Black & African
American LGBTQ
2019

YOUTH REPORTThis resource draws on a subset of datafrom the 2018 HRC LGBTQ Youth Report tohighlight the experiences of respondents
who identified part or all of their ethnoracial
identity as either Black or African American.

2019 Black & African American LGBTQ YOUTH REPORT

Table of Contents

Supporting Black and African American LGBTQ Youth.... 4
The Importance of Family.............................................................................................................. 5
The Burden of Rejection................................................................................................................. 10
When Schools Fall Short............................................................................................................... 18
At the Intersection: Racism-related Stress............................................... 25
Gender-Expansive Youth Need Our Support...................................... 31
Coming Out.............................................................................................................................................................. 35
What You Can Do.......................................................................................................................................... 37
Respondent Profile.................................................................................................................................... 39
Acknowledgements................................................................................................................................. 41

3

2019 Black & African American LGBTQ YOUTH REPORTSupporting Blackand African American
LGBTQ Youth
In 2017, the Human Rights Campaign
Foundation partnered with researchersat the University of Connecticut to
conduct a groundbreaking survey of over
12,000 LGBTQ youth and capture theirexperiences in their families, schools,
social circles and communities. Morethan 1,600 Black and African American
LGBTQ youth responded to the survey.
This resource presents data collectedfrom these young people, shedding
light on their challenges and triumphs
encountered while navigating the world.
While there is immense power in being
both a person of color and LGBTQ,
holding multiple marginalized identities
can magnify discrimination. This reality
can have a devastating impact on Blackand African American LGBTQ youth’s
mental health and overall well-being.
Virulent and inflammatory anti-Blackness
from elected officials, negative portrayals
in the media, and historically maintained
systems of racial oppression complicate
the ability of Black and African American
LGBTQ youth to fully express andexplore their intersecting racial and
LGBTQ identities.

4

For youth-serving professionals
This resource draws on a subset
of data from the 2018 HRC
LGBTQ Youth Report to highlightthe experiences of respondents
who identified part or all of theirethnoracial identity as either Blackor African American. We hope thisinformation helps to encourage
youth-serving professionals to apply
an intersectional lens to their work.
Supportive parents, school
administrators, teachers,
counselors and other youth-serving
professionals play an essential rolein the lives of Black and African
American LGBTQ youth. The
support of these adults is especially
important when youth struggle in
the absence of affirmation from theirfamilies and communities regarding
their sexual orientation, gender
identity or gender expression.
However, Black and African
American LGBTQ youth continue
to be their own powerful forcesof change; their stories of
empowerment, resilience, activism
and advocacy are pronounced inthese findings. Across the country,
they are demanding due respect andequity. They need us to do the same.
We must support Black and African
American LGBTQ youth in theirpursuit of collective equity, inclusion
and racial justice.

2019 Black & African American LGBTQ YOUTH REPORTThe Importanceof Family
Parents and families have a critical roleto play in creating open environmentsthat foster positive self-esteem, mental
health and well-being among Black andAfrican American LGBTQ youth.
Black and African American LGBTQ youth whosefamilies provide safe, supportive and affirming
homes are more likely to experience positive healthoutcomes across several dimensions, including:greater self-esteem and resilience; a lowered risk ofdepression, distress and feelings of hopelessness;
and a reduced risk of substance use.

77%

of Black and African
American LGBTQ
youth have heardfamily members say
negative things
about LGBTQ
people5

2019 Black & African American LGBTQ YOUTH REPORT

Only

Only

47%
have beentaunted ormocked byfamily for being
LGBTQ

6 | The Importance of Family

19%
say they can“definitely” bethemselves at
home

26%
have had family
get involved in
the larger LGBTQ
community

Examples could include attending
pride events, advocating for
LGBTQ inclusion in theirworkplaces, or learning about
LGBTQ identities and experiences

2019 Black & African American LGBTQ YOUTH REPORT“I have discussed my sexuality a
bit with my family, but it is notquite a comfortable topic yet.
Me coming out to my family
was met with mixed reviews;
they were accepting, but theyalso still feel like it’s just hormonalchanges or something.”

