Growing up-lgbt-in-america report

In
The

“I live in such a narrow-
minded community—
it’s really hard on me.
I deal with so much
ignorance on a daily At
basis.”
Growing up
LGBT in America
“It’s nice that my
HRC Youth Survey Report
school is very open,
Key Findings

I have a lot of friends
who are okay and are
helpful with my being
bisexual.” At

More than half (56%) of LGBT youth
say they are out to their immediate
family; a quarter (25%) are out to their
extended family.

Out to immediate family

Out to extended family

At

“It’s nice that my
school is very open,
I have a lot of friends
who are okay and are
helpful with my being
bisexual.”

LGBT youth are more than two times
as likely as non-LGBT youth to say they
have been verbally harassed and called
names at school. Among LGBT youth,
half (51%) have been verbally harassed
at school, compared to 25% among
non-LGBT students.

In
The

“I live in such a narrow-
minded community—
it’s really hard on me.
I deal with so much
ignorance on a daily
basis.”

HRC Youth Survey Key Findings 1

INTRO
DUC
TION
better. Nevertheless, the findings of With more than 10,000 survey respon-

The deck Growing Up LGBT in America are a call
to action for all adults who want to
dents, this is the largest known sample
of LGBT youth from every region of the

is stacked ensure that young people can thrive.

The survey measured key factors that
country, from urban, suburban and rural
communities, and from a wide variety
of social, cultural, ethnic, and racial
The deck is stacked against young impact the daily lives of LGBT youth, backgrounds.
people growing up lesbian, gay, bisexual, including:
or transgender in America. Official As the first in a series of reports
government discrimination or indiffer- • A sense of being accepted by family, analyzing the landscape for LGBT youth,
ence along with social ostracism leaves peers, and the larger community – the goal of this document is to summa-
many teens disaffected and discon- in sports leagues, clubs, places of rize the major findings from a general
nected in their own homes and neigh- worship, school, work, online, and more analysis of all survey responses. Over
borhoods. With an increase in public the next several months, the Human
awareness about anti-LGBT bullying • Access to LGBT affirmative support Rights Campaign will be engaging in
and harassment and the strikingly high and services additional analysis that will provide
number of LGBT youth who are home- a better understanding of the unique
less, in foster care, or living in high-risk • Negative experiences such as verbal experiences of specific groups of youth,
situations, it is critical that we get a harassment, cyber-bullying, exclu- for example those living in conserva-
better understanding of the experiences, sion from activities tive states, transgender youth, those of
needs, and concerns of LGBT youth. different races, religious traditions,
• Connection to a welcoming religious and so on.
This groundbreaking research among or spiritual community
more than 10,000 LGBT-identified youth HRC is thankful to The Trevor Project for
ages 13-17 provides a stark picture of • Level of optimism about the future its partnership in promoting the survey,
the difficulties they face. The impact on and the ability to live a happy life as along with dozens of local and state
their well-being is profound, however an “out” LGBT person LGBT youth-serving organizations.
these youth are quite resilient. They
find safe havens among their peers,
online and in their schools. They remain
optimistic and believe things will get


Summary

The responses to this survey reveal that many LGBT youth are profoundly discon- 65% SURVEY DEMOGRAPHICS LGBT NON
nected from their communities, in sometimes stark ways. At the same time, LGBT 58%

youth often report resilience in facing today’s challenges and a sense of optimism
about tomorrow’s possibilities.

Importantly, LGBT youth believe to a greater extent than their peers that they must
leave their communities to make their hopes and dreams for the future come true. 20%
18%
12%
When given an opportunity to describe their most important problem or the one 6%
8%
3% 4%
thing in their lives they would like to change, LGBT youth and their peers have dif- 1% N/A
2% 1% 2%

ferent experiences and priorities. LGBT youth describe the challenges they face as White Black/African Hispanic/ Asian/Pacific American Other Decline to
being directly related to their identity as LGBT. American Latino/Spanish Islander Indian/Native Answer
American/ American
Chicano

For those asked to describe one thing Among those asked to describe the
in their lives they would like to change most important problem facing their
right now: lives right now:

LGBT youth identified Non-LGBT youth identified LGBT youth identified Non-LGBT youth identified

1 Understanding/
tolerance/hate (18%) 1 Money/debt/finances
(20%)
1
Non-accepting
families (26%)
1
Classes/exams/
grades (25%)

2 My parent/family
situation (15%) 2 Appearance/weight
(9%)
2
School/bullying
problems (21%)
2
College/career
(14%)

3 Where I live/
who I live with (9%) 3 Improving mental
health (7%)
3
Fear of being out
or open (18%)
3
Financial pressures
related to college or
job (11%)


HRC believes LGBT youth will lead
lives that are more safe, healthy,
and fulfilling when institutional
discrimination ends and the country
fully embraces young people
regardless of their sexual
orientation or gender identity.
HRC is dedicated to making their lives
better, through federal and state-level
policy work and institutional change
in the workplace, healthcare settings,
schools, and beyond. HRC also works
to open hearts and minds to greater
acceptance and appreciation of the
LGBT community, and to infuse the
broader culture with a sense of LGBT
pride and dignity that can reach even
the most isolated young people.


