LGBTQ students: a demographic overview
In the 2015 MYRBS, 11.1% of students surveyed described themselves as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or not sure (questioning) about their sexual orientation and 2.9% identified themselves as transgender or questioning their gender identity. These categories overlapped, with half 950%) of transgender/questioning youth also self-identifying as LGBQ. Altogether, 12.5% of Massachusetts high school students were LGBTQ.
More female- then male-identified adolescents were LGBTQ (15.4% vs. 9.4%). The percent of youth who said they were LGBTQ varied across racial/ethnic groups (12% of white youth, 10% of African American, 18% of Hispanic, 10% of Asian-American, and 13% of multi-ethnic youth). Gender and racial/ethnic differences were statistically significant.
Percent of students who reported risk behaviors and experiences, 2015
| LGBTQ Students | Heterosexual - Cisgender Students | |
|---|---|---|
| Bullied at school during past year | 28.2 |
13.9 |
| Skipped school in past month because felt unsafe | 14.4 | 3.4 |
| Been in a physical fight at school in the past year | 9.4 | 5.1 |
| Carried a weapon at school in the past year | 6.1 | 2.8 |
| Threatened or injured with weapon at school | 10.0 | 3.2 |
| Hurt self on purpose in the past year (e.g., by cutting, burning self) | 43.3 | 14.3 |
| Seriously considered suicide in past year | 40.5 | 11.2 |
| Made a suicide attempt in the past year | 22.0 | 4.8 |
| Can talk to parents about "things that are important to you" | 65.2 | 84.5 |
| Smoked cigarettes in past month | 14.1 | 6.9 |
| Any lifetime heroin use | 6.7 | 1.0 |
| Had experienced sexual contact against their will | 21.8 | 7.4 |
All differences between LGBTQ and Heterosexual/Cisgender students are statistically significant, p. < .05.