Giving Compass' Take:

• More research is needed on programs that help tackle family-based stigma and discrimination against the LGBTQ population. Unfortunately, there is not sufficient evidence to prove the existing programs are effective. 

• Can philanthropists help fund these types of studies? Why is it harder to tackle stigma and discrimination within family dynamics?

• Read about A Way Out: an organization creating safe spaces all over the U.S. for LGBTQ youth.

Although family relationships play a crucial role in the wellbeing of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) adolescents, few programs tackle stigma and discrimination within families, in part because of a lack of evidence on what works, researchers say.

Studies are “urgently” needed to address this question on individual, interpersonal and community levels, the authors of a research review write in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

 

For a new study, researchers searched three large databases of scientific literature to find publications about interventions, programs and policies that address family-based stigma and discrimination against LGBTQ youth.

The team found nine studies that met their criteria and only one that included outcome results. That one was an intervention that sought to foster attachments between parents and their lesbian, gay and bisexual children to reduce depression and suicide. It showed reductions in both conditions but was based on only 10 participants, so the results were not statistically meaningful enough to prove what works.

“Our initial idea for this paper was an extensive ‘systematic review’ . . . but I quickly realized that there just wasn’t very much good science to gather,” Parker said. Nonetheless, there are programs on offer, mainly by city governments and nongovernmental organizations, the study team points out.

Groups such as CAMBA and PFLAG support families of LGBTQ youth, and New York City’s Unity Project posts public service announcements in the subways, Parker noted. The Family Acceptance Project in San Francisco and Project CHANGE in New York City promote pro-acceptance and work alongside social service departments, schools, child welfare and faith-based communities. Researchers should evaluate these groups and programs, she said.

Read the full article about helping LGBTQ youth and their families by Carolyn Crist at Reuters