McGill University's Dr. Chiaki Konishi spoke at EdUHK about the struggles LGBT youth face.
Young people who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual often face discrimination and bullying.
Her research shows that many LGBT youth are isolated and harassed in school. Over 60% report being verbally abused, over 10% reported being physically abused, and 50% report losing their friends after disclosing how they feel.
However, Dr. Konishi’s research reveals that adult support makes a big difference. Whether they are parents, teachers, or friends, LGBT youth report that having at least one adult to talk to when they are stressed helps them feel a lot safer in school, and feel far fewer negative symptoms.
