Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans* (LGBT) people are disproportionately represented in the jails and prisons of the United States. This trend is also seen in the juvenile justice system, where LGBT youth far too often find themselves. Unsurprisingly, those most at risk include LGBT people of color and those in a low socioeconomic class. Factors in schools and at home may be the main factors that lead to this inequity, as well as participation in survival crimes, such as petty theft and sex work. Self-reports of same-sex sexual attraction in the general American community are measured between 2-5% in different studies. In the adult criminal justice system, the overrepresentation of LGBT people is astounding. A recent National Inmate Survey
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Many schools have policies against public displays of affection, yet these rules often go unenforced for heterosexual teens. For non-straight couples, however, these policies often are enforced and can lead to disciplinary action (Snapp et al., 2015). Teens describe that while queer couples may be scolded or disciplined for simply holding hands at school, straight couples can be deep kissing in the middle of a hallway and go unnoticed. In extreme cases, being targeted for sexual expression can lead directly to being incarcerated in the case of “Romeo and Juliet” laws. These laws make it an offense for there to be sexual contact between adolescents who are close in age because one may be of legal consenting age, while the other is not. LGBT people are more likely to be charged with these laws and in many places it is considered a sexual offense, which leads to prosecution as an adult regardless of age (Gilbert & Hussey, 2015). Of course, LGBT teens are subjected to cruel name-calling and harassment as well as being disproportionately targeted by school policies. Teens report being called names and slurs by both fellow students and adults at schools. This harassment may extend to physical and sexual harassment and assault, as well. However, one-third of LGBT youth report that …show more content…
One-third of LGBT youth have skipped school because of safety concerns including harassment and bullying (How LGBT Youth Get Caught in the Juvenile Justice System and What Can be Done). Furthermore, LGBT youth are often targeted by school administration because they may stick out from their peers for gender non-conformity or alternative sexual expression (Snapp et al., 2015). When pathologizing alternative gender expression is legitimized through respected institutions, it is difficult to begin tackling the issue of gender nonconforming youth being targeted by administrators. The DSM-5 continues to classify gender dysphoria as a psychological disorder, for example (APA, 2013). Teachers and administrators can easily justify their targeting of certain students under the guise of having concern for them and their safety. LGBT students have a three times higher rate of being harshly disciplined by school administrators than their peers (Gattuso, 2015). These factors put together lead to a climate where LGBT students are more likely to skip school and more likely to be disciplined for doing so. Consequently, many LGBT youth have their first interaction with the courts for truancy or other school-related
Many schools have policies against public displays of affection, yet these rules often go unenforced for heterosexual teens. For non-straight couples, however, these policies often are enforced and can lead to disciplinary action (Snapp et al., 2015). Teens describe that while queer couples may be scolded or disciplined for simply holding hands at school, straight couples can be deep kissing in the middle of a hallway and go unnoticed. In extreme cases, being targeted for sexual expression can lead directly to being incarcerated in the case of “Romeo and Juliet” laws. These laws make it an offense for there to be sexual contact between adolescents who are close in age because one may be of legal consenting age, while the other is not. LGBT people are more likely to be charged with these laws and in many places it is considered a sexual offense, which leads to prosecution as an adult regardless of age (Gilbert & Hussey, 2015). Of course, LGBT teens are subjected to cruel name-calling and harassment as well as being disproportionately targeted by school policies. Teens report being called names and slurs by both fellow students and adults at schools. This harassment may extend to physical and sexual harassment and assault, as well. However, one-third of LGBT youth report that …show more content…
One-third of LGBT youth have skipped school because of safety concerns including harassment and bullying (How LGBT Youth Get Caught in the Juvenile Justice System and What Can be Done). Furthermore, LGBT youth are often targeted by school administration because they may stick out from their peers for gender non-conformity or alternative sexual expression (Snapp et al., 2015). When pathologizing alternative gender expression is legitimized through respected institutions, it is difficult to begin tackling the issue of gender nonconforming youth being targeted by administrators. The DSM-5 continues to classify gender dysphoria as a psychological disorder, for example (APA, 2013). Teachers and administrators can easily justify their targeting of certain students under the guise of having concern for them and their safety. LGBT students have a three times higher rate of being harshly disciplined by school administrators than their peers (Gattuso, 2015). These factors put together lead to a climate where LGBT students are more likely to skip school and more likely to be disciplined for doing so. Consequently, many LGBT youth have their first interaction with the courts for truancy or other school-related