Hate Violence against the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual ... - AVP

Hate Violence Against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and HIV-affected Communities in the U.S. in 2011NCAVPScholars also estimate that 20-40% of homeless youth are LGBTQ. 54 Low-income LGBTQH youth and LGBTQHyouth of color who face homophobia or transphobia at home are more likely to become homeless or become partof the foster care system because of limited economic resources within their families and communities. While theymay have LGBTQH-affirming family members or people in their communities, these people may not have themeans to financially support or assist them. A 2009 study by the National Center for Lesbian Rights on LGBTyouth in the juvenile justice system entitled, ―Hidden Injustice: LGBT Youth in Juvenile Courts‖ found that morethan 90% of survey respondents identified a lack of family support as a serious problem for overcoming theirincarceration. 55 Young people, particularly LGBTQH and homeless youth, also tend to spend more time in publicspace making them more vulnerable to hate violence, stranger based sexual violence, and hate motivated policeviolence. Since young people are particularly vulnerable to different types of violence at home, at school, and inpublic it is important to continue to educate service providers, school officials, and other agencies that work withyoung people on LGBTQH issues, and issues affecting LGBT youth in particular.The specific context of school-based anti-LGBTQH violence also can increase the likelihood for poverty forLGBTQH young people. A recent survey of transgender and gender non-conforming people in grades K-12reported alarming rates of harassment (78%), physical assault (35%) and sexual violence (12%); causing almost onesixth(15%) to leave a school in K-12 settings or in higher education. 56 Harassment, bullying, and discrimination areforms of violence in themselves, but these forms of violence also increase risk of dropping out of school forLGBTQH youth. The higher dropout rates for LGBTQ youth can create later employment barriers for LGBTQHyouth, particularly transgender youth and LGBTQH youth of color, resulting in engagement in sex work and sellingillegal drugs for survival. All of these forms of employment can increase the risk of violence and can create barriersfor LGBTQH youth to seek assistance and support from law enforcement for the violence they experienced. A2006 study showed that almost 60 percent of transgender youth of color had traded sex for money or resources. 57Once LGBTQH youth leave school it can be difficult to obtain sustainable employment, particularly for youth thatengage in underground economies, which can lead to criminal records creating more barriers to employment andbarriers to some forms of governmental assistance. Ensuring the safety of LGBTQH students in schools willprevent the structural conditions that put LGBTQH youth at risk of violence.54 National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, ―Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Youth: An Epidemic of Homelessness” (2006). Accessed from:http://www.thetaskforce.org/reports_and_research/homeless_youth on May 20, 2012.55 National Center for Lesbian Rights, Hidden Injustice: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Youth in Juvenile Courts (2009). Accessed from:http://www.equityproject.org/pdfs/hidden_injustice.pdf on May 25, 2012.56 National Center for Transgender Equality and National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, ―Injustice at Every Turn‖ (2011). Accessed fromhttp://www.thetaskforce.org/downloads/reports/reports/ntds_full.pdf on may 10, 2012.57 Garofalo R et al. Overlooked, misunderstood, and at risk: exploring the lives and HIV risk of ethnic minority male-to-female transgender youth. Journalof Adolescent Health 2006; 38(3): 230-6.48