WHAT’S
NEXT?

1 2 3
HRC intends to conduct further research with this
expansive set of data and release future in-depth
reports. Topics will likely include: “Youth of Color,”
“Transgender Youth,” “Home & Family,” “Community
& Culture,” “School & Peers,” and “Religion & Faith,”
among others.
These key findings can help all youth-serving orga-
nizations better understand the concerns, fears, and
barriers facing LGBT youth and help them establish
inclusive policies and practices.
These data can inform the programmatic work of LGBT
advocacy and direct service organizations, along with
funders and supporters, enhancing our movement’s
work on legislation and policy, administrative and reg-
ulatory changes at the local, state, and federal level.


4 5
Parents, family and friends can use these data to
increase their own level of support and affirmation
of the young LGBT people in their lives.
The experiences and hopes reported by LGBT youth in
this poll inspire HRC to consider new ways to improve
the lives of LGBT youth immediately and in the future.
HRC will engage collaboratively with local and national
organizations to raise the awareness of the concerns
and problems identified here and to find solutions.


Personal
Well-Being

FINDINGS
Compared with their non-LGBT peers, LGBT youth in this survey report much lower
levels of happiness, a higher incidence of alcohol and drug use, and less connec-
tion to adult support during personal problems. They also are much more likely
than their non-LGBT peers to say they can be more honest about themselves online
than in real life. When asked to describe their most important problem or one thing
they would like to change, LGBT youth describe the challenges they face as being
directly related to their identity as LGBT.

1/3
NEED AN ADULT LGBT
NON

LGBT NON
TO TALK
TO

Non-LGBT youth are nearly twice LGBT youth are more likely than LGBT youth are more than Roughly three-quarters (73%) of LGBT
as likely as LGBT youth to say non-LGBT youth to report that twice as likely as non-LGBT youth say they are more honest about
they are happy. they do not have an adult they youth to experiment with alco- themselves online than in the real
can talk to about personal prob- hol and drugs. world, compared to 43% among non-
Among non-LGBT youth, 67% report lems. LGBT youth.
being happy while only 37% of LGBT Over half (52%) of LGBT youth say
youth say they are happy. Among LGBT youth, about a third they have used alcohol and drugs
(29%) disagreed with the statement while only 22% of non-LGBT youth
“There is at least one adult I can talk say they have.
to about my personal problems”
while only 17% of the non-LGBT youth
disagreed with it.


Three-quarters (77%) of LGBT youth
say they know things will get better.
Nearly a quarter (23%) of LGBT youth

“This is me, this
disagree with that statement compared
with only 8% of their peers.

is how I was born
and I’m happy Over one-half of LGBT youth (54%) say
they have been verbally harassed and

with it.” !!! called names involving anti-gay slurs
such as “gay” and “fag.”

!!

Biggest Problems
Among those asked to describe the
most important problem facing their
lives right now: What is the most difficult problem facing you in your life these days?

LGBT youth identified Non-LGBT youth identified

1 1
LGBT Youth
Non-accepting Classes/exams/
families (26%) grades (25%) My parents/family not accepting 26%
Trouble at school/Bullying 21%
Afraid to be out/open 18%

2 2
Eating disorders/Self-harm/Depression/Suicide 14%
School/bullying College/career General being LGBT 12%
problems (21%) (14%) Trouble with classes 9%
Lonely 7%
Religion leading to lack of acceptance 6%
Problems in romantic relationship 6%

3 3
Fear of being out Financial pressures Concerns about college/money for college 6%
Confused about sexuality 5%
or open (18%) related to college or Finding a partner/Accepting partner 5%
job (11%) Drama 3%
Nobody to date 2%
Other 4%
Don’t know/Refused 1%

For those asked to describe one
thing in their lives they would like
to change right now:
Non-LGBT Youth

LGBT youth identified Non-LGBT youth identified Trouble with classes/Exams/Grades 22%
College and career decisions 17%

1 1
Understanding/ Money/debt/finances Financial problems/Paying for college/Getting a job 14%
tolerance/hate (18%) (20%) Family stress/Pressure 10%
Life balance 8%
General stress 5%
Want a boyfriend/Girlfriend/Boy/Girl problems 5%

2 2
My parent/family Appearance/weight Family illness/death 3%
Problems with lack of friends/Social life 3%
situation (15%) (9%) Bipolar/Depression/Eating disorders/Anxiety 3%
Injuries 2%
I don’t have any difficult problems 2%
Problems in romantic relationships 1%

3 3
Drugs/Drinking 1%

Where I live/ Improving mental Other 15%
who I live with (9%) health (7%) Don’t know/ Refused 1%


“I can’t come out
to anyone I know
at church
because they
“I have been graciously will immediately
received by my peers, see me as a bad
person.”
but the biggest issue

PARE
I face is my

“It’s very easy to look at
me and tell I’m gay and it
makes me feel
afraid to
walk around
knowing there are people
here in my hometown that
hate me, and people like me
enough to attack me.”


“I live in such a
narrow-
minded
community
it’s really hard on me. I deal with
so much ignorance on a daily basis.”

