Youth who face prejudice and discrimination by virtue of their identity, life experience, or family circumstances disproportionately experience teen pregnancy and HIV/STI infection. Such young people may include youth of color, those from low-income families, immigrants, and gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth (GLBTQ). Research often focuses on the socioeconomic factors—such as poverty, family distress, and access to health care—which contribute to teenage sexual risks. However, researchers focus little attention on the effects of discrimination that is based on age, race, gender, class, and sexual orientation.

Advocates for Youth encourages you to understand the impact of prejudice and discrimination on vulnerable adolescents and to emphasize youth empowerment and cultural competency when working with youth.

General Facts 

• Cultural Competence and Social Justice: A Partnership for Change
  
• Adolescent Sexual Health and the Dynamics of Oppression: A Call for Cultural Competency

Redressing Reproductive and Sexual Health Disparities Among Young People

Young people of color are at greater risk of HIV and STI infection, even with identical risk behaviors; and young women of color are more than twice as likely to experience pregnancy as young white women.  Further, prejudice, discrimination, and harassment are still serious concerns for young people of color and GLBTQ young people. A culturally competent approach is vital to the health and safety of these young people.

• The Impact of Homophobia and Racism on GLBTQ Youth of Color
• Youth of Color—At Disproportionate Risk of Negative Sexual Health Outcomes 
• GLBTQ Youth 
• Understanding Disparities in the HIV Epidemic: How Social and Cultural Forces Lead to Unequal Risk for African Americans/Blacks
• Young Women of Color and the HIV Epidemic
• Young Women of Color and Their Risk for HIV and Other STIs
• Young African American Women and HIV
• HIV and Young American Indian/Alaska Native Women
• Latina Adolescent Health
• The Sexual Health of Latina Adolescents—Focus on Assets
• The Sexual Health of Asian—American/Pacific Islander Young Women: Focus on Assets
• AmbienteJoven.org—Apoyo para Jóvenes GLBTQ (page will open in new window)
  
• MySistahs.org—Sexual Health Resources for Young Women of Color (page will open in new window)
• YouthResource.com—Support for GLBTQ Youth (page will open in new window)