On March 22, 2020 Animal Politico reported that 15 LGBTQ+ young people in Mexico were kicked out of their homes in the last 10 days (Arteta 2020). Eleven days earlier, 100 U.S. LGBTQ+ organizations released an open letter to the media “outlining how COVID-19 may pose an increased risk to the LGBTQ+ population and laying out specific steps to minimize any disparity” (National LGBT Cancer Network 2020). Absent in this letter is the added risk that LGBTQ+ youth face during the COVID-19 crisis. With the shelter in place order, LGBTQ+ youth face extreme challenges not faced by other populations. Specifically, LGBTQ+ youth may either face expulsion from their homes because of lack of acceptance by family or lockdown in a home where they are not supported—or worse bullied, physically assaulted, or cut off from support systems. In recent decades around the globe, the LGBTQ+ community has experienced gains in civil rights from legalization of same-sex marriage, open participation in the military, and protection from targeted violence. Additionally, schools across the U.S. have implemented anti-bullying campaigns and adopted inclusive actions. However, LGBTQ+ folks still encounter inequalities that not only persist during the COVID-19 pandemic but that may be amplified--putting the most vulnerable members of the community at increased risk.

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In the United States, LGBTQ+ youth are disproportionately represented among homeless youth. LGBTQ+ “youth comprise approximately 5% to 8% of the U.S. youth population but comprise at least 40% of the population of youth experiencing homelessness” (Robinson 2018: 383). LGBTQ+ homeless youth self-report parental disapproval as a significant reason for their homelessness (Robinson 2018, Ryan et al 2010, Asakura 2016). Conversely, family acceptance is also linked to higher rates of self-esteem and lower rates of suicide and substance abuse in LGBTQ+ young adults (Ohio University 2018, Ryan et al 2010, Asakura 2016, Nash et al 2016). For transgender youth specifically, “lower acceptance and higher indifference [are] significantly related to negative psychosocial outcomes” (Pariseau et al 2019: 274). The Human Rights Campaign reports that in a survey of 10,000 LGBTQ+ youth, 56% state they are out to their families. Yet, these LGBTQ+ youth identified non-accepting families as their primary problem. 33% stated that their family was not accepting and almost half said their family was the place “where they most often hear negative messages about being LGBT” (Human Rights Campaign 2012).

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During this pandemic, we must assure this vulnerable population among us remains safe and healthy, and can continue to thrive beyond this current crisis.

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Asakura (2016) outlines how LGBTQ+ youth have been able to build resilience or the ability to overcome or cope “more effectively with social marginalization and exclusion” (1). Particularly telling in Asakura’s research are the number of youth that experience “emotional pain inflicted by external adversities that routinely target LGBTQ youth, such as family rejection, violence and erasure of LGBTQ identities” (2016: 6). Among the key components for resiliency are involvement in safer spaces, meaningful relationships, and collective healing and action. Resiliency does not reside within a person but rather depends on resources that support LGBTQ+ youth. Moreover, there is a great cost to LGBTQ+ youth who must shoulder the burden of external adversities alone. Social integration and acceptance continue to be key components to societal members’ well-being (Durkheim [1897] 1997).

How can social support and resources to build integration and resiliency be mobilized for LGBTQ+ youth during a shelter in place order?

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Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, LGBTQ+ youth utilized online resources to find answers to their questions about sexual and gender identities, to connect with other LGBTQ+ youth, and to participate in supportive social media. In comparison to non-LGBTQ+ youth, LGBTQ+ youth are more likely to site online friends as providing support (Ybarra et al 2015). According to The Human Rights Campaign, 73% “of LGBT youth say they are more honest about themselves online than in the real world” (Human Rights Campaign 2012). Online resources have allowed LGBTQ+ youth to find acceptance and to participate in a virtual community (Nash et al 2015; Ybarra et al 2015). Virtual campaigns, such as “It Gets Better Global,” use YouTube as a means to deliver positive messages for LGBTQ+ youth. Correspondingly, many of the in-face opportunities for the larger LGBTQ+ community to celebrate together have turned to digital options: “the world’s biggest international Pride networks, Interpride and the European Pride Organisers Association, are organizing a “Global Pride” to be celebrated online on June 27” (Haynes 2020). This online alternative offers a wider array of folks the ability to participate, potentially including LGBTQ+ youth. Also, school and community LGBTQ+ youth groups could continue to meet virtually.

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Yet, is the online option a panacea? 

