What does it mean to be a LGBTQIA?

Central Idea/Thesis: School systems across America should have a zero tolerance policy to prevent the challenges that LGBTQIA youth of color face because it can have a lasting psychological affects on the youth.
INTRODUCTION
I. Attention Material
A. What does it mean to be a LGBTQIA?
1. To be different than your traditional Heterosexual person. Could be either the person that is different or a person that accepts those that are different.
2. L- Lesbian, G- Gay, B- Bisexual, T- Transgender, Q- Questioning or Queer, I- Intersex, and A- Ally/Asexual. (Schulman, 2013)
B. What does it mean to be a LGBTIQIA youth of color?
1. To be a LGBTIQA person that is of different race, ethnicity, or national origin (Burdge et al, 2014).
2. “Youth of color are bullied based on race, sexual orientation, gender identity, or all of the above at once” (Burdge et al, 2014).
3. More than half of all LGBT youth of color felt unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation (Diaz & Kosciw, 2009).
I. Orienting Material
A. “81.9{0e601fc7fe3603dc36f9ca2f49ef4cd268b5950ef1bbcf1f795cc00e94cdd119} were verbally harassed because of their sexual orientation, and 63.9{0e601fc7fe3603dc36f9ca2f49ef4cd268b5950ef1bbcf1f795cc00e94cdd119} because of their gender expression” (Burdge et al, 2014).
B. “38.3{0e601fc7fe3603dc36f9ca2f49ef4cd268b5950ef1bbcf1f795cc00e94cdd119} were physically harassed because of their sexual orientation, and 27.1{0e601fc7fe3603dc36f9ca2f49ef4cd268b5950ef1bbcf1f795cc00e94cdd119} because of their gender expression” (Burdge et al, 2014).
C. “8.3{0e601fc7fe3603dc36f9ca2f49ef4cd268b5950ef1bbcf1f795cc00e94cdd119} were physically assaulted because of their sexual orientation, and 12.4{0e601fc7fe3603dc36f9ca2f49ef4cd268b5950ef1bbcf1f795cc00e94cdd119} because of their gender expression” (Burdge et al, 2014).
D. “Despite significant advances for gay and transgender persons in the United States, the public school environment remains daunting, even frightening, as evidenced by numerous high-profile incidents of discrimination, bullying, violence, and suicide” (Biegel, 2010)
BODYI. The challenges that LGBTQIA youth of color experience in life.
A. They are harassed on a daily bases according to a nationwide study of homophobia in schools. The study found found that the majority of GLBTQIA youth of color had experienced victimization in school because of either race or sexual identity, while half reported being victimized because of both race and sexual identity. (Bridges, 2007)
B. More than a third of GLBTQIA youth of color experience physical violence because of their orientation.
1. One study found that African American same-sex attracted youth were more likely to have low self esteem and experience suicidal thoughts than their counterparts of other ethnicities. (Bridges, 2007)
2. African American same-sex attracted young men were also more likely to be depressed. (Bridges, 2007)
3. “The school-to-prison pipeline, or STPP, refers to a set of school policies and practices that push students away from education and onto a pathway toward juvenile detention and the prison industrial complex” (Burdge et al, 2014).
II. Psychological affect on LGBTQIA youth of color because of the challenges they face.
A. Due to the discrimination that they face they drop out of school and make up 42{0e601fc7fe3603dc36f9ca2f49ef4cd268b5950ef1bbcf1f795cc00e94cdd119} of them homeless youth. (Bridges, 2007)
B. “Homelessness puts youth at risk for gaps in education, health problems, mental health problems, and sex exploration” (MPIPP, 2013).
C. Homophobic victimization led to greater depression and suicidal feelings, but for LGBT white youth and not for LGBTQIA youth of color (Poteat, et al., 2011).
D. LGGTQIA youth of color that face challenges throughout their younger life and in school grow up to have a greater chance to depend on alcohol. This more seen in the individuals that have these challenges and do not have family support (Newcomb et al., 2012)
E. Exposure to discrimination and other forms of oppression, do. For example, in a study that examined racial- and sexuality-based aggression of young sexual minority men, both types of victimization predicted greater depressive symptoms  (Hightow‐Weidman et al., 2011).
III. How to change the psychological affect on LGBTQIA youth of color that face challenges in school.
⦁ Change School polices “zero tolerance” policies.
⦁ Increase police presence, suspension and expulsion, and harsh and disparate disciplinary practices for violation of school policies.
B. Develop support groups for those that do not have one and offer counseling for students that need it.