This document provides information and resources for working with LGBTQ youth. It includes definitions of key terms, statistics on LGBTQ youth in Tennessee showing high rates of bullying and lack of community acceptance, and tips for supporting LGBTQ youth. Resources outlined include databases, journals, websites and community organizations serving LGBTQ youth in Tennessee.

1. Working with LGBTQ Youth
Heather Lambert
heather.lambert@tn.gov

2. Numbers and stats
Access
Research
Community
Policies

3. http://www.tagxedo.com/artful/fd85512641f4408e

4. http://www.gendersanity.com/diagram.html

5. Ally: any non-LGBT person who supports and stands up for the rights of LGBT people.
Closeted / “In the Closet”: describes a person who keeps their sexual orientation or
gender identity a secret from some or all people.
Coming Out: the process of acknowledging one’s sexual orientation and/or gender identity to
other people. For most LGBT people this is a life-long process.
LGBT / GLBT: acronyms for “lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender.”
Openly Gay / Lesbian / Bisexual / Transgender: a person who publicly
acknowledges their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Outing: the act of revealing an LGBT person’s sexual orientation or gender identity without that
person’s consent.
Queer: an umbrella term used by some LGBT people to refer to themselves. In the past, this
term has been considered offensive and some LGBT people still consider it so.
Questioning: a person who is unsure about their sexual orientation or gender identity.

6. Biological/Anatomical Sex The physical structure of one’s reproductive organs that is used to assign sex
at birth.
Gender Identity One's innermost concept of self as male or female or both or neither—how individuals perceive
themselves and what they call themselves.
Gender nonconforming/Gender variant Refers to individuals whose behaviors and/or interests
fall outside what is considered typical for their assigned sex at birth.
Cross Gender Used to describe children who have adopted attributes that transgress the usual socially assigned
gender roles or expectation, or who do not identify as either of the two sexes as currently defined.
Gender Fluidity Gender fluidity conveys a wider, more flexible range of gender expression, with interests and
behaviors that may change, even from day to day
DSD/Intersex Disorders/Differences of Sexual Development. About 1% of children are born with
chromosomes, hormones, genitalia and/or other sex characteristics that are not exclusively male or female as defined by
the medical establishment in our society.
FtM (Female to Male)/Affirmed male/transboy A child or adult who was born anatomically
female but has a male gender identity.
MtF (Male to Female)/Affirmed female/transgirl A child or adult who was born
anatomically male but has a female gender identity.
Gender A socially constructed system of classification that ascribes qualities of masculinity and femininity to people.
Transition The process by which a transgender individual strives to have physical presentation more closely align with
identity.

7. Transphobia Fear or hatred of transgender people; transphobia is manifested in a number of ways, including
violence, harassment, and discrimination.
Gender Expression Refers to the ways in which people externally communicate their gender identity to others
through behavior, clothing, haircut, voice, and other forms of presentation.
Gender Role This is the set of roles, activities, expectations and behaviors assigned to females and males by society.
Transgender Sometimes used as an umbrella to describe anyone whose identity or behavior falls outside of
stereotypical gender norms.
Sexual Orientation Term that refers to being romantically or sexually attracted to people of a specific gender.
Genderqueer This term represents a blurring of the lines around gender identity and sexual orientation.
Gender Normative/Cisgender Refers to people whose sex assignment at birth corresponds to their gender
identity and expression
Transsexuals Individuals who do not identify with their birth-assigned genders and physically alter their bodies surgically
and/or hormonally.
www.genderspectrum.org • 510-567-3977 • info@genderspectrum.org

8. 39%
28%
21%
11%
1%
Self identifying
bi-sexual gay lesbian other queer
Tennessee LGBT Demographics

9. 81%
19%
What Level of School
high school middle school

10. 97%
3%
Who teens live with
immediate family extended family

11. 41%
37%
22%
Where TN youth live
suburban rural urban

12. Why libraries matter?
Sometimes we are the only place
they have to go.

13. More than half of TN youth (58%) report being excluded because
they were different and 35% report it happening frequently or often.
Six in ten Tennessee LGBT youth respondents report being the
target of gay slurs and the same percentage report being verbally
harassed, either frequently, often or sometimes.
Almost one quarter (24%) report being the target of cyber-
bullying frequently or often.
Approximately two in ten TN youth report being physically
assaulted punched, kicked or shoved at school.
When asked if these acts of harassment and bullying had
happened to them because of their sexual orientation or gender identity
82% responded “Yes”.

