Our commitment to the LGBTQIA+ community
The Erin Levitas Foundation works to prevent peer sexual assault by educating middle schoolers. During middle school, children begin experiencing sexual harassment at much higher levels, and our work concentrates on addressing those behaviors so they don’t escalate into sexual assault.
For children who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, gender-nonconforming, trans*, or are nonbinary (meaning they don’t identify with social definitions of “boy” or “girl”) – the prevalence of sexual harassment can be even even worse. From a 2015 Youth Risk Behavior study, the CDC reported 23% of lesbian, gay, and bisexual identifying high-schoolers surveyed reported experiencing sexual dating violence in the last year. Additionally, 18% of these students had experienced physical violence while in a dating relationship.
Resources for Youth & Families
CDC LGBT Youth Resources: Contains resources for LGBT Youth, Friends, Supporters, Educators, School Administrators, Parents, Guardians, and Family Members
ACLU LGBTQ Youth & Schools Resource Library
Human Rights Campaign: Direct Online & Phone Support Services for LGBTQ Youth
The Trevor Project: Providing crisis services and advocacy for LGBTQ young people
It Gets Better: Uplifting and empowering LGBTQ youth
General
The Antiviolence Project: Working to end gender-based violence
The LGBTQ National Help Center: Providing free and confidential support and local resources
GLAD: LGBTQ Legal advocates and defenders
Text & Chat
LGBTQ National Help Center Peer Chat
LGBTQ National Help Center Weekly Youth Chat Room Lounge
The Trevor Project Crisis Counselors
Hotlines
212-714-1124 (Antiviolence Project Hotline providing 24/7 bilingual support)
1-888-843-4564 (LGBTQ National Help Center Hotline)
1-800-246-7743 (LGBTQ National Help Center Youth Talkline)
877-565-8860 (Trans Lifeline run by and for trans people)
Voices for Advocacy
This list of individuals is educating and informing the public about ways to support the LGBTQ community through advocacy and financial support on social media
Schuyler Bailar: @pinkmantaray
Layshia Clarendon: @layshiac
Chase Strangio: @chasestrangio
Chris Mosier: @thechrismosier
Scholarly Articles
L.B. Klein’s review and analysis about the prevalence and effects of sexual and relationship violence on campus for the LGBTQ+ community
Sources
https://www.cdc.gov/lgbthealth/youth.htm
https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/index.htm
https://www.cdc.gov/injury/features/sexual-violence/index.html
https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/SV-Prevention-Technical-Package.pdf