ENTS,
I have been called sick
and perverted by them.”
“I wish I could meet
more gay people to
talk to and get to
know.”


COM
MUNITY

COMPARED Compared with their peers, LGBT youth in this survey report a greater sense of
isolation or separation from their community in general, and among specific com-

WITH THEIR munity activities. Fewer LGBT youth have an adult in their community to talk with if
they feel worried or sad, compared with their peers. When thinking of their future,

PEERS LGBT youth believe to a greater extent than their peers that they must
leave their community to make their hopes and dreams come true.

Nearly half of LGBT youth (47%) say they do not “fit in” in their community
4 in 10 LGBT
youth (42%) say
the community in
which they live is
while only 16% of non-LGBT youth feel that way.
42%
not accepting of
LGBT people.


Immediate
In a series of questions of family
56%

whether their future would Extended
25%
family
likely include happiness, a Close
91%
good job, a long-term partner- friends

ship or marriage, children, and Classmates 64%

an active role in their commu- Your
38%
nities, LGBT youth often teachers

described a high degree Your clergy 5%

of optimism, frequently LGBT NON At work 11%
at similar levels as their
peers. However, this op- At school 61%

timism declined markedly At church 8%
compared to their peers when Your
asked if they could achieve coaches
11%
OUT
those dreams in the commu- Your doctor 16%

nities where they currently
live. The most vivid example LGBT youth are twice as likely as their
is that 83% of LGBT youth DECLINE IN OPTIMISM LGBT NON
peers to say they will need to move to (Percentage decline in likelihood of life achievements if youth stay in same city/town)
believe they will be happy another town or part of the country to
eventually, but only 49% be- feel accepted. Among LGBT youth, 63% Establish a life- Be an
long partnership Get married active part
say they will need to move, while 31% Have a Go to with someone Be to someone of your Raise
lieve they can be happy if they of their peers report the same. good job college you love happy you love community children

stay in the same city or town.
There is a drop among non- 8%
6%

LGBT youth as well, but not 11%
15% 14%
17%
nearly to the same scale. 23%
18% 19%
25%
29%
32% 32%
34%

LGBT youth are about twice as Likelihood of Life Achievements
likely as their peers to have been
verbally harassed and called Overall If Stay in Same
LGBT NON names outside of school (in the City or Town
neighborhood or mall, etc.) as Total likely Non-LGBT LGBT Non-LGBT LGBT
well as to have been physically
Verbal Harassment Have a good job 95 92 72 60
assaulted outside of school.
Go to college 93 91 82 74
Among LGBT youth, 18% report verbal Establish a life-long partnership 86 84 71 55
harassment while 10% of non-LGBT with someone you love
youth report the same; 5% of LGBT Be happy 93 83 75 49
LGBT NON
youth report physical assault com-
pared with 3% of their peers. Get married to someone you love 89 77 75 45
Be an active part of your community 79 70 71 45
Physical Assault
Raise children 84 68 78 49


LGBT youth are far less likely than non-LGBT Only 18% of LGBT youth say they participate
youth to attend religious services in a house of very often or sometimes in an LGBT group
worship. outside of school. However, 52% of LGBT youth
LGBT NON say they participate very often or sometimes
GROUP ACTIVITY
Among LGBT youth, 28% report attending in an online community that addresses issues
church or religious services very often or some- facing LGBT youth.
Attend religious services
times while 58% of non-LGBT youth say the
same. LGBT youth are less than half as likely as
their peers to participate in a church/religious
youth group, with 22% of LGBT youth saying
they participate very often or sometimes while
LGBT NON 47% of their peers say the same. ONLINE GROUP ACTIVITY

Participate in a religious youth group

Nearly six in ten LGBT youth (57%) say that
churches or places of worship in their com-
“In school the people munity are not accepting of LGBT people; a
I am friends with are third (35%) say their own church or place of
completely OK with my worship is not accepting.
sexuality, at church I
haven’t brought it up.” More than 4 in 10 LGBT youth (45%) report
that their state government is not accepting
of LGBT people; about a third (34%) say their
Less than a third (30%) of LGBT youth say they local government is not accepting. Not surpris-
play sports very often or sometimes for their
school or community league/club, while about ingly, many youth say they are not sure.
half (49%) of non-LGBT youth say they do.

Only 21% of LGBT youth say there is a place
NON
in their community that helps LGBT people;
LGBT the same (21%) say there is a non-official
place in their community where LGBT youth
can go and be accepted.


When asked in an open-ended question what it is like to be LGBT in their com-
munities, 60% of the LGBT youth described negative experiences and 42%
described positive aspects.
“The people in
Top-four negative experiences Most frequently cited positive aspects
my community and
1 1 my family aren’t
Intolerance in the Others are very
community accepting
27% 20%
really accepting
of the LGBT
2 2
Hard not to be It is good to be
closeted open / myself
20% 13% community and it’s
hard for me to lie
3
Feeling out of
place or lonely
18% about who I am.”

