Mental Health in Virginia & LGBT

A recent article from the Richmond Times-Dispatch revealed some disturbing facts when it comes to mental health and youth in Virginia. According to Mental Health America, Virginia was ranked 38th among states, down from the previous ranking of 27th. A major reason for this downgrade in ranking was due to the fact that youth in the state who battle depression are less likely to receive treatment compared to other states.

Major barriers currently exist that prevent youth from receiving mental health treatment, including the fact that Virginia only spends 52% of the national average on community-based mental health care according to Bruce Cruser, Executive Director of Mental Health America of Virginia—who was quoted in the article. Currently, the Governor is exploring a number of efforts to improve access to mental health care in the state. Some of these efforts include an expansion of Medicaid and improving access to care.

Addressing mental health of youth is critically important, especially for those who identify as LGBTQ+ who are twice as likely as their peers to say they have been physically assaulted, kicked or shoved. Having one’s physical well-being at risk can have negative consequences on LGBTQ+ youth education. In fact, the latest school climate snap shot by GLSEN revealed that Virginia schools are not safe for most LGBTQ+ youth. Additionally, this impacts the mental health of LGBTQ+ youth in the following ways:

• Substance Use: Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth are more than twice as likely to experiment with drugs and alcohol.
• Happiness: Only 37% of LGBT youth report being happy, while 67% of non-LGBT youth say they are happy. However, over 80% of LGBT youth believe they will be happy eventually, with nearly half believing that they will need to move away from their current town to find happiness.
• Self-Harm: With each instance of verbal or physical harassment, the risk of self-harm among LGBT youth is 2 ½ times more likely.
• Suicide: Gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth are 4 times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual counterparts.

Mental health is a major issue that cannot be ignored, particularly as it pertains to our youth who are some of the most vulnerable. The article and aforementioned facts, demonstrate just how important it is for the community to be aware of the impact that a lack of mental health awareness and solutions can have on society. Without comprehensive solutions, the future of our youth is at stake.

Safe Space, Inc., encourages Governor Terry McAuliffe and members of the Virginia General Assembly to pay particular attention to LGBTQ+ youth when making critical decisions about how to improve mental health services for Virginia youth.

Blog was originally posted at: http://safespaceva.com/mental-health-in-virginia-lgbt-youth/

Making Sense Of The LGBT Community’s High Rates Of Substance Use

Originally posted at: http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2012/03/12/442903/making-sense-of-the-lgbt-communitys-high-rates-of-substance-use/

Last week, the Center for American Progress released a new issue brief on “Why the Gay and Transgender Population Experiences Higher Rates of Substance Use” and what can be done to reduce these rates.  Specifically, the brief mentions that an estimated 20 to 30 percent of gay and transgender people abuse substances, compared to about 9 percent of the general population.

According to the brief, there are three main factors that contribute to these higher rates of substance use in the gay and transgender population.  The first factor is minority stress that comes from social prejudice and discriminatory laws in everyday life such as employment, relationship recognition, and health care.  Second, the lack of cultural competency in the health care system not only discourages gay and transgender individuals from seeking treatment, but can lead to inappropriate or irrelevant service.  Finally,targeted marketing by alcohol and tobacco companies are exploiting the fact that bars and clubs are not only safe spaces for socialization for gay and transgender individuals but provide easy access to tobacco products and alcohol.

As a result, gay and transgender people turn to tobacco, alcohol, and other substances as a way to cope with the challenges. The data that are available about substance abuse show just how much of an impact this is having on the gay and transgender population.  For example, gay and transgender people smoke tobacco up to 200 percent more than their heterosexual counterparts.  Additionally, twenty five percent of gay and transgender people abuse alcohol, compared to 5 to 10 percent of the general population.

The brief also mentions a number of administrative and legislative recommendations that if employed could help to reduce the high rates of substance abuse within the gay and transgender population, including several outlined by the Center for American Progress last year that the Department of Health and Human Services could take.   The legislative recommendations included the passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), the Housing Opportunities Made Equal Act, The Respect for Marriage Act, and the Health Equality Act.

