Collaborative Mentoring Webinar Series
Making Mentoring Programs
Safe and Welcoming
For LGBTQ Youth
May 21, 2015
2015 Collaborative Mentoring Webinar Series
Planning Team
Collaborative Mentoring Webinar Series
Good to Know…
After the webinar, all attendees receive:
 Instructions for how to access PDF of presentation slides and
webinar recording
 Link to the Collaborative Mentoring Webinar Series webpage,
where all slides, recordings, and resources are posted.
Please help us out by answering survey questions at the end of the
webinar.
Collaborative Mentoring Webinar Series
Participate in Today’s Webinar
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sound
Type questions and comments in
the question box
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With 100’s of participants, only a
handful of questions will be
answered. Please be patient!
Respond to polls
Who is with us today?
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Q&A for all Panelists
Type your questions in the
question box:
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Today’s Webinar
• Dr. Christian Rummell, American Institutes
for Research
• Leslie Chudnovsky, Supporting Our Youth
Mentoring Program (SOY)
Q & A throughout the presentation
(use the Q & A panel)
Collaborative Mentoring Webinar Series
Dr. Christian Rummell
Research
• Senior Researcher, American Institutes for Research
(www.AIR.org)
Training/Technical Assistance
• Director of Training and Technical Assistance,
MENTOR
Program Management
• Program Director, “I Have a Dream” Foundation-Oregon
Collaborative Mentoring Webinar Series
Leslie Chudnovsky
Coordinator of CLICK Mentoring Program,
Supporting Our Youth (SOY), Toronto, Canada
• Leading CLICK since it’s inception in 2009
Building connections across generations of LGBT
youth and adults
Experience
• 30 years working as a counsellor, group facilitator,
advocate and community developer
Collaborative Mentoring Webinar Series
Session Goals
To raise awareness
about challenges and
struggles that LGBT
youth face
To learn about
research that informs
about providing
services to LGBT youth
To examine real world
challenges you might
face in your program
To gain insight into
inclusive program
practices
Collaborative Mentoring Webinar Series
Definitions
Homosexual
Clinical term to describe
individuals that have romantic
and sexual attractions to people
of the same sex (Mentoring Tactics, 2005)
Gay
Preferred synonym for
homosexual. Gay is typically
used to describe men who are
homosexual, but the term can
be used for women
(Mentoring Tactics, 2005)
Lesbian
A preferred synonym for
women who are homosexual
(Mentoring Tactics, 2005)
Queer
An umbrella term used by LGBT
people. Term was pejorative but
is now “owned” by the
community (Mentoring Tactics, 2005)
Bisexual
Someone who has romantic and
sexual attraction directed at
both genders (Mentoring Tactics, 2005)
Questioning
A term used for individiuals that
are still navigating through the
process of understanding ,
accepting, and sharing identity
and/or orientation
Collaborative Mentoring Webinar Series
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Definitions
Transgender
When a psychological self differs from
the social expectations of the physical sex
a person was born with (SMYAL, 2000)
Intersex
Used to describe a variety of
conditions in which a person is born
with reproductive or sexual anatomy
that do not seem to fit the typical
definitions of male or female (isna.org)
Sexual Orientation person’s
Gender Identity
:
Refers to whether a person identifies as male
or female, regardless of that person’s
biological sex (SMYAL, 2000)
emotional, sexual, and/or romantic attraction to others.
This can include attraction to people of the opposite
sex/gender (heterosexual), the same sex/ gender
(gay/lesbian), or multiple sexes/ genders (bisexual).
Collaborative Mentoring Webinar Series
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Sexual Orientation
A same-sex sexual
orientation Does NOT
need to be “cured” or
altered.
American Academy of Pediatrics, the American
Counseling Association, the American Psychiatric
Association, the American Psychological Association,
the American School Counselor Association, and the
National Association of School Psychologists
Collaborative Mentoring Webinar Series
Climate
Homophobia
Heterosexism
Transphobia
• The discomfort
one feels with any
behavior, belief, or
attitude that does
not conform to
traditional sexrole stereotypes.
