction, poor academic performance, and other negative consequences.