From mclark@uofport.edu  Thu Apr 14 10:01:06 1994
Subject: Statistics...

Awhile back, someone was looking for l/g/b/o youth statistics. I found 
some stuff that might be of interest....

Also, I have OODLES more if anyone wants them...

Brandon


Hi,
I'm a member of the Mass. Governor's Commission on Gay & Lesbian Youth.
Following is a compilation of a few reports that address gay & lesbian youth
and suicide:
Lesbian and Gay Youth
A Population at Risk

-In a 1988 survey of 500 adolescents who applied for services at
The Hetrick-Martin Institute (A Lesbian & Gay Youth Social
Service Agency in New York City), 46% had suffered violence
from family, friends and/or strangers. Of those who experienced
violence, 44% reported suicidal ideation (seriously
contemplating suicide) and 41% of the females and 34% of the
males had actually made suicide attempts. (Joyce Hunter, 1989)

-The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)
Task Force on Youth Suicide issued a report in January of 1989
concluding that lesbian and gay youth may constitute "up to
thirty percent of completed suicides annually" and that
"homosexuals of both sexes are two to six times more likely to
attempt suicide then are heterosexuals." (DHHS, Report of the
Secretary's Task Force on Youth Suicide, ed. Marcia R. Feinlieb,
1989

-A 1988-1991 survey of predominately African American and
Latino Gay and Bisexual Male Youth at The Hetrick-Martin
Institute found that 38.6% had attempted suicide. This report
also reported a high rate of attempted and completed suicide
among the gay/bisexual youth's friends (35% and 16%,
respectively) and family (17% and 12% respectively)
(Rotheram-Borus, Hunter, & Rosario, 1992)

-An uncompleted national study of youth attending Lesbian and
Gay Youth Support Groups has already found that in 2 non-
Boston based Lesbian and Gay Youth Groups in The
Commonwealth 41% of the youth had attempted suicide and an
additional 36% reported seriously considering it.
(Proctor, incomplete 1992)

%The studies listed above show the disproportionate suicide and
suicidal ideation risks faced by lesbian, gay and bisexual youth.
Other studies indicate that lesbian, gay & bisexual youth are at
disproportionate risk for substance abuse, forced homelessness
(throwaways/runaways), violence, harassment and HIV
Infection.

Jerry Cheney,
Commonwealth of Massachusetts'
Governor's Commission on Gay & Lesbian Youth
C/O Health Awareness Services, 71 Elm Street, Worcester, MA 01609

(508) 755-0005 Home: Voice/FAX, (508) 756-7123 Work -Voice,
(508) 756-8922 Work-FAX
or
Jerry Cheney C/O  GANDERSON@vax.clarku.edu Exit