• Institutionalized and
cultural homophobia:
the legitimization of
prejudice on the basis
of non-heterosexual
orientation through
overt social practices
and systems and covert
social mores and
customs
• (Brown and Colbourne, 2005)
• The irrational fear of
those who are
gender diverse
and/or the inability
to deal with gender
ambiguity.
(Jucovy, 2000)
(lgbtcenter.ucdavis. Edu)
Collaborative Mentoring Webinar Series
What do LGBT youth look like?
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The Mentoring Gap: LGBT Youth
The
Mentoring
Gap:
• 46 million youth
in US
• 24 million youth
that could
benefit
• 9 million will
not have a
mentor (Bruce &
Bridgeland, 2014)
The
LGBTQ
Youth
Mentoring
Gap:
•3.2 million LGBTQ
youth in US
•1.3 million will not
have a formal
mentor (e.g., BBBS
programs)
(Mallory, Sears, et. al., 2014)
Collaborative Mentoring Webinar Series
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Challenges: School Climate
74% of LGBT students
were verbally harassed
55% of LGBT student
felt unsafe due to
sexual orientation
28% of students reported
being disciplined for
public displays of affection
GLSEN Climate Survey 2013
• 7,898 students between the
ages of 13 and 21.
• From all 50 states and the
District of Columbia
• Students were in grades 6 to 12,
with the largest numbers in
grades 10 and 11.
Trends: “getting better” but…
Collaborative Mentoring Webinar Series
Challenges: Juvenile Justice
• Approximately 300,000 gay and
transgender youth are arrested
and/or detained each year
• Comprise 13-15% of youth
involved in the juvenile justice
system.
• Pipeline that leads from school
and family rejection to being
system involved.
The Unfair Criminalization of Gay and
Transgender Youth: An Overview of the
Experiences of LGBT Youth
in the Juvenile Justice System
By Jerome Hunt and Aisha Moodie-Mills June
29, 2012
Collaborative Mentoring Webinar Series
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Challenges: Homelessness
• Up to 40% of
homeless youth are
LGBT
• Many of which have
left difficult home
situations
(National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, 2007)
Collaborative Mentoring Webinar Series
Challenges: Mental & Physical Health
HIV
• 1 in 4 individuals that are
infected with HIV is a young
person between the ages of
13-24
• Over 50% of these infections
are among gay and bisexual
males
• Most youth not getting
tested
• African American
gay/bisexual males at highest
risk
Factsheet, Vital Signs, CDC 2012
Collaborative Mentoring Webinar Series
Challenges: Mental & Physical Health
Drug and Alcohol Use



More likely to use
cocaine
Admitted Use in Last Year
Early initiation of drug
and alcohol use
Engaged in high-risk
sexual behaviors than
straight peers
(Garofalo et al., 1998)
Meth Use Ever
25.00%
20.00%
15.00%
10.00%
5.00%
0.00%
Heterosexual
Gay/Lesbian
Bisexual
Not sure
(CDC, 2011)
Collaborative Mentoring Webinar Series
28% self-reported
suicide attempt
Attempts Past 12 Months
Suicide and Suicidal Ideation
Challenges: Mental & Physical Health
Heterosexual
(6.5%)
Gay/Lesbian (25%)
Bisexual (28%)
Not sure (18.5%)
(Ramafedi, 1998)
(CDC, 2011)
Collaborative Mentoring Webinar Series
Challenges: Transgender Youth
100%
Physically attacked
80%
Sexually harassed at
school
60%
Feeling unsafe at School
40%
Verbally harassed
20%
0%
Being a victim of assault
Percent of Transgender Youth
Collaborative Mentoring Webinar Series
Barrier to Support:
Social Interaction Anxiety
• Characterized as “fear of
initiating and maintaining
social conversations and
interactions with others”
• Barrier to receiving support
that is available to them
Collaborative Mentoring Webinar Series
Collaborative Mentoring Webinar Series
Q&A
Type your questions into the
Question Panel. We will try to
answer as many as we can!
