GLBT Youth
"GLBT youth and young adults have many of the same health and safety concerns as other youth and young adults. These include everything from acne to puberty and hormones to making friends you can trust.
There are some health issues that affect GLBT youth somewhat differently than other youth.
The most important thing to remember as you go in search of advice and information is that you are OK just the way you are. You have a right to support, safety, education and health care. You have a right to information. And you will find friendship, love and satisfaction." (Quoted from the King County Health Website)
AVI has been working to provide a comprehensive resource list for GLBTQ youth on the Vancouver and Gulf Islands.
Initially this resource will include a website and from there a brochure which will be made available to Health care providers, youth organizations and service providers, schools and others that work with youth.
AVI is also an active partner of the Greater Victoria School Boards Healthy School Committee.
This website project will help provide the first real look at the resources that are available and will also highlight areas where services are missing.
I have been spurred on to provide this update to the GLBTQ community by a comment on our website. Watch for more developments in the months ahead.
In the interim you can help us. Do you have any thoughts on GLBTQ youth issues? Do you know of resources that are available and or would you be interested in helping us in this effort? Here are some local and national contacts;
Sexy
In Victoria there is Sexy, run out of the YM/YWCA, Youthquest provides some support across the Island and operate a toll-free telephone line - 1-866-NOT-ALONE.
The Gay and Lesbian Educators of BC
The Gay and Lesbian Educators of BC (GALE) provide advocacy and support for Educators and GLBTQ youth. They have an excellent guide to Creating and Supporting A Gay/Straight Alliance in our Schools.
YouthCO
YouthCO is a provincial organization to involve youth (15 - 29) from all communities in addressing in HIV/AIDS, Hep C and related issues. They have a cool website too.
VICTORIA YOUTH CLINIC
VICTORIA YOUTH CLINIC offers free health care service for youth age 12-24 on a walk-in basis. The Clinic is available on Tuesday and Thursday from 3:00-8:00 at the James Bay Community Project at 547 Michigan St. and on Wednesday 2:00-4:00 at 538 Fraser St. in Esquimalt. A Care Card is not needed and all services are confidential. Phone: 388-7844
Youth Support Line ~ 386-TALK
Youth Support Line 386-TALK is a youth to youth service, responding to calls from 6-10 pm, 7 days a week. Volunteers from ages 15-19 will respond to calls and provide immediate emotional support, crisis intervention and information on community resources. Volunteers receive 50 hours of training and are provided with back-up support and work in pairs sharing calls.
The Youth Support Lines, along with SUICIDE AWARENESS FOR YOUTH and PEER HELPER TRAINING is another link in the chain of youth suicide prevention and intervention services. For more information call Echo Haelstromme at 386-6328.
buzzcode
This resource, Buzzcode is for gay men but has many helpful hints to staying safe when partying and using drugs.
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Two-Spirited (GLBT) Youth Outreach Project
The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Two-Spirited (GLBT) Youth Outreach Project in Alberta. The project goals are: to develop and disseminate informational resources for rural GLBT youth; to educate professionals (e.g., school counsellors, teachers, etc.) regarding GLBT issue; to develop a list of resources for GLBT support; and to help establish support for GLBT youth, their parents, and families and friends in communities throughout the province.
Youth Online Resource
This is a very good GLBTQ Youth web site. It is an excellent resource for youth and those working with youth. Check it out. Send your comments here!
Youth Initiative Grant
The United Way has recently awarded AVI with a Youth Initiative Grant for an HIV/STD Prevention Education Project. The Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) of Esquimalt High School will develop a prevention/education campaign for safer sex and homophobia awareness. They will also network with GSAs in other schools to foster their development.
Peer-to-peer education is an effective and powerful tool. We are excited to be part of this youth empowering project.
Kealey Pringle
Communications and Research Officer
Yes!!!
Yes!!! What a site should be!
AVI's looks so boring.
Africap
Yes it's realy good
Measuring Sexual Orientation of Young People in Health Research
Measuring Sexual Orientation of Young People in Health Research
Study Conclusion below.
For the full study see: Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA)
The study of the relationship between health issues and sexual orientation and identity in adolescents is a comparatively young area of investigation. Results from studies conducted in recent years provide evidence of the necessity for additional research.
The Add Health study quoted in the first part of the report concerning the increased risk for suicide among youth who report experiencing same-sex attractions is an example of one area of concern, that is, the need to collect data about resiliency and protective factors specific and unique to lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth. This is an observation that raises many questions, most of which we are unable to answer at this point.
In this report, we have provided an overview of the methodological issues to be considered when conducting research on adolescent sexual orientation and identity and have offered a framework within which to conceptualize and undertake such studies.
Two themes stand out as indicative of the current state of the field and in need of close attention:
- The basic scientific terms used in the field need to be clarified. Theoretical propositions concerning, for example, the developmental stages of lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth must be empirically investigated, as must the relationship between the construct of sexuality and the discrete dimensions of orientation, identity, behavior, attraction, fantasy, and other dimensions. Certainly, increased research will provide data that can be used to further these discussions. These data will, in turn, guide the refinement of research instruments and methods.
- Health research must be conducted in a manner that makes it applicable to public health interventions and policy initiatives. Investigators have emphasized that research needs to be sensitive to a number of contextual environmental and individual factors. Research must be sensitive to the developmental shifts youth experience over the course of their adolescence. In addition, researchers must strive to identify the protective factors available to lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth. Sexual orientation and identity need to be investigated in relation to a wide range of explanatory variables that will help us understand the nuances of a particular issue. Stated simply, we must attend to how sexual orientation and identity fit into adolescents’ experiences of their day-to-day lives.
Link: Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA)
Hello
Great post !! !
Greetings
Great post !! !
Hello
Great post !! !