We Cannot Wait on Congress to Protect Our LGBT Youth

Originally posted at: http://www.washingtonblade.com/2011/12/09/we-cannot-wait-on-congress-to-protect-our-lgbt-youth/

Last week, a coalition of LGBT organizations and allies sent a letter to the Senate HELP Committee expressing “great concern” and “a lack of support” for the Elementary and Secondary Education Reauthorization Act, due to its lack of LGBT inclusion. These organizations and allies are to be commended for holding members of Congress accountable and pushing for the passage of the Student Non-Discrimination Act (SNDA) and the Safe Schools Improvement Act (SSIA). But it is becoming very clear that SNDA and SSIA face a long uphill political battle that will hopefully result in their passage sooner rather than later.

In the meantime, outside of advocating for their passage, we should push for the creation of Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) in schools all across this country, especially in schools with a predominantly black population. The creation of GSAs will help promote a more inclusive and safer educational environment for LGBT youth across this country until federal legislation is passed. In fact, according to the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), schools that have GSAs positively impact LGBT youth because these schools have fewer homophobic remarks, less victimization, less absenteeism, and greater sense of belonging. Considering that in 2009, 84 percent of LGBT students have been verbally harassed, 40 percent have been physically harassed, and 18 percent have been physically assaulted, it is imperative to tackle LGBT bullying and harassment. Establishing GSAs is an effective way to do that.

Combating LGBT bullying and harassment is especially important in schools with a predominantly black student body because black LGBT students face some of the most hostile treatment in our nation’s schools. Earlier this year, the Center for American Progress released an article that explored the plight of black LGBT youth in America’s schools. This article presented research that showed that black LGBT youth fare better academically and socially in schools with GSAs. Unfortunately, many predominantly black schools do not have GSAs because of the commonly accepted notion that being LGBT is a “white issue” and because the issue is rarely discussed in many black communities.

Yes, it will be a challenge to establish GSAs in schools where LGBT students are seen but rarely talked about in a positive manner. But that is the exact reason we should advocate hard to have them. Regardless if you are a parent, educator, or community member, your support is needed to make these GSAs a reality. LGBT students cannot do the work alone; providing them with assistance and support can be the difference between having a GSA or not and providing a safe environment for education. More importantly, GSAs benefit both LGBT students and non-LGBT students by creating an environment where it is okay for all students to express who they are.

The creation of GSAs will not completely solve the problem of bullying and harassment for LGBT youth; only federal legislation can lay the groundwork for that to be accomplished. Nevertheless, their creation can place schools on the road to not only being more inclusive but to providing a safe educational environment that will help all students. We owe that much to our LGBT youth, to ensure that school does not become a place of dread because of consistent fear of violence and rejection.

So while our elected representatives work out the politics, we can help lead our nation’s schools to being more inclusive to our LGBT youth through the creation of GSAs. Together we create a very powerful voice, one that cannot be ignored and will not go away until equality is given to LGBT youth.

Spirit Day 2011 - Stand Up To Bullying

Today I wear my purple with pride. It's the second annual Spirit Day and I am showing my support for LGBT youth and speaking out against bullying.

I know first hand how difficult it can be to be bullied.  There were numerous days where I was afraid to go to school because I didn't know if that day was going to be the day that someone would decide to hit me because I was "different."  It was extremely hard at times to stay focused and enjoy my time in high school.  I was called gay before I even knew what the word really meant.  While I didn't know what it meant, I knew the word carried a negative connotation among my peers.  But I could never wrap my mind around why it was such a bad thing.  To me it didn't matter if you were a guy who like other guys, all that mattered is that you had a strong enough connection with someone else to make you happy.  After all don't we all just want to be happy and loved?

Thankfully, I had a wonderful groups of friends and discovered a love for music by joining the band.  Because of this support, I was able to thrive being "different," by being allowed to be me by my friends and family.  Unfortunately, some LGBT youth are not able to share this similar support. That is why I wear purple today.  In supportive of them, to let people know that bullying is not okay and is not a rite of passage.  That it is okay to dare to be who you are.  It takes a lot of courage to embrace you in the face of others who want you to conform.  I applaud all those LGBT youth who embrace themselves and are out proudly being who they are.  I also applaud those LGBT youth who are not yet comfortable coming out, still discovering who they are, and making strides to come out.  Together we will create environments that are supportive of you to make your journey easier.

