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News, Advice, and Tips for Parenting Teenagers

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Monday, May 14, 2007

Gay and Lesbian Teens More Likely to be Bullied

Gay and lesbian young people are three to four times more likely to be victims of bullying than heterosexual and bi-sexual adolescents.

A study team led by Elise Berlan and Bryn Austin of the Children's Hospital Boston Division of Adolescent Medicine analyzed data from 7500 students ages 14 to 22 years old. Nearly half of the one percent of the participants who described themselves as gay or lesbian reported being bullied.

"We know that sexual minorities are more likely to smoke, drink, use drugs and have eating disorders and depression,” said Austin. "We suspect that social isolation, harassment, bullying and sometimes frank violence against these adolescents may be an explanation."

Austin presented the study at the annual meeting of the Society for Adolescent Medicine on March 20, 2007.

Labels: bullying, gay, lesbian

posted by ByParents-forParents at 4:13 PM

1 Comments:

momofjust
said...: I need advice and help really soon! I am a mother of a 17 year old son. He is very popular in school(voted class favorite) and has never been bullied. a few weeks ago my husband and I were out of town and my son was staying with friends, so I had my security camera's on in my bedroom and the living room.These are the rooms for theft concern. I have never spied on my son and had no intention to do so. I viewed the tapes and what I witnessed on them was a total shock and disbelief. I witnessed my son and a friend of his engaging in homosexual acts. I have not told a soul. I don't know how to handle this. we live in a small town and I fear for my son. I also fear if I confront him, he could be so ashamed that he could possibly commit suicide. I can't think clear right now, and I can't get this off my mind. I am consumed with the images in my mind from the time I wake up until I go to bed. I am in such shock! I keep trying to find answers such as how and why. I never saw any signs except that he is not macho, but then again, neither is my other son or my husband and they turned out just fine. I brag about my son so much at work, now I feel like I can't even bring his name up. Also, there is a young gay guy at my work, he just came out of the closet. and I know how people talk about him. My family would not be very excepting of this either. please, I need advice, don't tell me to be loving and supportive right now. I am sickend by what I witnessed. I need advice from someone that has gone through this.; 9:44 AM

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News, Advice, and Tips for Parenting Teenagers

Monday, May 14, 2007

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