14. Only 3% of the survey respondents reported their community as
“very accepting” of LGBTQ people. 32% of Tennessee youth
respondents reported their communities as “very un-accepting.”
46% of the Tennessee sample reported “strongly agreed” that they
would need to move to another city, town or another part of the
country to really feel accepted.
Resources for Tennessee LGBT Youth
Less than half (42%) of the Tennessee LGBT youth in the
survey report having an adult family member they could turn to if
they were sad. 52% reported having an adult member of the
community they could turn to if they were sad.
The full report can be found at hrc.org/youth.

17. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_LGBT_periodicals
1. OUT
2. The Advocate
3. Instinct Magazine
4. Metrosource
5. The San Francisco Bay Times
6. The Official New York City Pride Guide
7. Pink Magazine
8. Passport
9. Cybersocket
10. Curve
Magazines

18. TEL Databases
Health Reference Center (TEL) Academic and medical articles on LGBTQ issues
Opposing Viewpoints (TEL) Commentary's, videos, maps and contemporary issues in the
LGBTQ community.
Gender Studies Collection (Gale) (TEL) The Gender Studies Collection provides access
to hundreds of thousands of articles with balanced coverage on such topics as gender studies, sexual
behavior surveys, family and marital issues, conversion therapy, gay and lesbian rights, homophobia,
health aspects and many more. Leading journals in the field are covered and updated daily, including:
Advocate, Feminist Studies, Gay & Lesbian Review Worldwide, Journal of Men's Studies, Journal of
theHistory of Sexuality, Off Our Backs and more
Gale Virtual Reference Library (GVRL) (TEL) Several reference holdings including Gay
And Lesbian health, Introduction to Gay Rights Movement, Encyclopedia of Sex and Gender and
Gender Issues and Sexuality: Essential Primary Sources.

19. Databases
Academic Search (EBSCO)This comprehensive, multidisciplinary database compiles several
Other EBSCO databases, including Academic Search Premier, with 4,500 journals, LGBT Life with Full Text,
with 50 of the leading GLBT journals, periodicals, and newspapers, and MEDLINE, produced by the
National Library of Medicine. Most articles are full text.
Gender Watch A full text database of 175 publications about how gender affects society. Humanities
oriented, focusing on gender studies, law, history, and some psychology.
Community
PsychINFO An index of 1300 psychology related publications, including links to 250 full text journals
and web documents.
Sociological Abstracts An index to international literature in sociology and related disciplines in the
social and behavioral sciences, including article abstracts and links to full text articles.
Alt-Press Watch A collection of full text underground and alternative newspapers and periodicals.
Subject Headings (called Topics) do not lend themselves to intersex-related research, and keyword
searches are advised.

20. Electronic Journals
Journal of Homosexuality
A peer- reviewed journal published by Haworth Press, one of the oldest gay and
lesbian academic journals, and explores the political, social, and moral implications of
research on human sexuality. Online holdings go back to 1993, print issues can be
found in the GLBT Student Support Services Library going back to 1984.
International Journal of Sexual Health
A peer- reviewed journal published by Haworth Press, and the official journal of the
World Association for Sexual Health, this journal is dedicated to the basic
understanding of sexual health through a positive approach to all sexualities.
American Journal of Sexuality Education
A peer-reviewed journal published by Haworth Press aimed at providing sexuality
educators with the latest research on sexuality education programming, including
reports on curriculum development and assessment, literature reviews, scholarly
commentary, and book and film reviews.
Journal of Psychology & Human Sexuality
A peer-reviewed journal published by Haworth Press on the psychology behind
sexual behavior, including
clinical, counseling, educational, social, experimental, psychoendocrinological, and
psycho-neuroscience research.