4
Verbally harassed
or abused
15%

“I can’t come
At the same time, nearly half (49%) of
LGBT youth believe things are getting out to anyone I
know at church
much better or somewhat better in
their communities. Another 41% say
things are about the same, while 9%
of LGBT youth report that things are
getting much or somewhat worse in because they
their communities.
will immediately
BETTER SAME
WORSE
see me as a bad
person.”


HOME
FAMILY

a strong base of
While a slight majority of survey respondents feel accepted by their family, far
too many young people lack this critical support. We know that a strong base of

support at home is
support at home is essential for the long term positive outcomes for LGBT youth.

critically important

More than half (56%) of LGBT youth About half (49%) of LGBT youth say they
say they are out to their immediate have an adult in their family they could
family; a quarter (25%) are out to LGBT NON turn to for help if they felt worried or
their extended family. sad. Fully 79% of non-LGBT youth have
Out to immediate family an adult in their family they could turn
to for help.

Out to extended family

6 in 10 LGBT youth say their family is Negative Less than a third of LGBT youth (32%)
accepting of LGBT people, while a third Messages chose their family among a list of
(33%) say their family is not. places where they most often hear
positive messages about being LGBT;
nearly half (46%) chose their family
among a list of places where they most
Positive
Messages often hear negative messages about
Families Families
being LGBT.
Accepting Not Accepting


“My relationship
with my parents has
become much more
tense ever since I
came out.”


SCHOOL
PEERS

LGBT youth are much
At the same time, most say most of their peers do not have a problem with their
LGBT identity, nearly all are out to their close friends, and most are out to their

more likely than their
classmates. LGBT youth rate schools as one of the most accepting parts of their
community outside of peers and 47% report having a Gay Straight Alliance

peers to experience
(54% among LGBT high school students). They are as likely as their peers to
participate in afterschool activities.

verbal harassment, *Part of our survey outreach was conducted through
GSAs and this number may be higher as a result.

exclusion, and physical
attack at school.

LGBT youth are more than two times LGBT youth are twice as likely as their LGBT youth are about twice as likely as Three-quarters of LGBT youth (75%)
as likely as non-LGBT youth to say they peers to say they have been physically non-LGBT youth to say they have been say that most of their peers do not have
have been verbally harassed and called assaulted, kicked or shoved at school. excluded by their peers because they a problem with their identity as LGBT.
names at school. Among LGBT youth, Among LGBT youth, 17% report they are different. Among LGBT youth, 48%
half (51%) have been verbally harassed have been physically attacked often say they have been excluded often
at school, compared to 25% among while 10% of their peers say the same. while 26% of their peers say the same.
non-LGBT students.


“I want to be able to go to
school without being called a About a third (36%) of LGBT youth par-
faggot or a dyke bitch. I don’t Participate
ticipate often in an LGBT club in school,
want to hide in the shadows Do Not
such as a Gay Straight Alliance, while
most (64%) do not.
about my sexuality because Participate

my safety is on the line.”

sometimes often frequently LGBT %
sometimes often frequently NON %

23
23
23

19
14
14
13 13
8 17
10
4 10
8 6 5
2 4
3 3
17 3 15 5 12 5 9 2 3 2
You have been verbally You have been verbally You have been excluded You have been harassed You have been physically
harassed and called names harassed and called by your peers because online, sometimes called assaulted, punched,
involving anti-gay slurs names at school you are different cyber-bullying kicked or shoved at
such as “gay” or “fag”. school

9 in 10 LGBT youth (91%) say they
are out to their close friends and two-
thirds (64%) are out to their class-
mates. About a third (38%) are out
“A lot of kids at my school
to their teachers. In general, nearly think it’s sick and nasty and
Two-thirds out at school
two-thirds (61%) say they are out at
school.
will give me looks when I
hold hands with my friend,
and call us fags and lesbos.
LGBT youth are as likely as their peers I am proud of who I am and
to participate in afterschool activities, I don’t intend on changing,
such as drama, debate, band or aca-
demic clubs. Among LGBT youth, 63% I just wish I wasn’t viewed
say they participate often while 63% of differently.”
their peers say the same.


CUL
TURE

92% 78%
9 in 10 LGBT youth (92%) say they hear Three-quarters (78%) of LGBT youth
negative messages about being LGBT. say they hear positive messages.

School, peers, and the Internet led the list of places where LGBT youth say they The Internet, their peers, and movies/TV/radio led the list of places where LGBT
most often hear negative messages about being LGBT: 74% chose school, 69% youth say they most often hear positive messages about being LGBT: 88% chose
chose their peers, and 70% chose the Internet. Religious leaders (68%), elected the Internet, 69% chose their peers, and 59% chose movies/TV/radio. School
leaders (60%), family (46%), movies/TV/radio (42%) and community leaders (41%) and family (32%) followed with positive messages, and elected leaders
(20%) followed as places where LGBT youth often hear negative messages. (16%), community leaders (8%), and religious leaders (4%) trailed far behind.

School Internet Peers Religious Elected Family Movies/ Community Internet Peers Movies/ School Family Elected Community Religious
Leaders Leaders TV/Radio Leaders TV/Radio Leaders Leaders Leaders


LGBT
youth
are bombarded
with negative
messages
about being
LGBT.
At the
same
time,
most are
also likely to
hear positive
messages.
The Internet and
their peers are
of both major sources
good
and bad
messages
for LGBT
youth.


