Lgbt Mental Health

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LGBT Community and Mental Health Marcela Lopez California State University, Bakersfield LGBT Community and Mental Health Introduction The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender community has undergone stigmatization throughout history, which has been detrimental for them in a variety of aspects of their life. According to Rosenberg (2013), “LGBT individuals with serious mental illness live with a double burden of stigma” (p. 23). Such marginalization has inflicted unnecessary pressures on LGBT members and they have suffered maltreatment such as discrimination and prejudice. They have suffered public and institutional discrimination. Until recent years, the LGBT community has managed to achieve advances in equality of…show more content…
These conflicts are causing the LGBT community negative ramifications such as mental illness, discrimination, and inequality. According to Horowitz and Itzkowitz (2011), “Out for Equity (OFE), established by Minnesota’s Saint Paul Public Schools in 1994, remains one of five school-based programs designed to help LGBT student, families, and staff overcome the well-documented social, emotional, and academic challenges they face in American schools” (p.32). LGBT conflicts can be addressed through education and support in schools since it is an area schools lack in order to build safe environments for LGBT. Horowitz and Itzkowitz (2011) implemented “The Middle School Project” in 3 different middle schools which included staff development and training, psycho-educational support and one on one support, classroom lessons, and after school clubs. This program helped the 3 different schools but it displayed better results in one school where the project coordinator was active and monitoring the program. School based evidence based programs are a means of empowering and seeking to create a more inclusive environment for the LGBTQ…show more content…
Addressing the LGBT community’s issues in early stages where students have a greater understanding and maturity should help create aware and conscientious teenagers and future adults. In this way, discriminatory views can be minimized and create greater acceptance of the LGBTQ community. The Bakersfield LGBT community members and the Gay and Lesbian Center can be contacted to see if they would be speakers for the students at the schools. They can help with providing support and helping establish after school clubs that are sensitive to the LGBT community needs. California State University, Bakersfield Ally members that are professors can help with the staff development so that teachers and school counselors can provide LGBTQ sensitive curricula and support. Conflicts that may arise are lack of collaboration, time and effort dedicated by those involved, and the inability to have the participation of outside community partners to the
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