Drug Addiction Treatment Blog

All adolescents share the same developmental tasks and struggles, many of which are not affected by issues of sexual orientation. However, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender adolescents face a variety of challenges that heterosexual teens do not. For example, according to the Gay, Lesbian, Straight, Education Network (2005), high school students can hear up to twenty-five anti-gay remarks a day,39% of sexual minority students report being physically harassed because of their sexual orientation, and 29% of them report missing at least one entire day of school in the past month because they felt unsafe.

The majority of these students also claim that a teacher or professional was aware of these remarks and did nothing to correct the situation. Homophobic remarks are probably hurting more sexual minority adolescents than their peers or teachers realize.

Some schools are addressing the issues facing sexual minority adolescents by:
(1) creating roles for heterosexual support, for example, educating school counselors to decrease homophobic attitudes;
(2) developing gay-straight alliances or other in-school support groups for sexual minority youth;
(3) displaying “safe space” rainbow stickers in offices or on doors;

(4) developing resource materials such as pamphlets for both sexual minority and heterosexual youth and adults; and
(5) advocating for change in the organizational climate, curriculum, and, ultimately, policy that positively affects the lives of sexual minority adolescents by reducing risky behaviors and improving health outcomes in an already challenging period in youth development.

If youwould like to learn more about GLBT issues or are looking for a gay friendly drug rehab program go to www.recoveryconnection.org or www.gay-rehab.com.

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