The Importance of Family | 7

2019 Black & African American LGBTQ YOUTH REPORT

59%

say their families
make them feel bad
because of their
LGBTQ identity,
including67%of transgender andgender-expansive youth

55%

of cisgender LGBQ youth
Note: cisgender: A term used todescribe a person whose gender
identity aligns with what is typicallyassociated with the sex they wereassigned at birth.
We use both transgender andgender-expansive to describe
all non-cisgender respondents
because every person defines theiridentity differently. For example,
some non-binary people identify astransgender, but not all do.

8 | The Importance of Family

Supportive and affirming families canalso act as a buffer against some ofthe discrimination, harrassment andbullying that Black and African American
LGBTQ youth might experience in theirschools and communities.
Yet, the youth in our survey report thatsharing their sexual orientation or gender
identities with their families is incredibly
stressful. These young people say that
their real and perceived fears of rejection
are compounded by negative comments
they hear about the LGBTQ communityfrom parents and family members.
As a youth-serving professional, family
member or community member, you canprovide life-changing support to Blackand African American LGBTQ youth
who may not receive it from their parents
or immediate family. Where possible,
you may also be able to play a role ineducating families in your community.

Negative attitudes voiced by family members,
peers and other community members canmake youth reluctant to disclose or embrace
their identities. Living authentically is a deeply
personal process. Youth-serving professionals
who wish to better understand the specificchallenges that Black and African American
youth face when coming out as LGBTQ
are encouraged to read HRC’s resource,
Coming Out: Living Authentically as Blackand African American LGBTQ Americans.

2019 Black & African American LGBTQ YOUTH REPORT“My mom supports gay people,
but she doesn’t want agay daughter.”“Being a person who lives in theSouth, the LGBTQ community isjoked about a lot and judged.”

The Importance of Family | 92019 Black & African American LGBTQ YOUTH REPORTThe Burden of Rejection
Along with the fear of familial rejection,
Black and African American LGBTQ
youth face a variety of other stressors– harassment, peer rejection, bullying
and isolation – that can take a major
toll on their overall well-being.1
10

Birkett, M., Newcomb, M.E., & Mustanski, B.
(2014). Does it Get Better? A Longitudinal
Analysis of Psychological Distress andVictimization in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual,
Transgender and Questioning Youth. Journal of
Adolescent Health, 56 (3), 280-285.
12019 Black & African American LGBTQ YOUTH REPORT“I’m comfortable talking to mycounselor about anything, but I am
afraid that what I tell her, which is
confidential and important to me,
she will tell my mother who isn’t allthat accepting of me and my sexuality.
I know it’s her job to relay any
important information to my guardian
about me, but it would possibly affect*me negatively at home.”* It is imperative that counselors and other youth-serving professionals
uphold a student’s right to confidentiality, and should not disclosea student’s sexual orientation or gender identity to others (including
parents and families) without a student’s explicit consent

The Burden of Rejection | 11

2019 Black & African American LGBTQ YOUTH REPORT

Additionally, many Black and African
American LGBTQ youth face significant
challenges accessing affirming, competentcounseling services or mental healthsupport. When they do receive this support,
it is often of a lower quality than their peers
and can be fraught with both intentional
and unintentional discrimination.2

90%
have had trouble
getting to sleep

Frank R., Dillion, Lilian Ordera, Alia Fons-Scheyd, Hung-Bin
Sheu, Ryan C. Ebersole, Lisa B. Spanierman, 2016. A Dyadic
Study of Multicultural Counseling Competence, Journal ofCounseling Psychology, Vol 63., No.1 57-66.
2

8 in 10rate their average stresslevel a 5 or higher on a
10 point scale

12 | The Burden of Rejection

Black and African American LGBTQ
youth are also wary of opening up; only
10 percent of respondents would
be very comfortable discussing
a question about their LGBTQ
identity with a counselor. This may
be because their counselors do notseem open to discussing LGBTQ topics,
especially those experiences or issues
at the intersections of race and LGBTQ
identities. However, several respondents
wrote in that they would be more willingto talk about their identities if they knew
their counselors were supportive andunderstanding of the interconnectednessof their LGBTQ and racial identities.