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In one sense, it is clear that the online LGBTQ+ community offers respite and support for LGBTQ+ youth. However, we must ask ourselves—which LGBTQ+ youth? If we are speaking of the U.S. where 95% of teens “report they have a smartphone or access to one” (Anderson and Jiang 2018) and whose usage is not heavily moderated by adults in their home—though 61% of U.S. parents say they have monitored their children’s websites (Anderson 2016)—then perhaps the online community during the COVID-19 pandemic gives support and bolsters resiliency. Yet, if we are speaking globally, where 29% of youth do not have online access (UNICEF 2017), then relying on online resources is not sufficient. Furthermore, we know that online validation does not replace in person support in the lives of LGBTQ+ youth (Ybarra et al 2015, Nash et al 2015).

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As social scientists we must continue to study the lives of LGBTQ+ youth; specifically, we must understand how this vulnerable population is affected by the shelter in place mandate and learn how to mitigate these risks in the future. Also, we can “share the burden carried by these youth” (Asakura 2016: 13). Besides ensuring that LGBTQ+ civil rights are protected during this crisis and that LGBTQ+ centers and hotlines are fully-funded, we can personally reach out to at least one LGBTQ+ youth in our lives and be their support.

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References

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Anderson, Monica. 2016. “Parents, Teens and Digital Monitoring.” Pew Research Center. Retrieved April 

6, 2020 (https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2016/01/07/parents-teens-and-digital-monitoring/).

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Anderson, Monica and Jingjing Jiang. 2018. “Teens, Social Media & Technology 2018.” Pew Research 

Center. Retrieved April 6, 2020 (https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2018/05/31/teens-social-media-technology-2018/).

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Arteta, Itxaro. 2020. “ONG detecta mayor expulsion de jóvenes LGBT+ de sus casas en contingencia por 

Covid-19.” Animal Politico. Retrieved April 6, 2020 (https://www.animalpolitico.com/2020/03/ong-detecta-expulsion-jovenes-lgbt-covid-19/).

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Asakura, Kent. 2016. “Paving Pathways Through the Pain: A Grounded Theory of Resilience Among 

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Queer Youth.” Journal of Research on Adolescence. 27(3), 1-6. DOI: 10.1111/jora.12291.

Durkheim, Emile. ([1897] 1997). Suicide. New York, NY: Free Press.

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Haynes, Suyin. 2020. “There’s Always a Rainbow After the Rain.’ Challenged by Coronavirus, LGBTQ 

Communities Worldwide Plan Digital Pride Celebrations.” Time. Retrieved April 6, 2020 (https://time.com/5814554/coronavirus-lgbtq-community-pride/).

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Human Rights Campaign. 2012. “Growing Up LGBT in America.” Human Rights Campaign. Retrieved 

April 6, 2020 (https://www.hrc.org/files/assets/resources/Growing-Up-LGBT-in-America_Report.pdf).

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Nash, Bradley Jr., Ed Rosenberg, and David Kleitsch. 2015. “Community in a Virtual Environment: Can 

YouTube Build Community for LGBT Youth?” Sociation Today. 13(2).

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National LGBT Cancer Network. 2020. “Open Letter About Coronavirus and the LGBTQ+ 

Communities.” New York, NY. National LGBT Cancer Network. Retrieved April 6, 2020 (https://cancer-network.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Press-Release-Open-Letter-LGBTQ-Covid19-2.pdf).

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Ohio University. 2018. “Ohio Psychology Professor’s Research Shows Family Acceptance of Those 

Identifying as LGBT Linked to Reduced Stress.”EurekAlert!. Retrieved April 6, 2020 (https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-10/ou-fao102318.php).

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Pariseau, Emily M., Lydia Chevalier, Kristin A. Long, Rebekah Clapham, Laura Edwards-Leeper, and 

Amy C. Tishelman. 2019. “The Relationship Between Family Acceptance-Rejection and Transgender Youth Psychosocial Functioning.” Clinical Practice in Pediatric Psychology. 7(3), 267-277.

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Robinson, Brandon Andrew. 2018. “Conditional Families and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and 

Queer Youth Homelessness: Gender, Sexuality, Family Stability, and Rejection.” Journal of Marriage and Family. 80(April 2018), 383-396. DOI:10.1111/jomf.12466.

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Ryan, Caitlin, Stephen T. Russell, David Huebner, Rafael Diaz, and Jorge Sanchez. 2010. “Family 

Acceptance in Adolescence and the Health of LGBT Young Adults.” Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing. 23(4), 205-123.

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UNICEF. 2017. “Children in a Digital World.” UNICEF. Retrieved April 6, 2020 

(https://www.unicef.org/publications/files/SOWC_2017_ENG_WEB.pdf).

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Ybarra, Michele L., Kimberly J. Mitchell, Neal A. Palmer, and Sari L. Reisner. 2015. “Online Social 

Support as a Buffer Against Online and Offline Peer and Sexual Victimization Among U.S. LGBT and non-LGBT Youth.” Child Abuse and Neglect. 39, 123-136. DOI:10.1016/j.chiabu.2014.08.006.