Kathy Cooper

Building Youth Community: The acceptance and tolerance of sexual minorities has evolved over the years. It is more common to see same sex partners holding hands as they walk down the street or to watch a television show with a gay character or theme. Despite the perceived open-mindedness of society, coming out as gay or lesbian can prove to be quite traumatic, especially if you are a student in grade school or high school. Hardy and Laszloffy (2002) discussed three aggravating factors queer youths deal with which can lead to suppressed rage, which is often the precursor to violence (towards self and/or others). First, queer youth experience devaluation when their “dignity and worth are assaulted or denigrated” (Hardy & Laszloffy, 2002, p.9). Second, youths often experience the disruption/erosion of community when they disclose their sexual identities to others. Third, queer youths deal with the dehumanization of loss, which encompasses the loss of romantic relationships, friendships, family support, “normal” teenage dating experiences, and economic security (Bernal, 2005).