Other Resources on this Topic Announcements Resource: Share with Youth: Just Launched! Redesigned YE4C.
Adolescent sexual orientation
Learning from the Field: Online Sexual Health Resources. What Parents and Families Should Know. Pride in Our Progress.
Primary Sources: Health-Related Behaviors among Students. LGBT Populations: Surviving the Streets of New York: Voices of Trauma, Lives of Promise.
Safe Spaces. Children may begin exploring gender and relationships before kindergarten, so "coming out" and sharing these feelings of being different with others may happen at any time. For many kids, gender identity becomes clear around puberty as they develop gender characteristics and stronger romantic attractions. However, many LGBT teens have said, in retrospect, that they began to sense something "different" about themselves early in life, and for gender diverse youth, sometimes as far back as preschool.
It is common for LGBT teens to feel scared or nervous during this stage. Some can start to feel isolated from their peers, especially if they feel that they don't fit in or are given a hard time for being different. Just remember that children who feel loved and accepted for who they are have a much easier time. Play an important role advocating for safe spaces where their child can explore interests without judgment or stereotypes. Support diverse friendships and social involvement without focusing on expectations around gender. Provide exposure to people working and enjoying activities outside of conventional gender expectations.
Engage in conversations and check regularly with your children about their interests, friend groups, romantic attractions, and any bullying or teasing that may be taking place. Beyond just feeling "different," young people begin to wonder if they might be "gay" or lesbian, bi or trans or some other label they may prefer.
Many teens have mixed feelings when they first try on a new way of identifying. It can be a mix of excitement, relief, and worry. Many children may try to suppress these feelings to meet societal expectations, to fit in, or even to avoid upsetting their parents or families. In some cases, teens might be overwhelmed by all these feelings, which increases the risk for depression , anxiety, and other mental health issues. For example, they may isolate themselves from others for fear of being exposed, or "outed. Teens may accept that they are LGBT but not yet ready to start sharing this information with anyone yet.
LGBT Youth
Some will feel comfortable being open about their identity, while other teens may not tell anyone for a long time. Teens may look for clues on how you feel about their gender identity and sexual orientation. Speaking positively about LGBT celebrities or current events you will let them know you are supportive of their identity.
Society has become more open and accepting of LGBT individuals, and young people are beginning to come out at earlier ages than they did a generation ago. Children may first come out to online communities or peers they perceive as safe and accepting before telling their family.
Teens feel secure enough in who they are and share that information with loved ones. It takes courage and strength for a young person to share who they are inside, especially for teens who are unsure of how their families will respond.
LGBT Experiences in School
They may be afraid of disappointing or angering their families, or in some instances may fear being physically harmed or thrown out of their homes. Again, parents usually need time to deal with the news.
- Coming Out: Information for Parents of LGBT Teens - cis.e-safety.com.ua.
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While it may take them days, weeks or many months to come to terms with their child's sexuality or gender identity, it is important for parents to show love and support for their child, even if they don't fully understand everything. Very few people 18 years of age or younger get married, and parental consent is required for those younger than 18 or 19 years of age depending on the province or territory. Gay, lesbian and bisexual youth have the same diversity of health care needs as heterosexual adolescents, including chronic illness, disabilities, sports injuries and even contraception.
They come from all ethnic groups, social classes and racial backgrounds. Gay and lesbian young people are at an increased risk of sexually transmitted infections STIs because they are more likely to have had sexual intercourse, with more partners, and to have had nonconsensual intercourse Women who are not intravenous drug users and who have sex only with other women have the lowest risk for HIV and other STIs than any group of sexually active people.
However, many sexually active lesbian adolescents have had sexual intercourse with males 3 , 21 — Gay males are not all sexually active, and of those who are, not all have anal intercourse. Erroneously, some teens get the idea that they cannot really be gay unless they have anal intercourse.
Gay males should be assessed for their risk of STIs. A full workup is not always or even usually warranted, but would include urethral or urine , pharyngeal and anal swabs for gonorrhea, urethral culture or urine for chlamydia, venereal disease research laboratory testing, anal cytology, stool culture testing, ova and parasite, and HIV testing Lesbian teens who have had sex with males should have routine screening, including Pap smears.
Because HPV can be transmitted by digital penetration and shared sex toys, routine screening should also be initiated for lesbian teens who have had penetrative sex with a shared sex toy or ungloved fingers, even though the risk is thought to be lower than with heterosexual intercourse.
Current guidelines 25 suggest doing initial Pap smear tests within three years of initiation of sexual activity and then yearly until there have been three normal smears in a row. At this time, HPV immunization is only approved in Canada for female adolescents. Education and counselling about immunization should be included in preventive care for these teens, with an explanation that although there are male cancers caused by HPV, it is not yet clear whether immunization prevents them.
LGBT Youth | Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Health | CDC
Both male and female teens may have questions about reproductive options, although few gay or lesbian teens plan to have children in the near future. For all teens, an environment that feels safe is of key importance. This includes an explanation of confidentiality. Fear of a lack of confidentiality is a significant barrier to adolescents disclosing anything of a personal nature Teens should be given the opportunity to discuss issues of sexual attraction and orientation, mental health, substance and alcohol use, safer sex, school, family and friends.
Many clinicians use the well-known HEADS interview with teens, covering home, education, activity, affect, drugs and sexuality. With all adolescents, sexual history should be done in a gender-neutral manner. The occasional patient who is insulted by this question can be educated about sexual orientation.
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- Discrimination Against LGBT Youth in US Schools | HRW.
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Many physicians receive little training in talking to teens about sex and sexual orientation. Many still address these issues; however, the clinician who is uncomfortable talking about these issues should consider transferring their adolescent patients to another physician. The office environment can be welcoming to all teens, with brochures on a wide variety of adolescent topics, including sexual orientation; posters that show both same-sex and opposite-sex couples; notices about support group meetings; forms that are gender neutral; and office staff who are sensitive to the needs of teens and who do not make critical or derogatory comments about sexual orientation.
Paediatricians often have an opportunity to teach medical students and residents in their offices or hospital practices. There are often clinical situations in which topics such as adolescent sexuality, gay and lesbian parenting, as well as counselling parents about sexual orientation are clinically relevant.
Gay or lesbian students may disclose their own sexual orientation to a preceptor or mentor after an open discussion of these issues. Paediatricians have many opportunities to effect change within their communities. They can ensure that the institutions that they work in treat all teens equally and without bias. Schools, school boards and community organizations can be helped to see these as important issues, and encouraged to provide education and materials about sexual orientation.
DEVELOPMENT OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY
Paediatricians can provide expertise to support groups and can even help to create these groups. They can speak with their colleagues about these issues. Comprehensive health care aimed at promoting normal adolescent development, social and emotional well-being, and physical health be available to adolescents of all sexual orientations.
History-taking should avoid making the assumption of heterosexuality, with questions about romantic and sexual partners asked in a nongendered way. If a health care provider has personal barriers to providing nonjudgmental care and information, they should refer patients to another provider. Health care providers should stay informed about resources in their communities for gay and lesbian adolescents. Providers should be aware of the risks to health and development in these youth, including those resulting from homophobia or from sexual behaviours.
Adolescents with suicidal ideation should be urgently referred to a mental health specialist.