As I was talking to Brian Mustanski about his newly released study on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth, it occurred to me that most kids who are part of a minority group can rely on support and guidance from parents who are part of the same group.
That's less true, however, for many LGBT adolescents whose parents often — and this doesn't make them bad people — don't have a clue how to help their teens navigate their sexuality and cope with discrimination.
But according to Mustanski's study, published Tuesday in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, LGBT youths who have strong support from parents, other family members and friends are less likely to consider suicide if they're bullied.
"How parents respond when kids first come out sets the tone regarding what they'll continue to share later," said Mustanski, an associate professor of medical social sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. "And what LGBT youth share helps parents act as a resource for their kids."
[...]
Complete article at Chicago Tribune : http://trib.in/wmvMuY