The Human Rights Campaign is
America’s largest civil rights organization
working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual
and transgender equality. By inspiring
and engaging all Americans, HRC
strives to end discrimination against
LGBT citizens and realize a nation that
achieves fundamental fairness and
equality for all. Its work has particular
resonance for young people who continue
to live in a world where societal prejudice
continues to weigh on them and “that’s
so gay” is a common schoolyard epithet.


Through HRC’s visibility and
outreach, HRC is often a first point-
of-contact for many youth. HRC’s
website offers blogs, videos, and
other resources on federal state
advocacy, hate crimes, health,
marriage, parenting, religion faith,
straight supporters, transgender issues,
workplace, youth campus. Online
and by phone, HRC often refers young
people to national, regional, and local
resources that meet their individual
needs. www.hrc.org


HRc’S CURRENT
YOUTH-RELATED WORK

new initiative to explore faith-focused legislation that would ban bullying and ally financed adoption and foster care,
COMMUNITY approaches to family acceptance of discrimination of LGBT youth in public and would ensure that LGBT youth in
LGBT youth with faith institutions that settings outside of schools. This would care do not experience discrimination.
The HRC Foundation works to improve primarily serve Latinos, African Ameri- include community agencies such as
the LGBT cultural competence of com- cans, and white evangelicals. Using parks and recreation facilities and clubs, The HRC Foundation’s All Children – All
munity institutions, including youth- focus groups and engagement with reli- public libraries, foster care agencies, Families initiative works with public and
serving organizations and healthcare gious groups, along with groundbreaking and any other youth-serving public private adoption and foster care agen-
providers, and to engage all faith tradi- research from the Family Acceptance agency. There are currently few or no cies to improve their practices regarding
tions in a dialogue on fairness. Project, the initiative hopes to identify legal protections for youth using those LGBT prospective parents. This would
ways faith institutions can support fami- community resources. expand the number of caring, qualified
HRC’s All Children – All Families initia- lies to raise happy, healthy youth. adults who are able to parent youth in
tive is expanding its training curriculum Each year, HRC blankets the country to foster care, including the disproportion-
in response to requests from youth- HRC sponsored On the Road to Equal- support 150+ of LGBT pride and youth ate number of LGBT youth in care.
serving agencies that want to improve ity – a 12-week bus tour that visited pride events, which frequently reach
their competence in serving LGBT youth. 18 cities in 13 states and Washington, LGBT youth. HRC also collaborates with and show-
This includes after-school programs, D.C. The bus tour brought an affirming cases the work of leaders in the field of
mental health agencies, and counseling message of LGBT dignity and equality to family acceptance, including the Family
centers, as well as foster care agencies communities around the country, with HOME FAMILY Acceptance Project and Gender Spec-
that manage group homes for youth. a special emphasis on the Midwest trum, identifying new ways to encourage
HRC seeks to increase the number of and South where there are limited legal To address the disproportionate number families to affirm and embrace LGBT
safe, supportive, and affirming agencies protections for LGBT people and living of LGBT youth who are homeless, HRC youth and prevent some of the chal-
for LGBT youth in communities across openly and honestly can be difficult. advocates for federal action to prevent lenges identified here.
the country. It is working in collabora- Exhibits featured information for LGBT homelessness, improve funding for
tion with other organizations, including people about families, health, civil homeless youth programs, and expand
the Child Welfare League of America, to rights, community, faith, and the work- existing programs to make them more SCHOOL PEERS
complement the work they are doing. place. HRC also offered workshops and inclusive of LGBT youth. HRC supports
educational seminars on religion and legislation, the Reconnecting Youth to In Washington, D.C. and in state capitals,
Whether through an emergency or a faith, schools and bullying, workplace Prevent Homelessness Act, which would HRC fights for safe schools legislation
routine check-up, hospitals and health- and healthcare equality. require that the Secretary of Health and that protects LGBT young people from
care providers serve all families and Human Services establish a demonstra- discrimination and bullying. Many states
individuals. The HRC Healthcare Equality For a decade, HRC Foundation’s Corpo- tion project to develop programs that are have already adopted inclusive legisla-
Index (HEI) engages health providers to rate Equality Index has sought to trans- focused on improving family relation- tion, but there remains work to be done
implement non-discrimination policies form the workplace for LGBT employees ships and reducing homelessness for to implement those laws through train-
and commit to be inclusive and affirming by promoting policies of fairness and LGBT youth. ing and increasing the cultural compe-
of LGBT patients of all ages. This is espe- equality in the country’s leading corpo- tence of education personnel.
cially important for young LGBT people, rations. Identifying best practices for HRC is also working with federal agen-
who may not be out to their families but protection, recruitment, and retention of cies, including the Department of Health On the federal level, HRC advocates for
need to come out to their health provid- LGBT employees, the CEI has encour- and Human Services, to improve existing better protections for LGBT students,
ers to get proper care. The HEI targets aged companies to improve and excel. programs that serve youth in foster care, with a current focus on non-discrimina-
children’s hospitals to improve the In doing so, the CEI has raised the bar on including those aging out of the system tion and anti-bullying/harassment poli-
landscape for all youth-serving medical how corporate America treats its LGBT and becoming independent, to ensure cies. Additionally, HRC seeks to improve
providers. HRC works toward creating employees, including LGBT youth, influ- they are inclusive of LGBT youth and that the way current laws are implemented
culturally-competent care as a common encing an improvement in workplace vulnerable LGBT youth do not get placed for LGBT youth.
practice in the field. climate even beyond the hundreds of into hostile foster homes.
companies that participate in the CEI. The Student Non-Discrimination Act
To help combat LGBT youth home- HRC is building awareness and support would prohibit schools from discriminat-
lessness and family rejection, HRC’s Through its efforts to improve state among federal legislators of the Every ing against LGBT students and provide
Religion Faith Program is launching a laws and regulations, HRC is exploring Child Deserves a Family Act, a bill that students and parents federal protection
would prohibit discrimination in feder- from harassment and discrimination.


