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Community and School Support for Gay Youth

Many gay and lesbian youths are fortunate to have families that are supportive. Some are fortunate to go to high schools that have gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender groups that met on the premises. Some schools make outstanding efforts to be safe places, both physically and emotionally. But this is some, not all – and certainly not most. Most efforts to organize for teen gays are met with disdain in communities and schools. Efforts are often rallied against.

Fortunate gay youth have family and friends that support them and keep them out of the grip of adolescent depression. Being homosexual in the conformist and often homophobic atmosphere of junior and senior high schools drives many to make extreme choices. If untreated, the sense of despair kids feel when they don’t flow with the mainstream can lead to suicide.

Although a recent University study said homosexuality and bisexuality are not significant factors in suicide attempts, suicidal thoughts or suicide intentions for teenage girls, the same cannot be said for the boys.

The study, published in an August edition of the American Journal of Public Health, claimed homosexual or bisexual junior high school and senior high school boys are seven times more likely than heterosexual boys of the same age to report suicide attempts. The research said 131 male respondents identified themselves as "bisexual or mostly/100 percent homosexual." More than 28 percent of them reported suicide attempts. That is compared to more than 4 percent of heterosexual counterparts claiming suicide attempts.

Traditionally, females are up to nine times more likely to attempt suicide than males, according to American Association of Suicidology documents. Males, though, are six times more likely to complete a suicide, a fact attributed to greater handgun use for suicide by males. The University findings...