2019 Black & African American LGBTQ YOUTH REPORT“The oppression that I’m stepping
into makes me afraid andunwilling to talk to people, sosometimes advisors need to havea lot of nuance when addressing
an LGBTQ person, instead ofasking targeted questions they
won’t want to answer.”

The Burden of Rejection | 13

2019 Black & African American LGBTQ YOUTH REPORT

18%

have been forced
to do unwanted
sexual acts,
including27%of transgender andgender-expansive youth

14%of cisgender
LGBQ youth

13%

have been sexuallyattacked or raped

14 | The Burden of Rejection

Access to culturally competent and LGBTQ-affirming
mental health service providers is essential to thewell-being of Black and African American LGBTQ
youth.
Learning opportunities, from web-based learning
modules to large-scale conferences, are available
to professional counselors and therapists who workwith LGBTQ youth and wish to improve their skills,
knowledge and competence in working with Blackand African American LGBTQ youth.
A note about sexual harassment and violence:
LGBTQ young people may be at an increased risk of sexual
violence, which can be particularly problematic given the lackof resources, family support and community support that too
many continue to face due to their identities.
While research on this sensitive topic is understandably limited
and difficult to conduct, one thing is certain: we must continue todo better to support Black and African American LGBTQ young
people in the face of sexual violence and intimate partner violence.
These efforts go hand in hand with accepting and affirming themfor who they are, establishing safe spaces and communities, aswell as ensuring that all youth have access to fully inclusive andculturally competent physical and mental health resources.

62%

have experienced
unwanted gestures,
jokes or comments

2019 Black & African American LGBTQ YOUTH REPORT“I have a few counselors I cantalk to. One of the counselors
is the sponsor of Pride Club
(similar to GSA). He is at
every meeting and is gay
which makes me feel more
comfortable.”

The Burden of Rejection | 15

2019 Black & African American LGBTQ YOUTH REPORT

80%“usually” feeldepressed
or down

71% 80%“usually” feel
worthless orhopeless

Only

35%

received counselingin the past year

16 | The Burden of Rejection“usually” feel
worried, nervous
or panicked46%
feel critical of
their LGBTQ
identities2019 Black & African American LGBTQ YOUTH REPORT“Looking at my counselor
specifically, she has been vocal
about her pro-diversity stances inmany respects. So I’m sure thathas been a major factor in me
feeling comfortable around her.”

The Burden of Rejection | 17

2019 Black & African American LGBTQ YOUTH REPORT

When Schools Fall Short
While some schools offer safe and affirming
spaces that enable LGBTQ youth to thrive,
many young people still experience negative– and even hostile – school environments.

18

2019 Black & African American LGBTQ YOUTH REPORT“If my school showed a more
accepting attitude toward othercultures, or different groups of people,
I’d feel comfortable. It’d be nice to
see a LGBTQ flag, or a sign that says
“Safe Place” to know that what I say
won’t go to anywhere else, nor will I
feel like I’m being judged.”

When Schools Fall Short | 19

2019 Black & African American LGBTQ YOUTH REPORT

Only

35%

can “definitely”
be themselves inschool, including

27%

of transgender andgender-expansive youth

38%of cisgender
LGBQ youth

32%

always feel safe in
the classroom

20 | When Schools Fall ShortWithout non-discrimination laws, state-wide policies
to protect LGBTQ students, or comprehensive
cultural competency training, the majority of Blackand African American LGBTQ youth remain
vulnerable to discrimination and bullying from peers,
teachers and administrators.
Even in schools that seek to protect LGBTQ
students from sexual orientation or gender identity
based discrimination and bullying, Black and African
American youth still face more barriers than theirpeers. The School to Prison Pipeline refers to aset of policies, procedures and barriers (such asincreased police presence on campus or bias-ridden
disciplinary policies) that pushes students out ofschool and into disciplinary settings. Researchshows that youth of color, and particularly LGBTQ
youth of color, are more likely to be negatively
impacted and unfairly disciplined via these policies
than their peers, and therefore are more likely to beforced out of school before graduation.
Youth-serving professionals must address both
LGBTQ inclusion and anti-racism when designingpolicies and programs to support Black and African
American LGBTQ youth in schools.

