Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #109543

Randall Sell, ScD¹, Barbara E. Warren, PsyD², Miriam Yeung³, and Carla Silva, LMSW³. (1) Mailman School of Public Health, Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia University, 722 West 168th Street, Suite 1119, New York, NY 10032, 212-305-3457, rls39@columbia.edu, (2) LGBT Community Center of NYC, 208 West 13th Street, New York City, NY 10011, (3) Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center, NY, 208 West 13th Street, New York, NY 10011

The specific aims of this study were to: 1) identify the primary sources and types of violence in the lives of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) youth in New York City (NYC), and 2) identify institutional responses to this violence.

METHODS: The study collected self-completed survey data from 8 different social service agencies in NYC serving GLBT youth. The survey included over 150 questions assessing youth's experiences with violence in the previous year, focusing on name calling, physical fighting and unwanted sexual attention. Movie passes were provided as incentives.

RESULTS: The survey had a response rate of 89.7% (n=287). DEMOGRAPHICS: AGE (17.7 years on average); SEX (58.2% male); RACE (35.2% Hispanic, 23.1% Black, 19.9% Mixed, 16.4% White); RESIDENCE (22.7% Manhattan, 22.3% Queens, 19.1% Brooklyn, 16.7% Bronx), SEXUAL ORIENTATION IDENTITY (54.1% Gay/Lesbian, 24.7% Bisexual, 15.9% Straight), TRANSGENDER (11.1% Yes).

GLB youth were significantly more likely to report being called names than heterosexual youth (69.5% versus 48.9%, p=.008), to report receiving unwanted sexual attention (48.4% versus 31.1%, p=.033), and to report violence of any type (82.5% versus 71.1%, p=.030). Transgender youth were significantly more likely to report being in a fight than non-transgender youth (50.0% versus 31.1%, p=.032), and to report violence of any type (93.7% versus 79.3%, p=.026).

In the presentation data will also be presented on who perpetrated the violence, who was told about it and their response. Comparisons will also be made to data from the NYC Youth Risk Behavior Survey.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the presentation, the audience should

• Know the types of and primary sources (both real and perceived) of violence in the lives of gay, lesbian and bisexual youth in New York City.
• Understand institutional responses to violence directed towards gay, lesbian and bisexual youth.
• Have learned information that can be used to inform the development of youth violence prevention programs.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.