Being different is not as bad as everyone in grade school and high school make it out to be.  With out people striving to be different, we would not have the internet, Iphone, twitter, facebook, or many of the advances that we cannot live without today.  Today, I stand with millions of Americans and people across the world by wearing my purple and being vocal about how bullying affects all youth, especially LGBT youth.  So , I challenge you regardless of whether or not you are wearing purple to be vocal and take a stand against bullying.  Whether you are LGBT or straight we can all do our part to speak out against bullying.

HUD Is Taking Important Steps To Combat LGBT Homelessness

Originally Posted at: http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2011/10/14/344630/hud-is-taking-important-steps-to-combat-lgbt-homelessness/

This week, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) addressed gay and transgender housing discrimination on the White House Blog. The post revealed that in a recent survey of transgender and gender non-conforming persons, 19 percent have been refused housing or an apartment and 19 percent became homeless as a result of their gender identity. A recent brief by the Center for American Progress also found that 38 percent of same-sex couples were discriminated against when attempting to buy or rent property.

The administration’s post comes on the heels of the Unites States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) 2011 annual update to Opening Doors: Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness, an interagency effort to prevent and end homelessness. Despite the fact that gay and transgender individuals were only reference once in the annual update — in the context of a collaborative effort by the Department of Education hosting the first ever gay and transgender youth summit — homelessness in this community is a serious problem.

The estimated 320,000 to 400,000 gay and transgender homeless youth face the greatest challenges. These Americans find themselves homeless for a number of factors beyond their control including a lack of supportive family or educational structures and discriminatory treatment in out-of-home care facilities. Gay and transgender youth who fall through the cracks have a hard time transiting to a successful and stable adulthood and face higher rates of workplace discrimination and poverty that only exacerbates the problem of homelessness. For example, approximately 8 to 17 percent of gay and transgender workers have reported being passed over for a job or fired because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Over the past two years, HUD has taken several important steps to ensure that gay and transgender person not only have equal access to housing, but HUD programs. The agency is pursing complaints from gay and transgender persons who have experienced discrimination in housing because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, conducting a nationwide study of gay and transgender housing discrimination, and has issued a rule that proposes regulatory changes to ensure that gay and transgender individuals and families have equal access to housing.

While Congress considers a legislative fix — Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) and Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) recently introduced the Housing Opportunities Made Equal Act to expand existing federal housing nondiscrimination requirements to include sexual orientation and gender identity — HUD is filling an important void in ensuring that homeless LGBT Americans are no longer invisible.

Rethinking the NAACP Town Hall on LGBT Issues

Orignially Posted: http://www.washingtonblade.com/2011/08/02/rethinking-the-naacp-town-hall-on-lgbt-issues/?utm_source=social&utm_medium=story&utm_term=Washington%2BBlade&utm_campaign=Washington%2BBlade

Last week, the NAACP made history at its 102nd Annual Convention in Los Angeles by hosting the first-ever NAACP town hall on LGBT issues. The town hall comes on the heels of a partnership between the National Black Justice Coalition and the NAACP to create an LGBT taskforce in 2009. One of the goals of the taskforce’s three-part mission is to advance the awareness of LGBT issues “as they relate to the overarching programs and interest of the NAACP.” Interestingly, the NAACP as an organization has not endorsed full equal rights for LGBT people, but its current president and CEO, Benjamin Todd Jealous, has been extremely supportive of equality for the LGBT community. Thus, hosting a town hall on LGBT issues sends a powerful message that the NAACP is working toward being a more inclusive civil rights organization.

When I first heard about the town hall, I was elated. The NAACP surely was going to finally make a firm commitment to helping LGBT people of color in the quest for equality. This joy would be short lived, however, after I read about the town hall. Instead, I was left to wonder when civil rights organizations like the NAACP are going to start asserting some leadership.

Although the panel included lesbian actress/comedian Wanda Sykes, gay CNN anchor Don Lemon, and civil rights activist and NAACP Chairman Emeritus Julian Bond, there was no representation from the bisexual and transgender community. Instead of seizing an opportunity to have open and frank dialogue about the issues affecting the whole LGBT community, a critical segment of the population and their legitimate concerns were absent from the conversation.