40%

have been bullied onschool property within
the last 12 months

2019 Black & African American LGBTQ YOUTH REPORT“I am somewhat comfortable because I
know my counselor will not tell my parents
about my sexual orientation. Though it
might be awkward, I trust my counselor.”“Being in a predominantly white school
set in its ways, talking about being LGBTQ(something that is not necessarily praised)
is very awkward and uncomfortable.”

When Schools Fall Short | 21

2019 Black & African American LGBTQ YOUTH REPORT

21%

have heard positive
messages about
being LGBTQ
in school20%

have received
information
about safer sex
that was relevantto them in school

22 | When Schools Fall Short2019 Black & African American LGBTQ YOUTH REPORT“I go to a Christian private school.
A very small handful of students
support the LGBTQ community and/or
are actually a part of it. We rarely
discuss things with teachers though.
They’re always very clear about how
they feel about LGBTQ people. They let
students call each other slurs without
telling them it’s wrong. They basically
don’t treat them like they are badwords at all. That scares me and lets
me know that I can trust little tono one in my school for help.”

When Schools Fall Short | 23

2019 Black & African American LGBTQ YOUTH REPORT*#!@?!

67%

30%

have been verbally
insulted becauseof their LGBTQ
identity, including

have been
physicallythreatened
because of their
LGBTQ identity,
including

82%

41%

of transgender andgender-expansive youthof transgender andgender-expansive youth

61%

25%

of cisgender
LGBQ youth

24 | When Schools Fall Shortof cisgender
LGBQ youth

2019 Black & African American LGBTQ YOUTH REPORTAt the Intersection:
Racism-related Stress
Negative experiences, whether in the classroom, in the halls,
at lunch or during extracurricular activities, have a tremendous
impact on Black and African American LGBTQ youth as theynavigate interconnected forms of discrimination.

90%

have experienced
racial discrimination25

2019 Black & African American LGBTQ YOUTH REPORTTo understand the experiences of Black and African American LGBTQ youth, wemust acknowledge the impact of historical and contemporary realities of white
supremacy. The combination of discriminatory policies, systems, portrayals andbiases complicate the ability of Black and African American LGBTQ youth to
fully express and explore their intersecting racial and LGBTQ identities.

Note: When we discuss white supremacy, we are referring to an intentionallycreated and historically maintained political, social and economic system in whichwhite people, both individually and collectively, are able to control power andresources and maintain conscious and/or unconscious beliefs about their superiority.3
The historical impact of white supremacy can be observed in the many systemic
barriers impacting Black and African American people in the United States. This
includes targeted hate violence, discriminatory policing, environmental pollutionof predominantly Black and African American neighborhoods, voter suppression,education segregation and funding disparities, and the School-to-Prison Pipeline,
among many others.
White supremacy can also manifest itself when youth-serving professionals failto acknowledge, address and/or examine their own roles in perpetuating harmful
systems of discrimination for Black and African American youth. It is possible tounintentionally perpetuate white supremacy. Individuals often are ill-equipped and/or
react negatively when asked to do the difficult work of confronting their own roles in
oppression and societal discrimination.
However, in building a world where Black and African American youth can thrive,
we all must dismantle the barriers that deprive them of equal opportunities, dignity
and respect. Both white and non-Black people of color allies must actively work toeliminate the forms in which anti-Blackness appears in our daily lives, communities
and society as a whole. These efforts must also include examining our own personal
experiences or implicit biases, and how our complicity in anti-Blackness upholds
white supremacy, while questioning how our society continues to hold Blackand African American people to differing standards and actively and passively
discriminates against them in all areas of life.

