Russell’s Research: GLBT Adolescents at Risk

By Joshua A. Boschee
Staff Writer

Last week, Constance McMillen, an 18-year-old Mississippi student became a hero for queer youth throughout the nation. Queer news publications and major media outlets shared McMillen’s story of how her high school administrators canceled the annual prom rather than allow her and her girlfriend to attend the dance together. McMillen is in the process of suing the school and a New Orleans hotel owner has offered to bus McMillen’s classmates to one of his hotel properties and host their prom.

Middle and high school can be challenging times for any student, but queer middle and high school students are at a greater risk of bullying and suicide attempts. According to the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network’s (GLSEN) 2007 National School Climate Survey of 6,209 middle and high school students, nearly nine out of ten LGBT students experienced harassment at school in the past year, three-fifths felt unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation and about one-third skipped a day of school in the past month because of feeling unsafe. The Trevor Project, a support and resource organization for educators and parents working with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth, reports that LGBTQ youth are up to four times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers and LGBTQ who come from a rejecting family are up to nine times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers.

Enter Dr. Stephen Russell, professor, Fitch Nesbitt Endowed Chair and director of the Frances McClelland Institute at the University of Arizona. As director of the McClelland Institute, Dr. Russell provides leadership for bringing together scholars to consider important questions that arise in the lives of today’s children, youth and families. This past week, Dr. Russell was elected to the position of president-elect for the Society for Research on Adolescence, an organization that represents 1,200 members in 20 countries. Dr. Russell has dedicated the last 15 years of his research to looking at issues facing sexual minority youth – youth who are LGBT. He has looked at the health risks for sexual minority adolescents, including whether an adolescent’s home life, school and/or faith community lead to risk or protect against it. Currently, Dr. Russell is conducting research that focuses on how families, schools and other support systems can aid in the healthy development of LGBT young people. His research has been integral in helping advocacy organizations, school districts and state education departments develop policy that is supportive of a learning environment that is inclusive and safe for LGBTQ youth.

The Human Development and Family Science Gertrude Weigum Hinsz Lecture Series at North Dakota State University is bringing Dr. Russell to Fargo-Moorhead to share his life work, stories and resources for local educators, students, families and anyone that works with youth. Dr. Brandy Randall and Dr. Christi McGeorge, both faculty in the department of Human Development and Family Science at NDSU, collaborated to submit a proposal to bring Dr. Russell to the area.

“My colleague and I believed that Dr. Russell would be able to give a talk that is based on research and interesting to the general public,” said Dr. Randall. “Life for GLBT adolescents in the United States has changed substantially over the last 20 years. Dr. Russell’s work provides a firm scientific basis to understand the impact of these changes on the development of sexual minority youth.” Dr. McGeorge added, “I think it is time for us in Fargo–Moorhead to realize that homophobia has a negative impact on our youth as well and we need to have open and honest dialogues about homophobia that are informed by research in order to make our schools safe.”

Who should attend? Educators, student leaders, faith community leaders, elected officials, human services professionals and anyone that has an interest in working with youth. A reception will follow Dr. Russell’s presentation in the Prairie Rose Room, NDSU Memorial Union.

Questions and comments: joshua.boschee@yahoo.com

What: Out and Gay in High School
Where: Century Theater, NDSU Memorial Union
When: Fri, March 26 3:30–5 pm
Info: 701.231.8011