Seeing that there is a dearth of research about the black bisexual and transgender community, their participation in the town hall was critical. A quick examination of what we do know about the transgender community reveals that they earn an estimated $10,000 less a year than the general population, according to a study by the National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. Additionally, transgender individuals face high levels of discrimination and violence. On the other hand, most of the research about the bisexual community largely focuses on the issue of HIV/AIDS.

This quick examination sure raises red flags for me and makes me eager to know what other issues the bisexual and transgender community is facing. Knowing that people of color face a number of obstacles achieving economic security, educational attainment, and affordable health care, LGBT people of color are surely facing additional sets of barriers. So why was this population not represented? Their experiences and the issues they face are just as important as those of gay and lesbian individuals.

Yes, it is no secret that the Black community has issues with acceptance of homosexuality. Nevertheless, the town hall was not a plea for acceptance but a medium to learn about how to help the LGBT community achieve the equality it deserves. Leaving out important members of the community is not a step toward equality but a step back from equality.

With that said, I applaud the NAACP’s efforts to better understand the needs of the Black LGBT community. This is the beginning of what I am sure will be a meaningful relationship with the LGBT community. The NAACP is an organization of honor and distinction for its work on civil rights and a natural ally for the LGBT community. And while the NAACP may be late to the LGBT equality rodeo, they should not tread lightly. Inclusion of all LGBT individuals is crucial and vital to the fight for equality. Now is not the time to point fingers and dwell on the past.

“No disrespect to the gay and transgender community”? Brother, please!

Originally posted:

http://www.washingtonblade.com/2011/07/25/%E2%80%9Cno-disrespect-to-the-gay-and-transgender-community%E2%80%9D-brother-please/

DeSean Jackson, James Harrison, Kobe Bryant, and Joakim Noah—these names are certainly first synonymous with their sports prowess. Unfortunately, each of these names can be associated with homophobic remarks as well. Were their remarks ways of asserting their masculinity? Some people may say so, but that’s a topic for another time. Were they offensive? Misguided? Absolutely.

The sad part is that in 2011, Black professional athletes still have to use derogatory comments to get under other players’ skin or draw a reaction as if they are playing a game of the dozens to gain credibility on their street. They fail to realize that they are no longer young kids who are still wet behind the ears and don’t really understand that the words they utter carry profound meaning. This is not to say, however, that we should place professional athletes on a pedestal and think they will never make a mistake. Professional athletes are human after all and all humans make mistakes.

As clichéd as it may sound, with fame comes some form of responsibility to be a positive role model, no matter if one wants to be one or not. That is not to say that the person needs to change ultimately what makes them the unique person they are, but they need to be more aware of the impact their words and actions can have. This is particularly true in the Black community, where many youth idolize professional athletes and strive to be the next big star. It is not uncommon to see many Black youth wearing the sneakers their favorite athlete wears, partaking in products they endorse, or modeling their potential sports career after their favorite player. In this day and age, being a professional athlete means being a brand, a person who can appeal across racial and economic boundaries to sell products or be the spokesperson for an organization or charity. Thus it is crazy for an athlete to think they do not have any gay or transgender followers who would be offended by comments that were not meant to be “disrespectful” to the gay and transgender community.

More importantly, Black professional athletes like DeSean Jackson are sending mixed signals when they stand up for a bullied individual in one breath and then make derogatory and offensive comments about a community that suffers from high rates of bullying in another. Fortunately, not all Black professional athletes send mixed messages. Figures like Michael Irving and Grant Hill understand the importance of their words and the weight they carry, and have come out in support of gay and transgender rights. If nothing else, Black professional athletes need to understand that when they use “gay” or “faggot” in an unsavory manner, they will be viewed as homophobic, especially in the gay and transgender community.

These words are particularly harmful for Black gay and transgender youth who are struggling to fight homophobia within the Black community and create a self-identity. That is why Black professional athletes need to think of just how powerful a message they can send by speaking up to protect gay and transgender individuals from homophobia, discrimination, and violence by leading the way to a more inclusive society. Being bold and asserting their voice in a positive manner will be more appreciated than obligatory statements of saying their comments were “not meant to disrespect the gay and transgender community.”