The Safe Schools Improvement Act importance of LGBT openness. Coming
would promote school safety through CULTURE out has a powerful impact beyond the
a comprehensive focus on bullying or individual. As the number of Americans
harassment with specific inclusion of The HRC team works to de-stigmatize who say they know someone who is
sexual orientation and gender identity. LGBT issues and promote positive LGBT has increased, so has public sup-
School districts in states that receive messages and images for LGBT people, port for fairness and equality. Through
specific federal funds would be required including youth. HRC’s “Call It Out” National Coming Out Day, its blog, and
to adopt codes of conduct specifically project brings attention to and combats other online resources, HRC promotes
prohibiting bullying and harassment, homophobia and transphobia wherever stories with affirming messages that
including on the basis of race, color, it occurs and promotes respect and civil are especially important for LGBT youth
national origin, sex, disability, sexual discourse. Whether it is from a local who may otherwise be isolated in their
orientation, gender identity and religion. school board member, a religious orga- communities.
nization, national ‘advocacy groups’ or
HRC works with federal agencies, elected officials, anti-gay vitriol creates
including the Justice Department and a toxic environment that can make LGBT
the Department of Education, to ensure people – particularly youth – think they
that—wherever possible given current are not worthy of the same legal rights
laws – federal regulations regarding and love that all Americans deserve.
safety and nondiscrimination are applied There remain additional opportunities to
to protect vulnerable LGBT youth. build greater acceptance particularly in
the world of sports where HRC is part-
In state capitals across the country, HRC nering with groups like the Ben Cohen
is advancing anti-bullying and non-dis- Stand-Up Foundation and Athlete Ally.
crimination legislation for K-12 schools.
Some states have moved forward with Marriage equality can improve the lives
improved laws and more states are of LGBT young people in two key ways. It
considering efforts to limit the threat alters their perceptions of what is pos-
of cyber bullying. Further, some states sible in the future, beyond current family
that have other positive LGBT-related life and school, and for those youth who
laws still do not address bullying and have same-sex parents themselves,
discrimination in the schools. the ability for their family to receive full
legal recognition can be an important
The Welcoming Schools project of the milestone toward greater community
HRC Foundation is an LGBT-inclusive connection. In addition to its extensive
approach to addressing family diversity, legislative and field work on marriage
gender stereotyping, bullying and name- equality bills or ballot measures, HRC
calling in K-5 schools. With a focus on launched the online media campaign
family diversity, it actively values families “Americans for Marriage Equality.” This
headed by LGBT parents. Its attention to video campaign features prominent
gender stereotyping and name-calling Americans – including athletes, film
can help create safer school cultures for and music celebrities, political and civil
all students and creates a more balanced rights leaders, and business lead-
and accurate understanding of LGBT ers – many of whom are admired and
people as students enter the challenging respected by youth. HRC has created a resource bank of materials to
years of middle school. While the program help individual LGBT people, including youth first
was designed for K-5 elementary schools, For more than a decade, HRC has coming to terms with their identity. Popularly-
some K-8 schools have used Welcoming downloaded and requested materials include:
sponsored and promoted National
Resource Guide to Coming Out
Schools and have adapted the program Coming Out Day, generating media Resource Guide to Coming Out for African Americans
for older grades. attention and public discussion on the Transgender Visibility: A Guide to Being You


METHODOLOGY
Two methodologies were used to collect data for this sample.

