skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Thursday, September 19, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Post-presidential debate poll shows a shift in WI; Teamsters won't endorse in presidential race after releasing internal polling showing most members support Trump; IL energy jobs growth is strong but lacks female workers; Pregnant, Black Coloradans twice as likely to die than the overall population.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

The Teamsters choose not to endorse a presidential candidate, county officials in Texas fight back against state moves to limit voter registration efforts, and the FBI investigate suspicious packages sent to elections offices in at least 17 states.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

A USDA report shows a widening gap in rural versus urban health, a North Carolina county remains divided over a LGBTQ library display, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz' policies are spotlighted after his elevation to the Democratic presidential ticket.

Back to School Means High Anxiety for Many CO Teens

play audio
Play

Wednesday, September 2, 2009   

DENVER - By now, most Colorado teens are back in school, and of course stress levels are up because of homework, assignments, peer pressure, and more. However, for many of the state's gay youth, or those perceived as gay, there's an extra level of fear and anxiety that comes along with each school day. That's according to Cory Barrett, who directs youth services for Rainbow Alley in Denver. He hears from local youth dealing with bullying, harassment, threats and even being physically hurt by fellow students.

"This has actually lead to quite a few students skipping school or having unacceptable absences, and so forth, just because of that fear."

Barrett says places like Rainbow Alley and growing numbers of gay-straight alliance groups are working with schools to make education a more comfortable experience for all teens.

He says a recent Health Department study found GLBT (gay, Lesbian, bisexual, transgender) youth are two to three times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual counterparts.

"Issues that are happening at school are often the root of those feelings, of having suicidal ideations, and so forth."

He says it's important to point out that all teens struggle with issues around depression and their identity, but also notes that gay students are three times more likely to drop out of school than their straight peers.

Barrett says teachers, parents and community leaders should all be responsible for working to make sure all students feel safe at school. He says many GLBT students express feelings of fear even if they haven't yet had any negative experiences.

"You know, it's the anxiety of anticipating that if those things haven't been happening, that they're going to start happening at some point."

According to national research by Mental Health America, gay or questioning youth hear anti-gay slurs such as "homo," "faggot," and "sissy" about 26 times a day, or once every 14 minutes. Recent studies have also found that 31 percent of gay youth have been threatened or injured at school in the last year alone.

Rainbow Alley is part of the GLBT Community Center of Colorado, located at 1050 Broadway in Denver and open for after school hours most weekday afternoons and evenings.

Statistics and more information are at www.nmha.org




get more stories like this via email

more stories
Recipients of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Grant can now access funding to drive financing for thousands of climate-focused and clean energy initiatives. (bilanol/Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

Michigan's most vulnerable communities are receiving federal funding to fight the devastating effects of climate change. It's part of the $27 billion …


Health and Wellness

play sound

September is Health Literacy Month, and a Denver-based group is working to help health professionals break a persistent pattern of discrimination …

Environment

play sound

A new report contends fossil fuel funding has biased Columbia University's climate research. The report, by two Columbia students, shows the …


Alabama releases roughly 220,279 men and 78,247 women from its prisons and jails each year. (Chad Robertson/Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

An Alabama woman is on a mission to help people who've been incarcerated for decades successfully transition back into society. The mission to …

Health and Wellness

play sound

In North Carolina, the gap between Medicaid reimbursement rates and the actual cost of dental care has reached a crisis point, impacting both …

So far in 2024, community health centers in North Dakota have screened 11,580 patients for food insecurity. Through those screenings, more than three thousand box meals have been distributed. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

September is Hunger Action Month. In North Dakota, it isn't just food banks trying to help underserved populations get nutritious items. Health …

Environment

play sound

Marine biologists conducting deep dives near five California islands are collecting data they hope will strengthen the case for ending gillnet fishing…

Environment

play sound

Researchers at Iowa State University are taking aim at the huge amount of energy used by data centers, now and in the future. They have developed a …

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021