Bisexual Youths Still Struggling
The Human Rights Campaign Foundation published a report revealing more than 40% of the 10,000 plus LGBT youth surveyed in the US, identified as being bisexual.
Statistics included the following:
· Only five percent of bisexual youth reported being “very happy,” compared to 21 percent of non-LGBT youth surveyed separately to provide a point of comparison.
· Nearly a third of bisexual young people said they had been “frequently or often” harassed or called names at school, compared to nine percent of non-LGBT youth who reported similar mistreatment.
· When asked if they have an adult family member they can turn to, 44 percent of bisexual youth said they did, compared to 79 percent of non-LGBT youth who reported having a supportive adult at home.
Many did not use the label ‘bisexual’ but rather opt for ‘queer’ or ‘pansexual’. The worrying part was how they did not feel welcomed or a part of the LGBT community and often experienced biphobia.
This is so sad as there is a responsibility that youth workers, teachers and parents have to safeguard, education and support our bisexual youngsters.