Adapted from Frances Lee, Ansley, Stirring the Ashes: Race,
Class and the Future of Civil Rights Scholarship, 74 Cornell L. Rev
993, 1024 n.129, (1989).
3

26 | At the Intersection: Racism-related Stress2019 Black & African American LGBTQ YOUTH REPORT“I feel it is very hard for me totalk in general about how I feelas an LGBTQ person because it’s
hard to find people who actually
understand all what you aregoing through and who will talkabout it with you.”At the Intersection: Racism-related Stress | 27

2019 Black & African American LGBTQ YOUTH REPORT

98%

say racism affects
the lives of Blackand African
American people

91%

say racism has
impacted thelives of theirfriends and family

28 | At the Intersection: Racism-related Stress2019 Black & African American LGBTQ YOUTH REPORT

Only

5%
believe Black andAfrican American people
are regarded positively in
the United States

At the Intersection: Racism-related Stress | 29

2019 Black & African American LGBTQ YOUTH REPORT“My counselor is gay, so since he’spart of the LGBTQ community
it makes me feel a lot better.
But what makes me uncomfortable
is the fact that I’m Black and he’s
white, and he’s subtly pointed
that out several times. Whether it
was conscious or not, I’m not sure,but it’s uncomfortable.”30 | At the Intersection: Racism-related Stress2019 Black & African American LGBTQ YOUTH REPORTGender-Expansive YouthNeed Our Support
Transgender and gender-expansive
youth of all backgrounds andexperiences face particularly
serious challenges in theschool system.
However, for Black and African
American gender-expansive youth,
these challenges can be magnified bypeers, teachers and staff harboring bothanti-transgender and anti-Black biases.
Furthermore, mainstream coverageof the transgender community often
exclusively features white narratives,
leaving out the contributions andlegacies of transgender individuals ofcolor and further impeding the ability ofBlack and African American transgenderyouth to receive necessary and overdue
support from people in their lives.

312019 Black & African American LGBTQ YOUTH REPORT

50%

of Black and African
American transgender andgender-expansive youth cannever use the restroom
that aligns with gender
identity at school

RESTROOM

57%
don’t feel safe
using them63%
32 | Gender-Expansive Youth Need Our Support

47%
don’t know ifthey’re allowed

try to avoid using the restroom
during the school day

2019 Black & African American LGBTQ YOUTH REPORT

HELLO
my name is

Only

41%

are always
called by theirtrue nameBlack and African American transgender and gender-expansive
youth report that they often feel unsafe and unprotected at school.
They also report being barred from using locker rooms and bathroom
facilities that match their gender identity, being misgendered, andgetting called the wrong name by adults and peers.
Combined, the effects of this verbal and physical harassment,along with overtly discriminatory practices and policies, can havedamaging implications for transgender and gender-expansive
Black and African American youth.

Only

21%

are always calledby the correct
pronouns

Only

29%

are able to dress in a waythat completely reflects
their gender identity

Gender-Expansive Youth Need Our Support | 33

2019 Black & African American LGBTQ YOUTH REPORT“My counselor has alreadymet with me, telling me not totransition while in high school
and threatening to kick me out ofschool for being transgender.”34 | Gender-Expansive Youth Need Our Support

2019 Black & African American LGBTQ YOUTH REPORTComing Out
Every coming out story and process is unique. Black and African American youth
who identify as LGBTQ can face a more complex process than some of theirpeers as they reconcile multiple and intersecting identities.
Cultural norms, religious identities and family dynamics can pull youth in different
directions as they navigate the coming out process.
Yet, studies show that LGBTQ youth who live openly are more likely to experience
positive outcomes such as better academic performance, higher self-esteem,
and lower rates of anxiety and depression.4
To best support Black and African American
LGBTQ youth through the coming out
process, youth-serving professionals
must take into account how
intersectional factors shape eachindividual’s experience.
Resources like HRC’s Coming Out:
Living Authentically as Black andAfrican American LGBTQ Americans
are a good place to start.
9 Russell, S. & Fish, J.N., (2016) Mental Health inLesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Youth.
Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 12, 465-487.
435

2019 Black & African American LGBTQ YOUTH REPORT

Despite the benefits associated with coming out, too many Blackand African American LGBTQ youth are unable to live authentically.
Percentage of transgender and genderexpansive youth who are out regarding
their Gender Identity to all of their

44%

LGBTQ Friends

22%

Siblings

19%

Non-LGBTQ friends

13%

Parents

Percentage of LGBQ youth who are out
regarding their Sexual Orientation to
all of their

