Not all colleges are equally well-suited for rainbow students. We give you a guide of what to look for in helping your teen choose a college, and also list special scholarship opportunities.
Sexual orientation is influenced by a combination of genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors. It is important not to blame yourself or view your child’s unique path as a disappointment.
The last decade has seen a notable rise in young people who exhibit some level of discomfort with their sex assigned at birth.
It is normal for sexual/gender minority teens to seek older role models from whom they can learn how to negotiate life in their identity.
Some parents may be concerned because their teenager appears to have no interest in sexual matters at all. There are various possible causes, among them asexuality, which characterizes about 1% of the population.
Teens may not know the signs of such an infection, or out of shame fail to tell anyone about it so that it can be properly treated.
Sexual minority teens experiment with alcohol and drugs at higher rates than their straight peers.
Have your teen read this before they go off to college. Failing to establish clear consent with another student can get them into serious trouble.
Many gay teens first confront the reality of their same-sex attractions by viewing pornography, and learn from it what Sex Ed in schools didn’t teach them. While underage exposure is not necessarily harmful, they need to learn that the scenarios of pornography are usually not realistic.
Rainbow Youth of Color experience more encounters with the criminal justice system, more teenage pregnancies, more bullying and victimization at school; they engage in more risky behavior, report higher feelings of vulnerability and stress, and face more discrimination in their daily lives.
Parental support is essential to the healthy development of rainbow kids. Changes in family composition pose special risks for them.