Brite Line is Edmonton’s first mental health and wellness helpline dedicated to supporting people in Edmonton’s 2SLGBTQIA+ community. https://www.briteline.ca/?fbclid=IwAR2asFXkxu7gOt7w5RR6mf_SdfGcVOe7MsuT7RKri9-6QXP2JupmV1ts1ks Having an inclusive help line, provides our community with much needed accessible resources. It gives folks the ability to seek assistance with supportive people who understand and empathize with their identities and needs. An Alberta based helpline provides immediate support and understanding of the programs and resources available in our province. BriteLine provides resources and help for youth and adults by giving much needed advocacy and support. The assistance BriteLine offers is essential for people who have been marginalized, face violence increased by – but not limited to – factors such as legal status, age, culture, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or disabilities. Having inclusive organizations visible and active in our communities, allows our 2SLGBTQIA+ folk to seek help and resources, from people who are already familiar with the challenges they may face. BriteLine offers hope to our 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
Becoming Out: a totally non-exhaustive, step by step guide to coming out https://www.scarleteen.com/article/relationships_sexual_identity_etc/becoming_out?fbclid=IwAR2FlYhyyw43NBERxon21W8VJuLR0jh2jy42XJyNzBGHsPPrKcHaSbdf0E4 WHEN DOES IT GET EASIER? Coming out is not something that happens just once. However, the more we do it, and the more support we have around us that we can rely on, the easier it gets! No matter what happens, remember: you’ve planned for this. You know where your exits are, who’s on your team, and where you can find support, whether it’s from friends, partners, family members, folk on the internet or anyone else you know will be there.
National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health 2020 https://www.thetrevorproject.org/survey-2020/?fbclid=IwAR07NdKt8Lxf7IEyqVVgZ8Bp3eMv9iN9CCM6gU1eg46MvsnoaqP0Nm4GDhQ The world can be a tough place for LGBTQ youth. 1 in 3 LGBTQ youth reported that they had been physically threatened or harmed in their lifetime due to their LGBTQ identity. 40% of LGBTQ respondents seriously considered attempting suicide in the past twelve months. The outcomes for transgender and nonbinary youth are even more dire, with more than half having seriously considered suicide in the past year. Despite the need for support, nearly half of transgender and nonbinary youth didn't receive wanted mental health care due to concerns related to LGBTQ competence of providers. In addition to lack of competency, LGBTQ youth also have to deal with the threat of the discredited but widespread practice of conversion therapy. By looking at outcomes specific to LGBTQ youth, we can also identify ways to better support them. For example, transgender and nonbinary youth who reported having pronouns respected by all or most people in their lives attempted suicide at half the rate of those who did not.
Implications of COVID-19 for LGBTQ Youth Mental Health and Suicide Prevention https://www.thetrevorproject.org/2020/04/03/implications-of-covid-19-for-lgbtq-youth-mental- health-and-suicide-prevention/ Although youth and young adults are estimated to have the lowest mortality rates from COVID-19 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020), they are not immune to its consequences, including as it relates to mental health and well-being.
Latinx LGBTQ Youth Suicide Risk https://www.thetrevorproject.org/2020/09/24/research-brief-latinx-lgbtq-youth-suicide-risk/ All youth deserve to live in a world in which they feel safe and supported. To that end, suicide prevention initiatives need to be inclusive of Latinx LGBTQ youth and mindful of the unique findings described in this brief, particularly related to the impact of immigration fears.
Research Brief: Asexual and Ace Spectrum Youth https://www.thetrevorproject.org/2020/10/26/research-brief-asexual-and-ace-spectrum-youth/ While not everyone who is asexual wishes to be part of the LGBTQ community, LGBTQ youth who are asexual are an often-overlooked group. These results show that most asexual youth who identify with the LGBTQ community endorse a range of sexual and romantic orientations. Additionally, more asexual youth in our sample were transgender or nonbinary compared to the overall sample of LGBTQ youth.
