You think life is hard being a teenager? You’re right…being a teenager is hard, but add GLBTQ questioning, plus all the judgments people pass on you and what have you got?  A GLBTQ youth curious out of their mind and they don’t have a clue where to go or who to talk to.  Let me tell you something…Someone is there! It is sometimes hard to find someone to talk to, but whoever it ends up being, a counselor, a peer, a parent or a friend, just explain your concerns truthfully and most importantly be yourself.

First, let’s discuss what GLBTQ stands for:

G stands for Gay: being gay can apply to all homosexual people, but is sometimes used to refer specifically to men who are romantically and sexually attracted to men.

L stands for Lesbian: a lesbian is a woman who is romantically and sexually attracted to women.

B stands for Bisexual: bisexual refers to those who are romantically or sexually attracted to their own and opposite gender.

T stands for Transgender: transgender is when someone identifies themselves as female/male, both or neither, just not the same gender as they were born.

Q stands for Questioning: questioning is a person who is still ‘searching’ their gender, sexual identity or sexual orientation.

Many GBLTQ feel guilty or embarrassed for being who they are. Truthfully, being GLBTQ is completely normal.  It is estimated that up to 1 in 10 people are GLBTQ.  Many are just too darn scared to admit it. I know people who lived “in the closet” for years, too scared of losing relationships with their friends and family.  

Listen up!  It is time for society to change.  It is time for people to get up and say “I’m gay and I‘m proud of it!”  You shouldn’t care what people say or think so much that you hide who you really are.  Sometimes it is very hard not to.  Remember, it can take years to figure out who you are, but one day deep in your soul you will know who you are meant to be.  In the meantime, don’t jump to conclusions. Just go with the flow of life and enjoy your teenage years.

Coming out can be frustrating and difficult.  It is almost never easy. But once you come out, you will feel like a new you. Life can be hard at first.  Many people in your life will be re-adjusting to the new you.   Being a GLBTQ youth is not a crime and it’s not a punishment. Being GLBTQ is just another part of who you are, regardless of what anyone says. The most important thing for you is to be happy and to be who you are. Don’t try to be someone you’re not, “You were born an original - don’t die a copy!”

There are a number of resources for GLBTQ youth almost everywhere, but be careful because some of the sites can be against homosexual lifestyles.  Some of the positive, uplifting sites I recommend are listed below.

www.youthresource.com - Youth Resource- A Project of Advocates for Youth     

www.glbtq.com - GLBTQ- Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Encyclopedia    

www.oasismag.com - Oasis Journals- Writing Community for Queer and Questioning Youth   

www.pinkbooks.com - Pink Books- Resource for Gay and Lesbian Young Adult Books