Risks for Your Child

Suicide

• In the US, suicide is the number one cause of death among gay and lesbian youth², compared to the 3rd cause of death for US teens³ and the 10th cause of death in the general population. ⁴
• Gay and lesbian individuals are two to six times more likely to commit suicide than heterosexuals.²
• LGBTQ youth rejected by family are 8 times as likely to attempt suicide.⁴
• Transgender young adults (18-24) are at even higher risk, with 45% having attempted suicide.⁵

Drug and Substance Abuse

• LGB students were up to 3.4 times more likely than other students to report using several illegal drugs.¹
• 20 to 30 percent of LGBTQ people abuse substances, compared to about 9 percent of the general population.⁷
• Twenty-five percent of LGBTQ people abuse alcohol, compared to 5 to 10 percent of the general population.⁷
• LGBTQ people smoke tobacco up to 200 percent more than their heterosexual and non-transgender peers.⁷

Violence and Bullying

• Compared to heterosexual students, LGB high school students are more likely to report⁸:
  • being forced into having sex (18% vs. 5%)
  • experiencing sexual dating violence (23% vs. 9%)
  • experiencing physical dating violence (18% vs. 8%)
• They also are 2-3 times more likely to be bullied⁸:
  • at school: 34% vs. 19%
  • online: 28% vs. 14%
• More than 10% reported having missed school because of safety concerns⁸

Parents can lower ALL these risks. Continue reading to learn how.