It is important to acknowledge and build on the strengths, resilience, and factors that protect LGBTQ youth from risk, such as connection to caring adults and peers and family acceptance. A recent report of findings from a survey of more than 10,000 LGBTQ youth ages 13 to 17 found that approximately one in four identified non-accepting families as the most important challenge in their lives.[1] DYCD serves many LGBTQ participants across all its funded programs.

When LGBTQ youth seek services, they are not routinely asked about their families and are generally served as individuals. The Family Acceptance Project works to shift the paradigm to serving LGBTQ youth in the context of their families. Through its work, the Project has found that even rejecting families can learn to support their LGBTQ children. While some LGBTQ youth are rejected by their biological and extended families, many are also accepted.

[1] Human Rights Campaign, 2012

Try This!

Practice Spotlight

Video

What Do You Know?

Previous Next