Asian American and Pacific Islander youth who are LGBTQ are more likely to come out to their friends than to their parents, according to a new report.
The research, released Wednesday by the Trevor Project, an LGBTQ crisis intervention and suicide prevention organization, also found that LGBTQ youth were less likely to attempt suicide by more than 50 percent as a result of widespread acceptance among their friends.
“Though many LGBT Asians are out in the community, they go back into the closet in their families, fearful of coming out to parents and dishonoring them. Gay Asians should not suffer in silence,” acknowledged Glenn Magpantay, executive director of National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance.
Acceptance of sexual orientation from LGBTQ friends (98%) and straight friends (91%) were high and comparable to rates of non-AAPII LGBTQ youth., the study reports.
Rates of gender identity acceptance among AAPI TGNB youth from LGBTQ friends (96%) and straight friends (72%) were also comparable to rates among non-API youth. Sexual orientation acceptance from straight friends reduced the risk for suicide attempts among API LGBTQ youth by more than half.
“We know that coming out is a personal choice and a lifelong process, that individuals get to choose who and what context they come out to,” Amy Green, director of research at The Trevor Project, said. “The conclusion that really sounds strong there is for those who are friends and others in positions to support Asian American Pacific Islander youth can know how valuable and important that authentic acceptance is.”
Research shows that LGBT youth are more than four times more likely to attempt suicide than their peers. The Trevor Project estimates that more than 1.8 million LGBTQ youth between the ages of 13 and 24 in the U.S. seriously consider suicide each year. In the organization’s 2019 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health, 87% of LGBTQ youth said it was important to them to reach out to a crisis intervention organization that focuses on LGBTQ youth.
However, among AAPI LGBTQ youth reported lower rates of depressed mood and suicidality compared to non-API LGBTQ youth, according to the study by the Trevor Project.
“It’s difficult to make any gay-affirming resources, Asian Pacific Islander specific or not, available to our families because even discussing a family member’s sexual orientation or gender identity breaks a major rule in our culture, which is to never talk about our ‘problems,'” said Trinity Ordona, a longtime activist for LGBTQ rights.
“That’s why we work to educate the entire Asian Pacific Islander community about LGBT issues, because the less they are seen as problems, the more our families and friends will be able to talk about it.”
“We are concerned about our family and the huge fear of rejection we may face,” said Ordona. “It’s true that many Asian parents tend to be very conservative and protective of their children. But once you can get them behind their kids, they will take on the world!”
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