Should it hurt to be me?:

LGBTQ+ youth experience trauma at higher rates than their same age non-LGBTQ+ peers. These traumas include a variety of both structural and interpersonal traumas which can include; bullying, intimate partner violence, physical/sexual abuse, as well as societal stigma, bias and rejection. Professionals often times fail to recognize and meet the needs of traumatized LGBTQ+ youth which can result in poor engagement, ineffective treatment and in some cases, the perpetuation of the youth’s traumatic experiences. To ensure that LGBTQ+ youth receive the care they deserve, professionals need to create safe spaces and familiarize themselves with the issues facing traumatized LGBTQ youth.