GLBT Youth

1. GLBT Youth Presented by: Ashley, Brent, Nichole and Emily

2. GLBT Youth and Family • Parenting styles have a strong impact on child and adolescent development. The amount of love and acceptance given by parents has been founded to relate to their children’s self concept and self esteem.

3. While working with GLBT youth and families it is important to: • Create a open, understanding and accepting environment • Examine language, biases and methods • Move from less sensitive (Tell me about your living situation) to more sensitive topics (Are you sexually active)

4. Impact of Families Recent studies have shown that families are very influential in how their child will survive after they disclose their sexual identity. • Unsupportive families affect the coming out process for their child and lessen the chance for a positive outcome. • Supportive and caring families aid in positive personal growth

5. Negative Experiences of Youth • Many teenagers fear rejection • Experiences of stigmatization and disapproval • Increased levels of stress, isolation, anxiety, depression, suicidal feelings, substance abuse • 56% of families use anti-gay expressions to their child • 61% of youth experience violence in the home • Believe they are bad, shameful or unworthy of love

6. GLBT and Homelessness Many GLBT are thrown out of their homes or runaway from home, because of conflict between their parents in regards to their sexual identity. • 73% of youth leave home • 18% of parents do not believe it is due to their child’s sexual identity

7. Homeless, cont. • With the increased number of homeless GLBT teenagers, there is also an increase in: • Sexual favors in exchange of food, clothing and shelter • Sexually transmitted diseases • Unplanned pregnancies • Suicide attempts • Depression • Sexual victimization • Use of drugs and alcohol

8. Working with GLBT Youth • Professionals who work with GLBT youth believe the most important needs they have are: • Acceptance • Support • Validation • GLBT youth who develop within a supportive environment present no more mental health problems than their heterosexual peers.

9. Micro Social Work • Professionals must understand that in addition to normal developmental challenges, sexual minority youth face: • Reactions of parents, family, peers, school community and society • Navigating intimate same-sex relationships • Making sense of their homosexual feelings • Loss of Friendships

10. GLBT youth are seeking for similar things from their heterosexual peers • Identity • Belongingness • Intimacy • The difference is the world denies GLBT relationships and disbelieves their ability to develop romantic relationships with partners of the same sex.

11. It is crucial to understand the additional stress these teenagers face often interfere with: • Self and relationship development • Process of learning • School socialization • School success

12. While working with GLBT youth and families it is important to: • Create a open, understanding and accepting environment • Examine language, biases and methods • Move from less sensitive (Tell me about your living situation) to more sensitive topics (Are you sexually active)

13. Macro and Mezzo Social Work • It is important for social workers to educate other professionals, the community and individuals about the needs and issues GLBT struggle with. • It is also important to ask GLBT youth what they want and need. • P-FLAG is an agency that social workers utilize A number of communities are seeking ways that families can support gay and lesbian teenagers in a positive way.

14. P-FLAG • In 1972, Jeanne Manford started an international movement when she marched with her son in the New York’s Gay Pride Parade. She carried a sign that said, “Parents of Gays: Unite in Support of Our Children.” • She started support groups, which lead to the beginning of P-FLAG.

15. What P-FLAG does • Supports parents of homosexual teenagers • Encourages and helps families remain united • Helps families discuss their child’s sexual identity • Educates families and society • Advocate to end discrimination • Fight for equal civil rights • Aim to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity • Promote the health and well being of GLBT people and their families and friends

16. What You Can Do NOW! • Bringing Home the Message 2006 1. Identify your elected officials • www.smart-vote.org 2. Make the Call to meet 3. Do your homework • Learn about the official • Develop an agenda • Create clear goals 4. Make the visit • Be clear, concise and appropriate • Know your agenda and stick to it • Personalize and Localize the issue • Ask questions • End on a positive note 5. Follow-up • Send a thank you, restate any requests

17. Location • Over 500 National Chapters PFLAG Duluth 2310 E 4th Street Duluth, MN  55812 218.728.4405

18. Responsibilities of Social Workers • Become educated about the developmental needs of GLBT and questioning youth • Respond to these needs with understanding and support • Examine attitudes and beliefs about homosexuality • Be informed about issues related to homosexuality • Advocate

19. Understanding GLBT Youth in Schools ~Attitudes towards homosexuality in Schools        ~Homophobia ~Statistics (Youth Risk Surveys) ~Factors ~Reality within our Schools

20. Historical Issues • Silence -School Curriculum -GLBT Communities -Youth Focused • Safety -Key Events -Booklet sent to all School Districts

21. Implications & Barriers • -Education about GLBT in schools • -Restrictions • -Funding • -Uncomfortable about sexuality • -Curriculum

22. Social Work Practice within Schools: Creating CHANGE! • Individuals • School-Wide • Policy Options/Change • Programs • (GLSEN Safe Space)

23. Harvey Milk School • Harvey Milk was the first openly gay city supervisor of San Francisco • Assassinated by Dan White • Served only 7 years • Viewed as martyr for gay rights movement

24. Transgender: Description of • Established in 1980’s by men that did not feel term transvestite adequate in describing their desires • Used as an umbrella term because not all people do not want to reconfigure their bodies which falls under the term transsexual. • Studies have found that between 3-5% of the population are fall under the transgender umbrella.

