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Friday, August 31, 2007
Post-Traumatic Stress
No matter how much progress the community makes or how many lawmakers back gay rights, growing up as an LGBT youth remains a fraught and dangerous experience for many. Teens continue to endure the verbal taunting, physical abuse and sexual assault and discrimination.
A recent study of 528 New York City youths links the victimization of gay youth to post-traumatic stress disorder and casts an expectant eye on schools, where the majority of bashing takes place.
For nearly 1 in 10 of the study’s participants, experiences while growing up are linked to the same condition that affects victims of violent crime, accidents and natural disasters.
“These results join the growing body of data suggesting that violence directed at young people who are lesbian, gay or bisexual has a significant effect on their mental health,” said Robert-Jay Green, Ph.D, executive director of the Rockway Institute, the national research and public policy center that counters anti-gay prejudice with scientific and professional expertise.
“Many adults overlook such abuse, considering it an expected, normal part of childhood teasing,” Green said. “For the targets of this kind of aggression, however, it can be associated with serious psychological harm.”
The earlier the victimization occurs, the more upsetting the child’s perception of the experiences. And the accumulation of victimizing events can create possible long-term mental trauma.
The study examined 528 youth aged 15–19 in the New York Metropolitan area, who were victimized based on their sexual orientation or perception of peers as being “sissies” or “tomboys.”
The study was conducted by Anthony R. D’Augelli and Michael Starks of Penn State University and Arnold Grossman of New York University. Lead researcher D’Augelli, Ph.D., said the original hypothesis was that there would be a relationship between victimization and mental health, but the abundance of incidents and intense reaction wasn’t anticipated.
D’Augelli has organized copious research on youth and consistently found high levels of victimization, which he says inspired him to keep the issue current and information up-to-date.
According to the study’s findings, 9 percent of the young people who were studied met the criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder. Individuals diagnosed with the disorder met all criteria, which is seen infrequently in adolescents, according to D’Augelli.
Individuals diagnosed with PTSD must have been exposed to trauma that leaves a lasting impression and have repetitive psychological reaction to the event.
Physical victimization proved the most destructive in terms of mental distress, with 89 percent of victims reporting being very or extremely upset by the incident.
The study found that 14 percent reported physical attacks, some as young as age 9. In most cases, males abused males and females were abused almost equally by males and females. More than half of the violence occurred in school and a quarter took place in a public setting.
Verbal victimization proved the most common among youths. Nearly 80 percent reported verbal taunts, some as early as age 6. “Verbal victimization is so constant that they normalize it and accommodate to it,” D’Augelli said.
Children get so used to being called “dyke” or “faggot” that they don’t hear it anymore, but it scars their mental health, said to D’Augelli, who added that youth often have no access to psychological services.
Many of the victims, he said, avoid school, where more than 70 percent of the verbal victimization occurs.
“These data again point to an urgent need for training school administrators, teachers and counselors to stop the bullying of lesbian and gay youths. Every child has a basic right to a safe learning environment free from verbal harassment and physical violence,” Green said. “Nobody, regardless of his or her political views on gay issues, wants to see these children hurt.”
Despite the study’s findings, D’Augelli said that LGBT issues seem to be improving, with more acceptance in society, homes and schools. D’Augelli said these improvements are reflected in children’s perception of themselves.
He noted that many youths in the study expressed the hope to be married, enjoy long-term relationships and have children with their same-sex partners.
By Joelle L. Quartini
The New York Blade
Speaking for myself I can feel this story as I bet most of you can. I remember in grade school being called gay, queer, faggot, sissy and a lot of other names. It did make me hate school middle and grade school was the worse. It was better in hign school for me but I still got picked on even got beat up by a group of guys in high school. We need change in America people we need to stop grouping people we are all equal! I know Uncle Gerry always ends his post with hot pics that we all love so I am gonna put up a few myself of boys I find hott!
Later from Atlanta!
A recent study of 528 New York City youths links the victimization of gay youth to post-traumatic stress disorder and casts an expectant eye on schools, where the majority of bashing takes place.
For nearly 1 in 10 of the study’s participants, experiences while growing up are linked to the same condition that affects victims of violent crime, accidents and natural disasters.
“These results join the growing body of data suggesting that violence directed at young people who are lesbian, gay or bisexual has a significant effect on their mental health,” said Robert-Jay Green, Ph.D, executive director of the Rockway Institute, the national research and public policy center that counters anti-gay prejudice with scientific and professional expertise.
“Many adults overlook such abuse, considering it an expected, normal part of childhood teasing,” Green said. “For the targets of this kind of aggression, however, it can be associated with serious psychological harm.”
The earlier the victimization occurs, the more upsetting the child’s perception of the experiences. And the accumulation of victimizing events can create possible long-term mental trauma.
The study examined 528 youth aged 15–19 in the New York Metropolitan area, who were victimized based on their sexual orientation or perception of peers as being “sissies” or “tomboys.”
The study was conducted by Anthony R. D’Augelli and Michael Starks of Penn State University and Arnold Grossman of New York University. Lead researcher D’Augelli, Ph.D., said the original hypothesis was that there would be a relationship between victimization and mental health, but the abundance of incidents and intense reaction wasn’t anticipated.
D’Augelli has organized copious research on youth and consistently found high levels of victimization, which he says inspired him to keep the issue current and information up-to-date.
According to the study’s findings, 9 percent of the young people who were studied met the criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder. Individuals diagnosed with the disorder met all criteria, which is seen infrequently in adolescents, according to D’Augelli.
Individuals diagnosed with PTSD must have been exposed to trauma that leaves a lasting impression and have repetitive psychological reaction to the event.
