Research Log #1

Source:
Deborah Azrael, et al. "Emotional Distress Among LGBT Youth: The Influence Of Perceived Discrimination Based On Sexual Orientation." Journal Of Youth & Adolescence 38.7 (2009): 1001-1014. SocINDEX with Full Text. Web. 7 Mar. 2012.

Summary:

In this article, Deborah Azrael discusses how Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and/or transgendered youth  deal with more emotional distress, discrimination, and are more likely to attempt suicide than heterosexual youth due to the fact that they are attracted to someone of their same sex. The article mentions many recent statistics and and studies involving LGBT youth but also mentions the different obstacles that LGBT females encounter versus LGBT males.  The article also states the different types of discrimination that females of the LGBT community deal with versus the discrimination that LGBT males must overcome.

In the text, there was a study done involving 18 high schools in Boston.  Their sexual orientation was assessed along with their ethnicity, age, sex and race.  They generated ratios dealing with discrimination and self-harm and suicidal ideation. Through their research, they discovered that LGBT males are bound to have higher levels of depressive symptomatology. But although heterosexual and non-transgendered students can still be victims of bullying, LGBT youth have a higher chance of being victims.  One of the main statistics that stood out to me was that 31% of youth with a minority sexual orientation reported to have been bullied throughout the past year, compared to 17% of heterosexual youth (District of Columbia Public Schools 2007).  Also, 20% of youth with a minority sexual orientation are more likely to skip school because of being bullied or feeling unsafe at school while 6% of heterosexual students skip school for the same reasons.

This study that was done in Boston, Massachusetts clearly shows us that LGBT youth have a significant higher level of emotional distress than heterosexual and non-transgendered youth and the cause of this is being discriminated against because of their sexual orientation.  This study also shows us that there is a lack of safety in schools for LGBT victims of bullying and more action should be taken to lessen the negative statistics.

Response:

After reading the article, it brought out the details in the fabric when it comes to this issue. Some of the statistics shocked me when it claimed that 20% of students with a minority sexual orientation will skip school because they don’t feel safe at school. Although, the conclusion of the study regarding LGBT youth having to deal with more emotional distress doesn’t surprise me at all because average students deal with their own matters in their own lives and for students with a minority sexual orientation, it’s just another aspect of their lives that others feel they can pick on them for.

Next Steps:

One of the main reasons why I chose this source was because of the title. The keywords that stood out to me in the title were “Emotional Distress Among LGBT Youth”. Everyone knows that those among LGBT are discriminated against but many people fail to see how they are discriminated against and how it affects them. But now after reading this article, I would like to read an article or text that focuses on someone who has personally experienced discrimination due to their sexual orientation. I think it would be more in-depth and can hopefully reach out to people on a personal level.