25. Gender Identity Disorder • Manifest between the ages of two and four • Diagnosed in children that do not follow societal gedner norms. Ie: boys playing house • Five times more boys than girls referred to therapy. • Symptom in adults is falling under the umbrella of transgender • Not a term that is viewed positively in transgender culture, not a disorder

27. History • Face discrimination, oppression and marginalization in many aspects of life • Often civil rights have not covered transgender youth • Minnesota, California and New Jersey are the only states that protect transgender students

28. At a local level… • In 1993 Minnesota was the first state to extend its human rights to cover transgender population in areas of employment, housing, education and public accommodations

29. Consequences of oppression • Issues in achieving healthcare and resulting HIV issues • Foster Care settings and homelessness • Violence

30. Healthcare • Lack of sensitivity from providers • Past discrimination against transgender individuals • Health care plans rarely cover costs relating to one’s gender • May place people at risk by accessing unsafe methods (sharing needles, buying hormones off the street) • Studies have found in LA, Chicago, San Fran that over 20% of transgender are HIV+ vs. .3 of general US. • Standards of Care imposed are authoritative

31. Standards of Care • In 1979, Harry Benjamin introduced • Hormones or Surgery • Receive counseling • Get a letters of recommendation from mental health professionals • Live as their desired gender for a year

32. International Bill of Gender Rights • Granted freedom from psychiatric diagnosis and treatment • Do not have to conform to the standards of the medical and psychiatric fields. • Looked more at individuals defining themselves rather than professionals being the gatekeeper.

33. Foster Care • Often face rejection, abuse from foster care providers • Study suggested that average placements is 6.35 • The result is that youth do not feel safe, or cared about, run way and end up homeless. • Child welfare workers need to be aware of placements and monitor

34. Violence • 100% of respondents to a survey stated that they were verbally abused in foster setting. • Often at risk of rape and physical abuse • Research has suggested that abuse results in inappropriate coping of using alcohol and drugs

35. History in psychiatry History being viewed as transgender people Either-or messages Counseled out of procedures because they did not have appropriate body types, or facial characteristics. Often pressured to “come out”, but counselors are not aware of the repercussions.

36. Special areas of knowledge pertaining to work with this group

37. Language • Social workers need to be aware that terminology is constantly changing • Social workers need to be careful not to use of pronouns. A transsexual person may become very offended if the wrong pronoun is used. • One article, summed it up by simply stating that we should refer to people by their name to avoid such issues.

38. Passing • In terms passing may be easier because if they are on hormones and/or have had surgery • Others may not because • Operations are costly • Too painful • Body morphology makes it difficult

39. Alexander Pangborn • Female-to-male • Lives in Mass. • Married partner • Hormones have impact on body and youth often access them illegally • Struggle with accessing public restrooms • Media: Maury Povich show • Parents joined P-FLAG http://ftm.phoenixrisingftm.net/

40. Implications for social work practice at the individual, organizational and community level

41. Individual level: Person-Centered Approach • Emphasizes notion of self-concept. • Realizes that self-esteem may be low from being stigmatized • Positive self regard and focus on positives • Safe environment and allow for inner exploration rather than education • Used in counseling terms, but broaden to all social work aspects

42. Organizational level • Add transgender to antidiscrimination policies • Protect by not forcing people to disclose their transgender status • Do not impose arbitrary dress codes • Support services need to be offered at youth level • Foster support groups and role models

43. Support Groups • Need to be aware of where supports are located, including support groups. • Collective organizing has been found to raise self-esteem • Gay and lesbian community and transgender sometimes have uneasy alliance • Under the umbrella we also must note that groups are often divided and have different goals.

44. Together for Youth- GLBT support group that meets Wednesday, from 4-6. Gloria Dei Lutheran Church 219 6th Avenue East Duluth, Minnesota 55806

45. Community level: Trans-affirmative approach: • Eliminate transphobia • Advocate for equal rights • Fight for policies • Educate others through biographies, novels and films. Much of the trans movement has been led by autobiographies. • As already mentioned be an ally

46. Special skills pertaining to being culturally sensitive • Understand that transgender individuals can vary among different social categories • Allow them to define their own gender, do not identify for them • Acknowledge that society puts them at risk for discrimination • Last but not least, treat with dignity and respect

47. How do we learn about transgender youth and individuals? • Read scholarly journals and books to educate ourselves about research done in area • Read autobiographies/ personal websites/ organizational websites • Interview professionals • Attend community events, speakers, ect.