Abstract
Attention toward who can use which gender binary, multi-stall bathroom has brought to the forefront, once again, the ways in which youth are supported or marginalized. No study has documented sexual and gender minority youths' experiences with and perspectives about bathrooms. We collected qualitative data in 2014–2015. Participants were 25 lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) youth, aged 14–19, in the United States and Canada. Their comments describe first- and second-hand bathroom experiences, identify advocacy efforts, and highlight the roles of peers and adults in making bathrooms safe (or not). Youth emphasized the importance of gender-neutral bathrooms in fostering a sense of safety and inclusivity. Adult support and gay-straight alliances (GSAs) were important contributors to a welcoming environment and fostered advocacy efforts for gender-neutral bathrooms. We encourage purposeful inclusivity of youths' voices when enacting bathroom-specific policies and legislation that directly influence their health and well-being.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 107-112 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Journal of Adolescence |
| Volume | 56 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Apr 1 2017 |
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Keywords
- Bathroom legislation
- Gay-straight alliances
- LGBTQ youth
- Safety
- Schools
Cite this
“Kicked out” : LGBTQ youths' bathroom experiences and preferences. / Porta, Carolyn M.; Gower, Amy L.; Mehus, Christopher J.; Yu, Xiaohui; Saewyc, Elizabeth M.; Eisenberg, Marla E.
In: Journal of Adolescence, Vol. 56, 01.04.2017, p. 107-112.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
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TY - JOUR
T1 - “Kicked out”
T2 - LGBTQ youths' bathroom experiences and preferences
AU - Porta, Carolyn M.
AU - Gower, Amy L.
AU - Mehus, Christopher J.
AU - Yu, Xiaohui
AU - Saewyc, Elizabeth M.
AU - Eisenberg, Marla E.
PY - 2017/4/1
Y1 - 2017/4/1
N2 - Attention toward who can use which gender binary, multi-stall bathroom has brought to the forefront, once again, the ways in which youth are supported or marginalized. No study has documented sexual and gender minority youths' experiences with and perspectives about bathrooms. We collected qualitative data in 2014–2015. Participants were 25 lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) youth, aged 14–19, in the United States and Canada. Their comments describe first- and second-hand bathroom experiences, identify advocacy efforts, and highlight the roles of peers and adults in making bathrooms safe (or not). Youth emphasized the importance of gender-neutral bathrooms in fostering a sense of safety and inclusivity. Adult support and gay-straight alliances (GSAs) were important contributors to a welcoming environment and fostered advocacy efforts for gender-neutral bathrooms. We encourage purposeful inclusivity of youths' voices when enacting bathroom-specific policies and legislation that directly influence their health and well-being.
AB - Attention toward who can use which gender binary, multi-stall bathroom has brought to the forefront, once again, the ways in which youth are supported or marginalized. No study has documented sexual and gender minority youths' experiences with and perspectives about bathrooms. We collected qualitative data in 2014–2015. Participants were 25 lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) youth, aged 14–19, in the United States and Canada. Their comments describe first- and second-hand bathroom experiences, identify advocacy efforts, and highlight the roles of peers and adults in making bathrooms safe (or not). Youth emphasized the importance of gender-neutral bathrooms in fostering a sense of safety and inclusivity. Adult support and gay-straight alliances (GSAs) were important contributors to a welcoming environment and fostered advocacy efforts for gender-neutral bathrooms. We encourage purposeful inclusivity of youths' voices when enacting bathroom-specific policies and legislation that directly influence their health and well-being.
KW - Bathroom legislation
KW - Gay-straight alliances
KW - LGBTQ youth
KW - Safety
KW - Schools
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85012249397&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.adolescence.2017.02.005
DO - 10.1016/j.adolescence.2017.02.005
M3 - Article
VL - 56
SP - 107
EP - 112
JO - Journal of Adolescence
JF - Journal of Adolescence
SN - 0140-1971
ER -