How to Create a Safe Space for LGBTQ+ Youth
LGBTQ+ youth deserve support, affirmation and safety. However, from home, to school to healthcare spaces, many LGBTQ+ youth feel unsafe or unwelcome, causing a lack of comfortable conversation. To better meet the needs of all young people, it is essential to integrate safe spaces for an open dialogue with LGBTQ+ youth. Research notes LGBTQ+ youth are more likely than their peers to experience stigma in an environment. Additionally, LGBTQ+ youth of color are at disproportionate risk for negative sexual health outcomes and face stigma related to race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression. This stigma and discrimination places LGBTQ+ youth at higher risk of mental health issues and poverty. Creating safe and welcome spaces for LGBTQ+ youth is [...]