Physical victimization proved the most destructive in terms of mental distress, with 89 percent of victims reporting being very or extremely upset by the incident.
The study found that 14 percent reported physical attacks, some as young as age 9. In most cases, males abused males and females were abused almost equally by males and females. More than half of the violence occurred in school and a quarter took place in a public setting.
Verbal victimization proved the most common among youths. Nearly 80 percent reported verbal taunts, some as early as age 6. “Verbal victimization is so constant that they normalize it and accommodate to it,” D’Augelli said.
Children get so used to being called “dyke” or “faggot” that they don’t hear it anymore, but it scars their mental health, said to D’Augelli, who added that youth often have no access to psychological services.
Many of the victims, he said, avoid school, where more than 70 percent of the verbal victimization occurs.
“These data again point to an urgent need for training school administrators, teachers and counselors to stop the bullying of lesbian and gay youths. Every child has a basic right to a safe learning environment free from verbal harassment and physical violence,” Green said. “Nobody, regardless of his or her political views on gay issues, wants to see these children hurt.”
Despite the study’s findings, D’Augelli said that LGBT issues seem to be improving, with more acceptance in society, homes and schools. D’Augelli said these improvements are reflected in children’s perception of themselves.
He noted that many youths in the study expressed the hope to be married, enjoy long-term relationships and have children with their same-sex partners.
By Joelle L. Quartini
The New York Blade
Speaking for myself I can feel this story as I bet most of you can. I remember in grade school being called gay, queer, faggot, sissy and a lot of other names. It did make me hate school middle and grade school was the worse. It was better in hign school for me but I still got picked on even got beat up by a group of guys in high school. We need change in America people we need to stop grouping people we are all equal! I know Uncle Gerry always ends his post with hot pics that we all love so I am gonna put up a few myself of boys I find hott!
Later from Atlanta!
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Random Mutterings from a Mushy Mind
My mind is a bowl of mush still from the long day yesterday. I put about 20 hours in building the data base and templates for all our documents as well as implementing the web site integration package and sprucing up the website for the moving company. My fingers were so tired of typing I could not even get through a sentence with out major typos while chatting with Ryan this morning. He is at Ontario Motor Speedway this week for the NASCAR race. For those of you who have not read his latest entries at Boys are Ugly, He is taking a vacation to heal his heart up a bit as Mikey decided to go back to West Virginia. I am still trying to figure that one out, knowing them as I do, but my love and support goes out to them both as they adjust to life without each other. You guys might ought to stop by and pass on a little love.
I have been working so hard to get the moving company up and running, I have not taken much time for myself here of late. However the challenge is exciting and rewarding in so many ways. There are advantages to running a moving company. One crew received a nice L shaped computer desk with glass tops from a customer who obviously had more money than sense, but who am I to complain as the driver awarded me th prize along with a leather executive chair. So I now have a whole new office setup here at home that makes my job easier and my home much more pleasing to the eye. The new server is churning along magnificently and business is starting to come our way. As soon as things slow down a bit I will creat a link with our logo in the side bar so you can check out our website. It is my first experience with building a website from scratch but I think it came out pretty good. If you live in the Dallas area and are moving give us a call or stop by www.firstchoice-itsyourmove.com and let us give provide you with a stress free move experience at a great price! I know I am shameless, but every bit of advertising helps when you are starting out to build a business.
I have been needing some company around the house so when one of my neighbors came by saying she was trying to find a home for her cat as she was moving out of state and could not take the cat with her, I adopted Lucky. She is a couple of years old but very mellow. She already has her shots, been spayed and de-clawed up front, so she is used to being an indoor cat. We took to each other right away, like we had know each other for years. Lucky is a mix bread but basically a gray tabby with auburn calico high lights. She looks like she frosted here the tips of her fur and it shimmers and changes hues as she wanders about the place. So now Uncle Gerry is a daddy too. I don't have a digital camera , but my brother does, so when I can I will post her picture and maybe one of the new office setup too.
I think I will call it a night now and try to catch up on some sleep that I did not get yesterday, I will leave you with some pleasantness of course. Until next time as always, Enjoy!
All photos processed with Picasa2
I have been working so hard to get the moving company up and running, I have not taken much time for myself here of late. However the challenge is exciting and rewarding in so many ways. There are advantages to running a moving company. One crew received a nice L shaped computer desk with glass tops from a customer who obviously had more money than sense, but who am I to complain as the driver awarded me th prize along with a leather executive chair. So I now have a whole new office setup here at home that makes my job easier and my home much more pleasing to the eye. The new server is churning along magnificently and business is starting to come our way. As soon as things slow down a bit I will creat a link with our logo in the side bar so you can check out our website. It is my first experience with building a website from scratch but I think it came out pretty good. If you live in the Dallas area and are moving give us a call or stop by www.firstchoice-itsyourmove.com and let us give provide you with a stress free move experience at a great price! I know I am shameless, but every bit of advertising helps when you are starting out to build a business.
I have been needing some company around the house so when one of my neighbors came by saying she was trying to find a home for her cat as she was moving out of state and could not take the cat with her, I adopted Lucky. She is a couple of years old but very mellow. She already has her shots, been spayed and de-clawed up front, so she is used to being an indoor cat. We took to each other right away, like we had know each other for years. Lucky is a mix bread but basically a gray tabby with auburn calico high lights. She looks like she frosted here the tips of her fur and it shimmers and changes hues as she wanders about the place. So now Uncle Gerry is a daddy too. I don't have a digital camera , but my brother does, so when I can I will post her picture and maybe one of the new office setup too.
I think I will call it a night now and try to catch up on some sleep that I did not get yesterday, I will leave you with some pleasantness of course. Until next time as always, Enjoy!
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