Oregon Healthy Teen Survey Data from Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youth

Oregon Healthy Teen Survey Data from Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youth Molly Franks, MPH Oregon Public Health Division molly.c.franks@state.or.us April 2008

Question #1: Sexual orientation 2007 Oregon Healthy Teen Survey, 11th grade data

Question #2: Sexual contact 2007 Oregon Healthy Teen Survey, 11th grade data

Adding them all up… 2007 Oregon Healthy Teen Survey, 11th grade data

Should we combine questions? Both female and male Non-concordants are between, and significantly different from, Hetero Concordants and LGB identified youth on outcomes such as: mental health, physical health, suicide attempts, forced sex, harassment.

Female Male *Higher values are more positive. All comparisons showed significant differences between hetero and LGBQ identified youth on within gender comparisons, p<.01 2007 Oregon Healthy Teen Survey, 11th grade data

Female Male LGBQ youth were significantly less likely to meet the PYD benchmark, p<.01 Ns are number of youth who meet the benchmark. 2007 Oregon Healthy Teen Survey, 11th grade data

Female Male LGBQ youth were significantly more likely to report harassment, p<.01 Ns are number of youth who report harassment. 2007 Oregon Healthy Teen Survey, 11th grade data

Female Male LGBQ youth were significantly more likely to report smoking in the past 30 days, p<.01 Ns are number of youth who report smoking. 2007 Oregon Healthy Teen Survey, 11th grade data

Substance abuse in past 30 days Chi-squares for cross-tabulations between substance and sexual orientation, split by gender. Shaded pairs show significant differences, p<.05. 2007 Oregon Healthy Teen Survey, 11th grade data

LGBQ youth were significantly more likely to report a suicide attempt in the past 12 months, p<.001. Ns are number of youth who report any suicide attempts. 2007 Oregon Healthy Teen Survey, 11th grade data

Female Male * * ** * * ** * ** ** * * values are significantly different from one another, and ** values are significantly different from one another, p<.01. Ns are number of youth who report intercourse, forced sex, drug use, and being hurt. 2007 Oregon Healthy Teen Survey, 11th grade data.

Using OHT results - key messages • Sexuality is fluid and difficult to categorize with discrete labels. • Almost 12% of Oregon 11th graders identify as LGBQ or have had same-sex sexual contact. • It appears there are significant differences among LGBQ youth, but small numbers necessitate combining the groups for analyses.

Key messages (continued) • Many youth who challenge heterosexual norms experience harassment and violence and are more likely to struggle with poor mental health, smoking and other drug use, and unsafe sexual behavior. • It’s important to take these problems seriously, but we shouldn’t only dwell on negative outcomes.

Moving forward - recommendations • Include positive, strengths-based indicators in data collection and interventions. • Expand data collection, e.g., include gender identity, focus on subgroups such as youth of color. • Combine qualitative and quantitative methodologies. • Use data to increase awareness of LGBTQ issues and motivate action in support of LGBTQ youth. • Use data to inform policy development on a state and local level. • Work with LGBTQ youth to develop and evaluate targeted programs, e.g., using “youth action research.”

More recommendations… • Include gender identity, sexual orientation and same-sex sexual behavior questions on intake and screening forms. • Support development of gay straight alliances. • Develop and systematically implement anti-bias curricula in schools. • Include sexual orientation and gender identity in anti-bullying policies. • Tailor drug and violence prevention programs to meet the needs of LGBTQ youth. • Develop supportive resources for parents to increase their support for their LGBTQ children.

Oregon Healthy Teen Survey Data from Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youth