Mentoring Makes a Difference
Toronto,
Canada
Collaborative Mentoring Webinar Series2
SOY: Program Overview
• Supporting Our Youth (SOY)
works with an anti oppression
framework to create
opportunities for LGBTTQ youth
14-29 years of age, and adults to
build an inclusive welcoming
community together.
• SOY develops programs and
initiatives that build skills and
capacities, provides mentoring
and supports and nurtures a
sense of identity and belonging.
• SOY’s goal is to support the
health and well being of all queer
and trans youth.
“ SOY is a place like no
other. It is a safe haven for
youth who need a safe
space to be themselves…It
provides a place for
growing and learning about
yourself and the
community. It enriches the
lives of the youth who are
part if it.”
Vanessa, 20
Collaborative Mentoring Webinar Series
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SOY: Program Overview
• CLICK, SOY’S Mentoring Program, connects LGBTTQ
youth to safe, out, volunteer mentors from the
community.
– Mentors are queer and trans ‘big brothers and sisters’ who
help youth explore questions of identity, sexuality and
community.
– Mentors provide encouragement, support and a non judgmental
listening ear for youth to talk about family, friends, relationships,
school and anything else important to them..
Collaborative Mentoring Webinar Series
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SOY: Program Overview
• Monday Night Drop-in
– Geared to the needs of street
involved LGBTTQ youth.
– Mentors works alongside
staff to create a fun and safe
space for socializing, learning
and relaxing.
– Mentors and Mentees share
a home cooked meal.
“ The Monday night
drop-in
is the first space I have
come to where I feel like I
truly belong. I have learned
so much about my
community from the
mentors and other youth
and my sense of pride just
keeps growing.”
Ryan, 21
Collaborative Mentoring Webinar Series
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Scenario 1
You run a mentoring program serving middle
school youth. The focus of your activity is year
round indoor soccer. You:
 Don’t know of any kids who are openly gay in
your program.
 Hear gender-based teasing and inappropriate
language – but it isn’t focused on a particular
youth.
 Haven’t done anything “special” to address
LGBTTQ youth needs, because that is not the
focus of your program.
Collaborative Mentoring Webinar Series
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LGBT Youth: Invisible but Present
Gay Youth
Lesbian Youth
Report same-sex feelings at age
10
Report same-sex feelings at age
11
Begin to self-label at age 15
Begin to self-label at age 16
First disclose their sexuality to
others at age 17
First disclose sexuality to
others at age 17
(D’augelli, 2006)
Collaborative Mentoring Webinar Series
Creating Inclusive Climate
Intake should include:
• Policy Statement: Describe who the program serves.
– Our program welcomes all youth regardless of religious beliefs,
ethnic background, gender identity, sexual orientation etc.
• Statement of Inclusion Policy
– All participants have the right to feel safe and included. We aim to
create a space that is free of discrimination where everyone feels
comfortable being themselves and participating fully without fear
of being teased, attacked, or excluded.
• Intake form questions
– Provide opportunities for youth to paint a picture of themselves
that includes whatever is important to them about their identity.
Collaborative Mentoring Webinar Series
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Important to Do: Inclusive Climate
Display images of LGBTT
youth in your offices
including posters, brochures,
books etc.
Display “Safe Space” sign and
‘respect agreement’
Consciously promote your
program to organizations
that serve LGBTT youth
(potential participants) and
adults (potential volunteers)
Ensure intake forms provide
opportunities for youth to
define themselves eg: instead
of having only ‘male’ and
‘female’ categories add a
third option ‘other’
Use inclusive language eg:
asking a youth if they have a
partner rather than a
boyfriend or girlfriend
Be prepared to respond to
questions from parents about
being inclusive of LGBTT
youth
Collaborative Mentoring Webinar Series
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Important to Do: Climate
Collaborative Mentoring Webinar Series
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Important to Do: Climate
Collaborative Mentoring Webinar Series3
Scenario 2
You run a mentoring program serving middle
school youth. The focus of your activity is year
round indoor soccer.
