Boston GLASS Community Center - Who We Serve

First & foremost we're here for young people. If you're between the ages of 13 and 25 and are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning your gender or sexual orientation, then GLASS is for you. We're here to offer support, answer questions, and even conduct trainings or give presentations for parents, teachers, schools and other youth service organizations. Give us a call or email us for more information or to schedule a presentation, 617.266.3349 or vvalencia@jri.org.

Massachusetts High School Students and Sexual Orientation Results of the 1999 Youth Risk Behavior Survey

The Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior Survey (MYRBS) is conducted every two years by the Massachusetts Department of Education with funding from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The survey monitors behaviors of high school students that are related to leading causes of morbidity and mortality among youth and adults in the United States (n = 4,159 9th-12th graders).

Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Students

Students who describe themselves as gay, lesbian, or bisexual and/or who have had same- sex sexual contact reported being significantly more likely than their peers to face threats, attempt suicide and abuse drugs and alcohol. When compared to peers, this group was:

• four times more likely to have attempted suicide,
• over three times more likely to miss school because of feeling unsafe,
• nearly five times more likely to have used cocaine.

Homelessness among GLBT youth:

26% of adolescent gay males are forced to leave their homes after revealing their sexual orientation. (MA Governor's Commission on Gay and Lesbian Youth, 1994)

25-40% of homeless, throwaway, and runaway youth identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender. (MA Governor's Commission on Gay and Lesbian Youth, 1994)

50% of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender youth are rejected by their parents after disclosing their sexual orientation. (Project YES)

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