Largest survey of LGBT+ teens released – only 26% feel safe in school

The Human Rights Campaign, together with the University of Connecticut, have released the results of the largest ever survey of LGBT+ teens in the US. The study surveyed more than 12,000 teens aged 12 to 17 across the entire country.

They found 34 percent identified as trans, another 34 percent as bisexual, and 37 percent as gay or lesbian.

A whopping 70 percent have said they have experienced bullying at school, while half of all trans girls say they have been psychically threatened.

Only 26 percent said they feel safe in school, 27 percent said they can be themselves at school, and only 13 percent have said they have ever heard any positive messages about the LGBT+ community at school. Just 5 percent said they had teachers who were LGBT+ allies or supportive of the community.

95 percent of all surveyed have said they have trouble sleeping at night. 77 percent have said they have felt depressed in the last week, and 85 percent rate their average stress levels at a 5 or higher out of 10.

“My fear keeps me from seeing a counsellor about things like my anxiety and depression,” one respondent explained. “I don’t know how they’d react (to me being LGBT+), so I’d rather go online to talk to my other queer friends about it.”

The report ends with advice for schools and parents, which mostly involves learning about LGBT+ issues and listening to queer teenagers.

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