21. Journals
American Sexuality
AIDS Education and Prevention
Culture, Health and Sexuality
GLQ a journal of lesbian and Gay Studies
Gender Forum
Journal of bisexuality
Journal of Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Identity
Journal of Homosexuality
Journal of Lesbian Studies
Sexualities, Evolution & GenderSex Roles: A Journal of Research

22. Websites
People with a History: An Online Guide to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual
and Trans* History
glbtq: An Encyclopedia of
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Culture
The International Encyclopedia of Sexuality, Volume I – IV 1997-
2001
Human Sexuality: An Encyclopedia
Archive for Sexology: Books/Monographs
Internet Public Library

23. Suggested search terms
Gay
Gays
Homosexuality
Queer theory
Same-sex
GLBT
Sexual orientation
Homophobia
LGBT
Questioning people
Questioning youth
Homophobia
Queer
Sexual minorities
Same sex marriage
Intersex
Gender identity
Agender
Androgyne
Bigender (Nonbinary)
Cross dresser
Demigirl
Demiguy
Epicene
Transfeminine
Gender Identity
Pronouns: “Hir” “S/he” or “ze”
Romantic Orientation
Sexual Orientation
Transgender
Gender identity
Gender expression

24. "GLBT Controlled Vocabularies and Classification Schemes", American Library
Association, December 29, 2009. http://www.ala.org/glbtrt/popularresources/vocab
(Accessed September 12, 2013) Document ID: 54b116d0-8cbf-c8f4-fd24-d0684fbd7bc1
INFORMATION FOR: Gender identity.
Select a Link Below to Continue...
Authority Record
Narrower Term: Intersex people--Identity
Narrower Term: Transgender people--Identity.
Narrower Term: Transgenderism.
Narrower Term: Transsexuals--Identity.
See Also: Queer theory.http://authorities.loc.gov/cgi-
bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?DB=local&PAGE=First
Authority Control

28. Tips
Don’t be surprised when a youth comes out to you
Respect Confidentiality
Be informed and examine your own biases
Know when and where to seek help
Maintain a balanced perspective
Understand the meaning of sexual orientation and gender
identity
Deal with feeling first
Be supportive
Anticipate some confusion
Help, but do not force
Don’t try to guess who is LGBT
Challenge homophobic remarks and jokes
http://www.pflagnyc.org/safeschools/tips

29. Community Partners
Safe Spaces
Parents, Friends and Families
of Lesbians and Gays PFLaG
Memphis Area Gay Youth
(MAGY)
MNPS:Support Student Safety
Nashville
One-in-Teen Youth Services
(OIT)
Friends for Life Memphis
Midsouthpride
Parents
Tnequalityproject.org
Tennessee Transgender
Political Coalition
GLSEN East TN
GLSEN Middle TN
Nashville GBLT Chamber of
Commerce

30. Outreach Resources
http://www.itgetsbetter.org/
http://www.gaycenter.org/youth/resources
Forty to None
Matthew Shepard Foundation
GLSEN
The Trevor Project
Family Acceptance Project
PLFAG
Family Equality Council
Lyric.org
Covenant House
True Colors Fund
No H8 Campaign
Stand Up for Kids
Youth Pride National
National Safe Place
https://www.aclu.org/lgbt-rights/lgbt-youth-schools

32. Bibliography
American Psychological Association. (2002).Working with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and questioning youth: Cultural considerations
for working with youth of color. Adapted from Support services for sexual minority youth withpermission from the San
Francisco Unified School District’s School Health Programs Department. ©2002 by the American Psychological Association.
Storts-Brinks, Karyn. "Censorship online: one school librarian's journey to provide access to LGBT resources." Knowledge Quest
39.1 (2010): 22+. Academic OneFile. Web. 9 S
Goldsmith, Francisca. "Martin, Hillias J., Jr. & James R. Murdock. Serving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning
Teens: A How-To-Do-It Manual for Librarians." School Library Journal June 2007: 184. Academic OneFile. Web. 9 Sept.
2013.Document URL ept. 2013.
http://www.safeschoolscoalition.org/RG-
US_GLBTQyouth.html#Tennessee%20%28TN%29
http://mglcc.org/resources/community-groups
http://www.thinkb4youspeak.com/glsen/consequences/
http://www.pflagnyc.org/safeschools/tips
http://brandonshire.com/lgbt-youth-organizations/
https://www.aclu.org/lgbt-rights_hiv-aids/get-help-anti-lgbt-discrimination-your-school
http://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/research/safe-schools-and-youth/serving-our-youth-
july-2012/
http://www.hrc.org/blog/entry/tennessee-lgbt-teens-at-risk