• You’ve just enrolled a mentee who is gay and
wants to be open about it.
Collaborative Mentoring Webinar Series
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LGBT Adult/LGBT Youth Mentoring can be
Beneficial
Benefits to Relationships
Unique Support for Identity
Development
“I guess our relationship
has a lot to do with
relationships themselves
and how to identify like
when you are in lust or
when you are in love or
how do you find
somebody? How do you
trust somebody?”
Daniel, Gay Mentor Matched with Queer
Mentee (at 17 months into mentoring
relationship)
Different from
peer, online, and
group models of
support
Introduction to
resources in LGBT
community
Access to new peer
relationships
Support for dating
Support for sharing
more about
identity with family
Collaborative Mentoring Webinar Series
Important to Do:
Acknowledge youth’s courage
for coming out to you and let
them know they have your
support and organizational
support.
Ensure that program recruits
LGBT mentors and staff as
part of commitment to
diversity
Ask LGBT youth if they’d like
to be matched with an LGBT
mentor or not. Don’t assume
either way.
Display ‘Safe space’ and antihomophobia and anti
transphobia educational
posters and other materials
Ensure staff and volunteers
are comfortable and
committed to challenging
homophobic and transphobic
remarks and actions
Create activities that
promote understanding
amongst diverse youth
Collaborative Mentoring Webinar Series
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Hiring and Volunteer Recruitment
Educate staff on issues
facing LGBTQ youth
Develop antidiscrimination
Recruit LGBTQ Volunteers
&
Inclusion policies
Provide volunteer training
on issues facing LGBTQ
youth
Provide trans youth
specific training
Provide gender neutral
washrooms whenever
possible
Collaborative Mentoring Webinar Series
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Collaborative Mentoring Webinar Series
Q&A
Type your questions into the
Question Panel. We will try to
answer as many as we can!
Additional Resources
American Institutes for Research: Standards of Care for LGBT Youth :
http://www.air.org/resource/standards-care-lgbt-youth
Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network (GLSEN) http://www.glsen.org/
Gay Straight Alliance Network https://unite.gsanetwork.org/
Family Acceptance Project http://familyproject.sfsu.edu/
Centers for Disease Control http://www.cdc.gov/lgbthealth/youth.htm
Trans Youth Family Allies http://www.imatyfa.org/
Mentoring Programs
SOY http://www.soytoronto.org/mentoring.html
True Colors http://www.ourtruecolors.org/
Collaborative Mentoring Webinar Series
Additional Resources
National Mentoring Resource Center
Apply for no-cost help for your mentoring program
www.nationalmentoringresourcecenter.org
Mentoring Connector
Recruit mentors by submitting your program to the
Mentoring Connector (previously called the VRS)
https://connect.mentoring.org/admin
Collaborative Mentoring Webinar Series
Remember…
After the webinar:
 Please help us out by answering survey questions
at the end of the webinar.
 Everyone will get an email with information on how to
download the slides, recording, and resources on the
CMWS webpage on the MENTOR website:
http://www.mentoring.org/program_resources/training_
opportunities/collaborative_mentoring_webinar_series/
Collaborative Mentoring Webinar Series
Stay Connected
• Email us at [email protected]
• Tweet with hashtag #MentoringWebinar
• Visit our webpage on the MENTOR website for past and upcoming webinars:
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Join Us Next Month
“They always come, and they never say goodbye:”
Healthy Closure in Mentoring
Thursday, June 18, 2015 – 1-2:15 p.m. ET
Collaborative Mentoring Webinar Series