Harris Poll OnlineSM (HPOL) is a Our interviewing policies for U.S.-based
Public URL multimillion-member panel of coopera- research comply with the legal codes
Working with the Human Rights Cam- tive online respondents. Panelists have of conduct developed by the Council of
paign and Harris Interactive Service joined the Harris Poll Online from over American Survey Research Organiza-
Bureau, who hosted the Web survey, 100 different sources. Diverse methods tions (CASRO). According to CASRO
Greenberg Quinlan Rosner created a are leveraged to gain panelists includ- guidelines, the minimum age to consent
link that allowed participants to take ing: co-registration offers on partners’ to participate in survey research in the
this survey online. Participants invited websites, targeted emails sent by U.S. is 13 years old.
to the study through this source were online partners to their audiences,
screened for (self-identified) LGBTQ graphical and text banner placement A key issue in interviewing children both
(lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or on partners’ websites (including social responsibly and legally is appropriate
queer) status. This method was used media, news, search, and community parental consent, which is required
to collect the overwhelming major- portals), trade show presentations, before conducting research with chil-
ity of LGBT interviews in this study targeted postal mail invitations, TV dren under the age of 13. For 8-12 year
and ultimately produced a sample of advertisements, and telephone recruit- olds, Harris Interactive obtains consent
10,030 participants ages 13-17 who ment of targeted populations. from their parents, who are HPOL panel-
self-identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, ists themselves, using well-defined
transgender or queer. Certain questions When respondents are recruited into parental permission policies. Panelists
in the survey were directed only to self- this panel, it is made very clear to them identified as age 18+ with an 8-12 year
ascribed LGBT respondents. that they are joining a market research old child living in the household are
panel and that they will be asked sent email invitations with a link to the
The Human Rights Campaign adver- periodically to participate in online child survey. The invites specify that
tised this link through social media, research. They are shown the terms and the survey is intended for their child
as well as through direct communica- conditions of panel membership as well and explain the content and approxi-
tion with LGBT youth centers across as our privacy policy. Panelists must mate length of the survey. If the parent
the country. This method of collecting agree to our Terms of Use which state agrees to allow their child to partici-
interviews is common in exploring hard that panelists are limited to a single pate in the survey, they are asked to
to reach populations, but it does not membership and can be removed if they provide the link to their child. This
represent a truly random opt-in sample. are found in violation of this rule. process is also used to supplement the
Traditional measures of margin of error 13-17 year old panel through targeted
do not apply and the results here may All panelists recruited have completed panelists age 18+ with a 13-17 year old
not be representative of this population a ‘confirmed’ or ‘double’ opt-in (COI/ in the household.
as a whole. DOI) process. This process requires
that each registrant confirm his or her Data collected for this survey were
desire to join our panel by clicking on collected by Harris Interactive Service
Online Panel a link within an email that is sent to Bureau (“HISB”) on behalf of the Human
In addition, this research includes the registrant’s email address upon Rights Campaign. HISB was responsible
510 interviews among respondents registering. The content of the email for the data collected and Greenberg
ages 13-17 drawn from the Harris Poll specifies that by clicking on the link the Quinlan Rosner Client was responsible
OnlineSM (HPOL .) These interviews registrant is expressly stating his or her for the survey design, data weighting,
were not screened for LGBT status and desire to take part in the panel. Once data analysis and reporting any/all
Creative: Design Army

comprise the “straight” population in they consent to join the panel, mem- methods that apply.
this study. Note however that five per- bers are invited to participate in various
cent of these interviews self-identified surveys through email invitations which
as LGBT and were asked questions include a short description of the
directed at this population. research and indicate the approximate
survey length.