60%

LGBTQ Friends

Non-LGBTQ friends

31%

Siblings

29%
16%

Classmates at school

Classmates at school

8%

Parents

Teachers and adults
at school

7%

Coworkers

9%

Athletic coaches

7%

Athletic coaches

7%

Doctors andhealthcare providers

6%

Teachers and adults
at school

6%

Coworkers

4%

Doctors andhealthcare providers

5%Grandparents andextended family

3%

Strangers/
new acquaintances

5%

Religious community

2%

Grandparents andextended family

4%Strangers/
new acquaintances

2%

Religious community

3%

36 | Coming Out

12%2019 Black & African American LGBTQ YOUTH REPORT

What You Can Do
Every adult can play a role in changing the landscape forBlack and African American LGBTQ youth. Often, small but
impactful actions can reinforce inclusive, supportive and loving
environments in homes, schools and communities.
We must also confront the very real and present discrimination and institutional
obstacles that hinder too many Black and African American LGBTQ youth fromfully thriving and living as who they are.

Five things you can do to support Black and African
American LGBTQ young people:
1. Elevate Black and African American LGBTQ narratives.
In schools and community settings, it is imperative to highlight theexperiences of Black and African American LGBTQ people. Black andAfrican American LGBTQ young people in our research cite struggling
to find relatable role models. Highlighting a variety of narratives can makethis representation more accessible while also combating stigma andmisconceptions about Black and African American people more broadly.

2. Expand opportunities and resources for parents of Black andAfrican American LGBTQ youth to become better advocates fortheir children.
Develop culturally-appropriate LGBTQ resources that center theexperiences of Black and African Americans, including educational materials,
support groups, community centers and others. Too often, resources for
LGBTQ people and their families are centered on white narratives, which
may neglect or unintentionally exclude the experiences of people of color.
Listen to the experiences of Black and African American LGBTQ people andfamilies, acknowledge their advocacy work and lift it up, while continuing touse your resources as a supportive platform.

372019 Black & African American LGBTQ YOUTH REPORT

3. Advocate for more inclusive educational spaces that provide
equal and enhanced opportunities for Black and African
American youth to succeed.
Evaluate the impact and way your school’s policies may perpetuate or evenenforce systems like the School-to-Prison Pipeline. Partner with advocatesand organizations doing reform around subjective disciplinary standards andpunitive justice in order to create an environment where Black and African
American LGBTQ youth feel safe and are not targeted by unjust systems.

4. Encourage youth-serving professionals, especially health care
professionals, to adapt their practices to actively dismantle
systems of oppression that harm Black and African American
LGBTQ youth.
Black and African American people face significant barriers to accessing
affirming and appropriate health care. We must reconcile historical trauma at
the hands of medical providers, socioeconomic barriers and cultural stigma
that prevent access to necessary and competent health care.

5. Support and address policy reform that uniquely impacts Blackand African American LGBTQ youth.
Juvenile justice, youth homelessness, environmental justice, income
inequality, and access to education and health care are just some of
the areas where Black and African American LGBTQ young people
face rampant disparities due to historically maintained systems of bias
and discrimination. When undergoing policy work, ensure you arecomprehensively viewing your advocacy through both an LGBTQ equity andanti-racist lens.
To best support Black and African American LGBTQ youth, we must address
anti-LGBTQ attitudes, racism and other systems of oppression that present undue
challenges to their well-being. Youth-serving professionals, parents, school staff,
policy-makers and community members can find more tips here that, as always,
should be viewed through an intersectional lens.

38 | What You Can Do2019 Black & African American LGBTQ YOUTH REPORT

Respondent Profile
Gender Identity

Cisgender boy
Cisgender girlTransgender boy
Transgender girlNon-binary
Genderqueer
Different Identity

N Values
540
850
165
26
160
132
56

Race

N = 1,678
Note: Cisgender boy, cisgender girl,transgender boy and transgender girl numbers
are a combination of self-identification andconcordance with sex assigned at birth.
N values may add up to more than 1,678 as
some respondents self-identify with more than
one answer choice provided.
Different identity includes write-ins such as:agender, androgynous, bigender, confused/
don’t know, demigender, genderfluid/flux,
questioning, not listed and more.

