Lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) teens in B.C. experience greater levels of violence and more health challenges than heterosexual teens, according to a report released by Vancouver-based McCreary Centre Society (MCS) and UBC researcher Elizabeth Saewyc.
Results from the study, believed to be the first of its kind in Canada, are reported in “Not Yet Equal: The Health of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Youth in B.C.” The report reveals trends in life experiences, health and risk behaviours of LGB youth, in both rural and urban areas, across more than a decade.
“All young people, regardless of sexual orientation, deserve the opportunity to grow and thrive in their families and communities,” says Saewyc, an associate professor in UBC’s School of Nursing and research director at MCS. “Most lesbian, gay and bisexual teens are doing well, but far too many experience stigma and discrimination. But when there are positive assets in these teens’ lives, they do well despite risks.”
Study data were drawn from 1992, 1998 and 2003 B.C. Adolescent Health Surveys conducted in high schools across the province by MCS. The anonymous surveys included more than 74,000 youth in Grades 7-12 from more than 75 per cent of B.C. school districts.
LGB youth were found in all grades and within all ethnic groups. They comprise two to four per cent of students in B.C. high schools or an estimated 7,000 students.
Key findings include:
- LGB youth were two to three times more likely to have experienced physical and sexual abuse, harassment in school, and discrimination about race/ethnicity, sexual orientation and other issues in the community compared to heterosexual teens, and rates of discrimination appear to be rising.
- Eleven per cent of LGB teens attend school in rural areas and small towns in B.C. and generally report similar experiences, opportunities, risks and health behaviours as LGB youth in urban centres.
- Between 1992-2003, increased rates of sexual abuse were reported
among bisexual females and higher physical abuse among lesbians. There was a decline in sexual and physical abuse among gay males, and rates were unchanged for bisexual males. Rural gay and bisexual males were more likely to report sexual abuse and more likely to have attempted suicide in the past year than their urban peers.
- Compared to heterosexual youth, LGB youth were two to three times more likely to either have been pregnant or have gotten someone pregnant. Rural gay and bisexual males were more likely to have caused a pregnancy than urban counterparts.
- Between 1992-2003, rates of suicide attempts increased for lesbian and bisexual females but declined for gay and bisexual males.
- LGB teens are less likely to report protective factors such as feeling cared about by parents and family members. Girls felt less connected to school than heterosexual peers. LGB youth were more likely than heterosexual youth to have run away from home once or more in the past year.
- Smoking is down for LGB youth, but use of drugs other than alcohol or marijuana increased for lesbians and bisexual male and female teens, but decreased for gay males.
- Gay and bisexual males reported higher levels of feeling spiritual or religious than heterosexual males. However, higher levels of religiosity were not a protective factor and were linked to higher odds of suicide attempts for bisexual males and females.
There are also some hopeful trends, says Saewyc. Smoking declined among all groups over the decade and risky sexual behaviours are also lower for most teens.
The decline in rates of violence and abuse faced by gay males corresponds with similar declines in most risky behaviours for them, such as binge drinking. However, rising rates of violence toward bisexual and lesbian girls mirror their rising rates of substance use, suicide attempts and other risks.
Some school districts have begun to develop supportive programs, like anti-bullying policies that specifically mention sexual orientation harassment and gay-straight alliance student groups in secondary schools, says Saewyc.
“LGB youth report higher exposure to risk and lower social support than heterosexual youth, so it is no surprise that more of them have health issues,” says Saewyc. “We need to promote more supportive school environments for these youth and help families develop safer and more nurturing relationships with their LGB children.”
Funding for the report was provided by The Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation Law and Public Policy at the University of California at Los Angeles.
The McCreary Centre Society (MCS) is a non-profit organization concerned with the health of young people in British Columbia, and since 1977 has conducted community-based research and projects addressing current youth health issues.
The research study may be found at www.mcs.bc.ca. Background information may be found below.
UBC has radio and TV studio facilities to provide radio interview and double- ender remote TV interviews.
“Not Yet Equal” Backgrounder
The Study
- The first study of its kind in Canada to document the experience of lesbian, gay and bisexual youth across an entire province and to track trends over time.
- The survey is given in the classroom by public health nurses.
- Youth could identify in the study as 100 per cent heterosexual, mostly heterosexual, bisexual, gay and lesbian, or not sure.
Most life experiences and health issues are similar for urban and rural LGB youth across the province. However, compared to urban LGB peers:
- Lesbian and bisexual females in rural and small towns were more likely to drink alcohol, and rural LGB youth were more likely to report binge drinking in the past month.
- Rural gay and bisexual males were less likely, but rural lesbian and bisexual females were more likely, to report first sexual intercourse before age 14.
- Rural males were more likely, but rural females were less likely, to spend time on the computer. Both male and female rural LGB teens were more likely to report they had been in contact with a stranger on the Internet that made them feel unsafe.
Compared to heterosexual youth, LGB youth were:
- More likely to be current smokers, to have tried alcohol or to have used other drugs. Use of drugs other than alcohol or marijuana increased for lesbians and bisexual male and female teens, but decreased for gay males.
- More likely to have reported emotional stress, suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts.
- Less likely to participate in sports and physical activity, and reported higher levels of computer time.
- When bisexual youth reported high family and school connectedness, their probability of suicide attempts was much lower than for bisexual teens with lower connectedness, even when they had strong risk factors for suicide such as a history of sexual abuse and current symptoms of emotional distress.
- Percentage of LGB students reporting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation increased for gay males and bisexual teens across the three surveys.
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