Maturing through your teenage years is an adventure, but what happens when you find yourself questioning your sexual orientation, or you have conflicting feelings about your gender identity. Studies indicate individuals within the LGBTQ youth community face several life altering hurdles including: surviving family rejection, peer harassment, heightened HIV and STD risks, and increased rates of violence victimizations.
LGBTQ youth need and deserve assistance to navigate alternative lifestyles and sexual identification. When it comes to your sexual and reproductive health or to speak with a professional about all the challenges you are facing, call to schedule an appointment with a healthcare provider that can answer questions, provide coping strategies, and teach prevention techniques in a private and confidential setting. However, if you aren’t quite ready to have a face to face discussion, check out any of our links below for resources you might find helpful.
Sometimes your parents just do not understand
Well, that’s where you come in to save the day. Have them check out Ten Tips for Parents of a Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, or Transgender Child from Advocates for Youths.
The Trevor Project
The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) young people ages 13-24.
Teen Trivia: Sexual Health
Want to test your knowledge on Sexual Health? I hope you brought you’re A game! Topics covered include consent, reproductive health, contraceptives, relationships, and sexually transmitted diseases. Take the quiz.
The Danger of Hiding Who You Are
Morgana Bailey has been hiding her true self for 16 years. In a brave talk, she utters four words that might not seem like a big deal to some, but to her have been paralyzing. Why speak up?
A Message to gay teens: It gets better
In a courageous, intensely emotional talk at the city council in Fort Worth, Texas, councilman Joel Burns reaches out to the targets of teen bullying.
Resources
Love is Respect: LGBTQ Abusive Relationships
Love is Respect: Get Help for Someone Else
Love is Respect: Get Help for Yourself
Funding for this webpage was made possible by the Office of Population Affairs (Grant PA-FPH-16-036). The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services; nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.