What Does It Mean to Be Asexual? https://www.dictionary.com/e/asexual-language/?fbclid=IwAR1FdC6wxsq2BsAi2alDZ0L21QJ6Beg82S3cEwkZoPMPCrj52q0v9QdCtC8 According to the Asexual Visibility and Education Network (AVEN), “an asexual person is a person who does not experience sexual attraction.” Allosexual, by contrast, is a term used in the asexual community for a person who experiences sexual attraction. (Allo– is a prefix meaning “other.”) Asexual people also call themselves ace, with ace styled after a shortening of asexual. Ace alludes to the ace suit in playing cards, which some asexual people variously use to represent themselves.
Basic Questions About Being LGBTQ+ Aren't Bigoted — They're Progress https://www.them.us/story/basic-questions-about-queerness?fbclid=IwAR3qy04e356yCUP1_rGDbKVNvSpvMSGX5f3MGDExLS2K7ykhkn3SUyNdy8w Why is the onus on us to educate people on our community, our pronouns, the meaning of who we are? We are our own best advocates!!! We have lived these experiences, we can educate health professionals, care providers, we know what is happening with our bodies. It may seem tedious. But to avoid the spread of misinformation it is better to create an ally by sharing your knowledge and create a teachable moment than telling someone to ‘google it.’ Or look up the information themselves!
Coming Out: Information for Parents of LGBT Teens https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/teen/dating-sex/Pages/Four-Stages-of-Coming-Out.aspx Teen’s 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. They may fear disappointing or angering their families, or in some instances may fear being physically harmed or thrown out of their homes. In most cases, parents need time to deal with the news. 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.
Making Spaces for Aces http://www.dailycal.org/2018/06/27/making-space-aces-pride/ As a young adult in the midst of questioning my a/sexuality, I had never met another ace person, nor had I even seen one on TV. I only knew that asexuality was even an option because I had accidentally stumbled on the Asexual Visibility and Education Network during a night of aimless internet browsing. Before then, I had no way to know why I couldn’t figure out if I was gay or straight or just a weird inhuman robot.
Many LGBTQ Youth Don’t Identify with Traditional Sexual Identity Labels https://today.uconn.edu/2019/02/many-lgbtq-youth-not-identify-traditional-sexual-identity-labels/# We should be mindful to ask the identities of our participants because it matters for their health and their experiences. The other thing folks can do is just ask and be open about changing terms. What we see is a growing number of young people and adults coming out and feeling free to tell other people about their sexual identity. We need to ask and be open to what our teens’ sexual identities are, because if we don’t know they’re out there, we don’t know how to help them.
Navigating the World of Boys When You’re Gender Nonconforming https://www.thecut.com/2018/03/navigating-a-world-of-boys-when-youre-gender-nonconforming.html I think that any one group who fits in with society’s expectations should learn about other groups. Learning about different gender identities or expressions is very important. But I also think that people who are mostly gender conforming can still talk to their parents about ways that they do differ from society’s expectations for gender. Again, I don’t think anyone completely fits in. A boy who’s a jock and enjoys video games might still enjoy something like cooking.
Best Practices For LGBTQ Students https://www.tolerance.org/magazine/publications/best-practices-for-serving-lgbtq-students To feel safe and to feel seen. To feel valued and capable of growth. These are simple concepts—basic pillars of student achievement and the results of good pedagogy. For many queer students these rights remain out of reach. But LGBTQ students who go to school in a fully inclusive environment—where both curriculum and school wide policies value their identities—experience more positive outcomes. They also experience less harassment, feel more valued by school staff and face fewer barriers to success. We also know that an LGBTQ-inclusive school benefits all students. Seeing LGBTQ identities valued in the classroom, in the curriculum and in day-to-day interactions inspires empathy, understanding and respect. With this guide, we hope to help school leaders ensure that all students feel safe, seen and capable of success; to ensure that the curriculum is as complete and representative as possible; to ensure that the school climate fosters open and respectful dialogue among all students and staff; and to prepare youth to engage and thrive within our diverse democracy.