Lily Faulkner

February 24, 2021 - final

Stuck in a Home That Doesn’t Feel Like Home

Aiden is a transgender male who lives in a community that got hit very hard by covid. He has had to stay home with his parents who are not accepting of him. His parents refuse to call him by male pronouns and will give him “women chores'' to do. It is very common for LGBTQ+ teens, like Aiden, to have unsupportive parents or caregivers. Due to this, during the pandemic, too many LGBTQ+ members have been stuck in unsafe home environments.

Teens being stuck in unsafe home environments can lead to mental health problems. A survey by The Trevor Project states that 76% of youth surveyed said that the climate was affecting their mental health. The same study shows that 67% of LGBTQ+ youth reported having had someone try to change their sexual orientation or identity. Among those people, 23% said that they had later attempted suicide, showing how serious this problem is. From the same survey, 81% said that it is important to have an online social networking safe space. Social media spaces can help youth not feel alone when stuck at home. Schools can also provide a safe space for LGBTQ+ youth. According to the New York Times, 255 students at Vassar College stayed at the campus for the Spring semester. Some students stayed because they didn’t have a safe household with their family. Schools can provide a safe environment for LGBTQ+ youth.

We can donate to organizations that have online social groups, giving LGBTQ+ youth a community they feel accepted in, while still at home. This can include the Trevor Project which provides online support groups. Another great organization to support is Ali Forney Center, which provides housing and support services to LGBTG+ youth ages 16-24. We can also help by trying to make sure all states in the U.S. allow their schools to be open except in the case of emergencies. Many schools have LGBTQ+ communities that the children can hang out in, making them feel more accepted and not singled out. This can include clubs, affinity spaces, and more. They also sometimes have in-school counseling that helps the children a lot. This is why I think that schools being open is such a big necessity. To help schools open, you can do things as small as wearing your mask and staying 6 feet apart. Doing these things can help make sure your school is safe and won’t close. I also think a solution would be to allow certain kids(if they need it) to do online school at school. With this more youth can get out of unsupportive households.

Adelson, Stewart, et al. “Impact of COVID-19 Crisis on LGBTQ Youth.” Psychiatric Times, 6 Jan. 2021, www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/impact-of-covid-19-crisis-on-lgbtq-youth.

Monroe, Jamison. “LGBT Suicide Statistics in Teens.” Newport Academy, Newport Academy, 11 Feb. 2021, www.newportacademy.com/resources/mental-health/lgbt-suicide-statistics/.

Reynolds, Emily. “The Cruel, Dangerous Reality of Gay Conversion Therapy.” WIRED UK, WIRED UK, 6 July 2018, www.wired.co.uk/article/what-is-gay-conversion-therapy.

Valencia, Misha. “The Challenges of the Pandemic for Queer Youth.” The New York Times, The NewYork Times, 29 June 2020, www.nytimes.com/2020/06/29/well/family/LGBTQ-youth-teenagers-pandemic-coronavirus.html.