the survey

Q.1 (SAMPLE 1) Some of the 5) None of the above, I am out 1) Definitely fit in ____ 25 Churches and places of
questions we will be asking in this of school 2) Somewhat fit in worship
survey may seem quite personal. 6) Home schooled 3) Somewhat do not fit in ____ 26 Your own church or place of
However, please be assured that 7) Other 4) Definitely do not fit in worship
your responses will remain strictly 8) (Decline to answer) 5) (Decline to answer) ____ 27 Your school
confidential. The responses from all Q.6 Because we want everyone Q.14 How often you participate in ____ 28 Your peers or people your age
participants will be combined and represented in this survey, the next the following activities? ____ 29 Your family
analysis will be conducted only on few questions are for statistical 1=Very often ____ 30 Your local city/town
the information grouped together. purposes only. Do you identify your 2=Sometimes government
If you have any questions about sexual orientation as: 3=Not very often ____ 31 Your state government
our confidentiality policies, please 1) Heterosexual/straight 4=Never ____ 32 Your doctor
feel free to contact our Survey Help 2) Gay 5= (Decline to answer) ____ 33 Local businesses
3) Lesbian (RANDOMIZE)
Desk. Your participation and input is Q.34 (IF LGBTQ) In your own words,
4) Bisexual
crucial to the success of this study. ____ 14 Attend church or religious please describe what it is like for you
6) Queer
If you feel uncomfortable answering services in a house of worship. to be lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans-
7) I prefer to identify myself
a sensitive question, please select ____ 15 Participate in a church or gender in your community. Please be
as: (SPECIFY)
“Decline to answer” and then move religious youth group. as specific as possible.
8) Decline to answer
on to the next question. ____ 16 Play sports for your school 1) ??
Q.7 Do you consider yourself male,
(SAMPLE 2) Some of the questions or community league or club Q.35 In the last year, how often does
female, transgender or other gender
we will be asking in this survey may ____ 17 Participate in afterschool the following happen to you?
(e.g. genderqueer or androgynous)?
seem quite personal. However, please activities, such as drama, debate, 1=Frequently
(Punch 2-7 on LGBTQ OR punch 3-4
be assured that your responses will band or academic clubs 2=Often
on gender are coded as “LGBTQ”; the
remain strictly confidential. This ____ 18 Participate in a service or- 3=Sometimes
rest are coded as non-LGBTQ) (TER-
research is sponsored by the Human ganizations, such as the Boy Scouts, 4=Rarely
MINATE NON-LGBTQ IN SAMPLE 1)
Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s Girl Scouts, YMCA or Key Club 5=Never
1) Male
leading civil rights groups for lesbian, ____ 19 Participate in lesbian, gay, 6= (Decline to answer)
2) Female
gay, bisexual and transgender people bisexual or transgender organiza- (RANDOMIZE)
3) Transgender
and is designed to allow HRC to bet- tions in your school, such as the Gay ____ 35 You are have been excluded
4) I prefer to identify my gen-
ter understand issues facing young Straight Alliance. by your peers because you are dif-
der as: (SPECIFY)
lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgen- ____ 20 Work at a paying job ferent.
5) (Decline to answer)
der people. The responses from all ____ 21 (LGBTQ) Participate in ____ 36 You have been verbally ha-
Q.8 Most people are born either
participants will be combined and lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender rassed and called names at school.
male or female, but often feel or
analysis will be conducted only on organizations outside of your school, ____ 37 You have been verbally
behave in a way that is different
the information grouped together. such as a gay youth center. harassed and called names outside
from what society believes is male or
If you have any questions about ____ 22 (LGBTQ) Participate in an of school, for example in your neigh-
female behavior. On the scale below,
our confidentiality policies, please online community that addresses the borhood, or at the mall.
please indicate either how male or
feel free to contact our Survey Help issues facing lesbian, gay, bisexual ____ 38 You have been physically as-
female you feel.
Desk. Your participation and input is and transgender youth saulted, punched, kicked or shoved
1) 0-10
crucial to the success of this study. at school.
Q.9 (IF TRANSGENDER IN GENDER) Q.23 Would you say your community,
If you feel uncomfortable answering ____ 39 You have been physically as-
Would you say that you transi- that is, the place where you live, is
a sensitive question, please select saulted, punched, kicked or shoved
tioned...? generally accepting or unaccepting
“Decline to answer” and then move outside of school, for example in your
1) From male to female of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-
on to the next question. 2) From female to male
neighborhood, or at the mall.
gender people?
SAMPLE 1 Ages 13-17, generated 3) Neither ____ 40 You have been harassed on-
1) Very accepting
from panel 4) Other (SPECIFY) line, sometimes called cyber-bullying
2) Somewhat accepting
SAMPLE 2 Ages 13-17, LGBTQ 5) Decline to answer ____ 41 You have been verbally
3) Somewhat unaccepting
screened, generated by link Q.10 Generally speaking, how would 4) Very unaccepting
harassed and called names involving
1) Dial Region 1 you say things are these days in your 5) Don’t know anti-gay slurs such as “gay” or “fag”
2) Dial Region 2 life - would you say you are very 6) (Decline to answer) Q.42 (LGBTQ SAMPLE) (IF FRE-
3) Dial Region 3 happy, pretty happy, pretty unhappy Q.24 Do you believe things are QUENTLY OR OFTEN FOR ANY ITEMS
4 )Dial Region 4 or very unhappy? getting better or worse in your IN FREQ1) Do you believe these
5) Dial Region 5 1) Very happy community in terms of accepting things happen to you because of
6) Logoff 2) Pretty happy lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgen- your sexual orientation or gender
Q.2 In what year were you born? 3) Somewhere in between der people? identity?
Please enter as a four-digit number, 4) Pretty unhappy 1) Getting much better 1) Yes
e.g., 1963. (For sample 1 and sample 5) Very unhappy 2) Getting somewhat better 2) No
2, accept only ages 13-17) 6) (Decline to answer) 3) About the same 4) (Decline to answer)
2) Enter number Q.11 (SPLIT A) What is the most 4) Getting somewhat worse Q.43 If you felt worried or sad, is
Q.3 In what state or territory do you difficult problem facing you in your 5) Getting much worse there an adult in your family you
currently reside? life these days? Please be as specific 6) (Decline to answer) could turn to for help?
(DROP DOWN LIST OF STATES) as possible. Q.25 When it comes to accepting 1) Yes
1) Enter Response 1) ?? lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgen- 2) No
Q.4 What is your zip code? Please Q.12 (SPLIT B) In your own words, der people, how would you rate the 3) Don’t know
enter only the first five digits. if you could change one thing about following people or institutions in 4) (Decline to answer)
4) Enter Zip your life right now what would it be, your community? Q.44 If you felt worried or sad, is
Q.5 (If ages 13-17) Do you currently and why? Please be as specific as 1=Very accepting there an adult in your community or
attend? possible. 2=Somewhat accepting school, but outside of your family,
2) Middle school or junior 1) ?? 3=Not very accepting you could turn to for help?
high school Q.13 Thinking in terms of your com- 4=Not at all accepting 1) Yes
3) High school munity, the place where you live, do 5=Don’t know/does not apply 2) No
4) University, college or com- you feel that you? 6= (Decline to answer) 3) Don’t know
munity college (RANDOMIZE) 4) (Decline to answer)

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