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A Lesson Plan from Creating Safe Space for GLBTQ Youth: A Toolkit
Handout for How to Be a Super Activist and/or Ally Lesson Plan
14 Ways Homophobia and Transphobia Affect Everyone*
Homophobia and transphobia affect everyone; they have serious consequences for both GLBTQ and straight youth.
Ways that Homophobia and Transphobia Affect GLBTQ Youth
- Homophobia and transphobia make many GLBTQ youth feel isolated, lonely, and ashamed.
- Homophobia and transphobia create an environment in which GLBTQ youth may have to face harassment and even violence in their schools, communities and/or homes.
- Homophobia and transphobia make some GLBTQ youth 'act straight' to hide their sexual orientation or gender identity.
- Homophobia forces many gay, lesbian, bisexual, and questioning youth to become sexually active before they really want to, choosing partners of the opposite sex just to hide their sexual orientation or their questions. Transphobia forces many transgender youth to become sexually active before they really want to just so they can hide their gender identity.
- Homophobia and transphobia contribute to the self-doubt that makes many GLBTQ youth turn to drugs and/or alcohol to numb their feelings.
- Homophobia and transphobia cause many GLBTQ youth to drop out of school and/or run away.
- Homophobia and transphobia cause many GLBTQ youth to think about and/or even attempt suicide. Many of the youth who kill themselves are GLBTQ.
How Homophobia and Transphobia Affect Straight Youth
- Homophobia and transphobia pressure straight people to act unkindly or even cruelly towards GLBTQ people and encourage bullying and cruelty toward anyone whose appearance or behavior isn't sufficiently 'macho' or 'feminine' (from the viewpoint of the bully).
- Homophobia and transphobia force straight people to act 'straight,' limiting their individuality and self-expression. Straight youth often choose their clothes, hair color/style, friends, and even behavior to 'prove' that they are not GLBTQ.
- Homophobia and transphobia can destroy family relationships. Some parents, sisters, brothers, and even grandparents break off their relationships with GLBTQ family members.
- Homophobia and transphobia lead many straight youth to become sexually active before they really want to just to 'prove' they are straight.
- Homophobia, along with racism, sexism, and poverty, makes it hard to end the HIV epidemic.
- Homophobia and transphobia make it very hard for straight people and GLBTQ people to be friends.
- Homophobia and transphobia make it nearly impossible for people to appreciate diversity and the wonderful variety that exists among all people.
* Adapted and reprinted with permission of the Gay-Straight Alliance Network, San Francisco, California.
Reprinted from Creating Safe Space for GLBTQ Youth: A Toolkit, Girl's Best Friend Foundation and Advocates for Youth, © 2005. [PDF file] 
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