27%of respondents are
gender-expansive

Ability43%

of respondents
are multiracial

15%

15%

have a disability

don’t know

39

2019 Black & African American LGBTQ YOUTH REPORT

Location

Sexual Orientation
48%

40%

Bisexual

18%

12%

Northeast

34%

Gay or Lesbian

22%

Midwest

South

West

15%

Pansexual

Queer

3%

Questioning

3%

Straight

2%

Asexual2%

Something else

2%

Age
32%
27%
21%
15%
6%
13

14

15

16

Percentages may add up to over 100 due to rounding.

40 | Respondent Profile

17

2019 Black & African American LGBTQ YOUTH REPORT

Acknowledgements
The HRC Foundation’s Public Education & Research Program
The HRC Foundation’s Public Education & Research Program spearheads a wide
variety of LGBTQ advocacy and outreach campaigns, working to ensure that the HRC
Foundation’s resources and programs are timely, impactful and inclusive. In addition
to publishing resource guides, informational materials and reports, the team conducts
original quantitative and qualitative research exploring the lived experiences of LGBTQ
people. The program also collaborates with academic researchers and provides
guidance to other HRC initiatives in support of efforts to advance LGBTQ equality andwell-being. Special thanks to Senior Research Manager Liam Miranda, Senior Content
Manager Mark Lee, Outreach and Research Coordinator Katalina Hadfield, former
Public Education & Research Intern Charlie Whittington and current Public Education& Research Intern Sadies Yanes for their leadership and work on this resource.

Children, Youth & Families Program
Becoming a parent, sending your 5-year-old to kindergarten, watching your teenager
graduate from high school — these are life’s biggest moments. For LGBTQ parents
and LGBTQ children, they can also be some of life’s most challenging moments.
That’s where HRC’s Children, Youth and Families Program comes in. Through innovative
training and direct consultation with schools, child welfare agencies and other service
providers, HRC’s Children, Youth and Families Program creates welcoming, affirming
and supportive environments for LGBTQ prospective parents, LGBTQ-led families andLGBTQ youth. Special thanks to Ellen Kahn and Jay Brown for their leadership andguidance on this and similar resources related to the well-being of LGBTQ youth.

41

2019 Black & African American LGBTQ YOUTH REPORT

HRC’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities Program
HRC’s HBCU Program arose out of a need to support LGBTQ students attending
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) after two violent, anti-LGBTQ
incidents occurred at two prominent HBCUs in 2001. Shortly after the incidents,
HRC convened a dynamic group of HBCU LGBTQ student-leaders committed
to advocating for LGBTQ-inclusion and social justice on campuses and in theircommunities. The HBCU Program has expanded to engage administrators, faculty/
staff, students and alumni through various initiatives. Since the program’s inception,
HRC has established relationships with over 30 HBCUs by providing support to
LGBTQ and allied students, faculty and staff who wish to improve LGBTQ inclusionon their campuses. Special thanks to Rishard Butts and Leslie Hall for their help increating and sharing this resource.
This survey and report would not be possible without Dr. Ryan Watson and
Dr. Rebecca Puhl of the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at
the University of Connecticut. Thank you to Alison Delpercio, Ana Flores, Candace
Gingrich, Cheryl Greene, Jean-Phillipe Regis, Johanna Eager, Melba Mathurin,
Nathan Barrera-Bunch, Nicole Cozier, Sula Malina, Ty Cobb, Vincent Pompei, and
Zoe Grotophorst for their contributions to this publication. Additional thank you to
Dialectic for their assistance with this resource.
Thank you to the many Black and African American LGBTQ advocates who shared
their stories and expertise in this and similar resources. Additional thank you tomany current and former HRC staff members that contributed to the creation anddevelopment of this publication.
We would also like to thank the Coca-Cola Foundation for their generous support that
helped us create this important resource.

42 | Acknowledgements

As the largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for
lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer Americans, the Human
Rights Campaign represents a force of more than 3 million members andsupporters nationwide — all committed to making HRC's vision a reality.

HRC envisions a world where lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender, and queer people are embraced as full membersof society at home, at work and in every community.

/humanrightscampaign/humanrightscampaign@HRC