英语论文网

the fight. Men fought for women's equality in the 1900s, Germans laid down their lives to protect Jewish people during the Holocaust and even now straight allies advocate for equal rights for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender persons (GLBT).

In the Journal of Youth and Adolescents (2009) an article titled 'Youth Empowerment and High School Gay-Straight Alliances' explores how youth define and experience empowerment in youth-led organizations. 'GSAs Emerged from Community based programs that were formed in the 1980's and 1990's to provide for the unique needs of LGBT youth'(Russell, Muraco, Subramanian, & Laub 892). Adult consolers, teacher and administrators were the first to form school-based programs with in the educational system (Russell, Muraco, Subramanian, & Laub 892). Now the time has come to pass the flag to the youth of our nation. In the early 1990s GSAs were planned as support organizations and to bring about social awareness.

'Although GSAs continue to provide support for LGBT students, they have evolved into organizations with several purposes. Some continue to function as counseling or support groups, others are social organizations, and many have become clubs engaged in educational and activist activities aimed at challenging homophobia in schools' (Russell, Muraco, Subramanian, & Laub 892).

In The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality (1999), authors Barrett and Bissell outline the need for community based programs and the unique role they play in addressing the broad needs of LGBT youth. Currently, youth's 'coming of age' are occurring earlier than in previous generations (Barrett & Bissell 294). Most are not faced with open arms and a warm embrace. GLBT youth are generally beat down emotionally, physically, and verbally long before the ever decide to come out. Once some do make that commitment they are generally faced with even more hardships. 'Although family reactions to a child's homosexuality can vary, frequently reported occurrences include denial, anger, guilt, intolerance, insistence on conversion therapy, rejection, and, in some cases abuse or expulsion from the home'(Barrett & Bissell 294).

Even in open mined homes families are generally not equipped on how to address and support GLBT issues. Heterosexism is prevalent in our society children are raised and taught that on day you will grow and get married and have children of your own. 'heterosexual teenagers have generally been able to explore their other-sex attractions in the process of becoming social and sexual beings, lesbian gay and bisexual youth have learned to hide'(294). GLBT youth are being forced to hide in silence and to conform to a heterosexual life style. Many believe this is a contributing factor to suicide among homosexual youth.

In recent articles presented by the American Journal of Preventative Medicine (2012), we learn that 'Suicide is the third-leading cause of death among adolescents. Non-suicidal self-harm occurs in 13%-45% of individuals with in this age group' (Liu & Mustanski 221). 'Although adolescents are a high-risk group for suicidal ideation and self-harm, there is increasing evidence that lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth are a subgroup especially vulnerable to both'. Leigh Powers, head of information Services at the Suicide Prevention Resource Center states, 'being lesbian, gay, bisexual/or transgendered is not a risk factor