Establishing a safe and supportive school environment where LGBTQ+ youth feel valued and connected to caring individuals helps promote their overall well-being.
LGBTQ+ youth face a higher risk of mental health challenges, violence, and HIV compared to their non-LGBTQ+ peers.
Implementing inclusive policies and supportive practices benefits all students by contributing to better health outcomes.
Many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ+) youth encounter social stigma related to their identities or sexual orientation. This stigma can appear in different ways, including discrimination, harassment, rejection from family or peers, and even violence. These negative experiences can have a significant impact on their overall health and well-being.
Mental Health and Suicidal Behaviors
Mental health challenges affect many young people, but LGBQ+ youth report these struggles at much higher rates than their heterosexual peers.
In 2021, 69% of LGBQ+ youth reported feeling persistently sad and hopeless, compared to 35% of heterosexual youth.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, LGBQ+ high school students were nearly four times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers.
While the pandemic worsened these disparities, they have existed for many years.
Some datasets do not include information on transgender or questioning youth, so the terms LGB and LGBQ+ are used where appropriate.
Experiences with Violence
LGBTQ+ high school students face higher rates of violence than their heterosexual peers, both at school and at home.
LGBQ+ youth report higher instances of bullying, threats, and physical harm involving weapons.
They are also more likely to experience dating violence and miss school due to safety concerns.
Disparities are even more evident in cases of sexual violence:
LGBQ+ students are four times more likely to experience forced sex.
During the pandemic, 20% of LGBQ+ students reported physical abuse by a parent or another adult at home, compared to 10% of heterosexual students.
Risk for HIV
HIV remains a significant health concern for young people in the U.S., with LGBTQ+ youth being the most affected.
Young men aged 13-24 account for 23% of new HIV diagnoses, with most identifying as gay or bisexual.
Despite this increased risk, only 7% of LGBQ+ students have ever been tested for HIV.
Access to inclusive health education is also limited:
Nationwide, only 51% of schools provide HIV, STD, or pregnancy prevention information tailored to LGBTQ+ students.
What Schools Can Do
LGBTQ+ students often feel less connected to their school communities. Research shows that students who feel supported in school environments experience better social, emotional, and academic outcomes.
When schools implement inclusive policies and practices, students of all backgrounds benefit through reduced:
Emotional distress
Violence and harassment
Suicidal behaviors
The CDC’s What Works in Schools program highlights effective strategies that create a more inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ students and their heterosexual peers, including:
Mary Watson
