Groundbreaking Research on Family Rejection of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Adolescents Establishes Predictive Link to Negative Health Outcomes
Paper Authored by Dr. Caitlin Ryan of San Francisco State University’s “Family
Acceptance Project” To be Published in the journal, Pediatrics
San Francisco, CA – For the first time, researchers have established a clear link between rejecting behaviors of families towards lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) adolescents and negative health outcomes in early adulthood. The findings will be published in the January issue of Pediatrics, the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics...
Major Research Findings:
• Higher rates of family rejection during adolescence were significantly associated with poorer health outcomes for LGB young adults.
• LGB young adults who reported higher levels of family rejection during adolescence were
- 8.4 times more likely to report having attempted suicide.
- 5.9 times more likely to report high levels of depression, 3.4 times more likely to use illegal drugs.
- 3.4 times more likely to report having engaged in unprotected sexual intercourse compared with peers from families that reported no or low levels of family rejection.
“This study clearly shows the tremendous harm of family rejection, even if parents think they are well-intentioned, following deeply held beliefs or even protecting their children," said Dr. Sten Vermund, a pediatrician and Amos Christie Chair of Global Health at Vanderbilt University.
You can find more details at THE FAMILY ACCEPTANCE PROJECT
The video below is one teen's account of his family forcing him into "ex-gay" therapy.
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