Appendix: Relevant Electronic Resources for GLB Teens
365 Gay
This is a GLBTQ related news site that is constantly updated with breaking news and features that cover gay issues around the world.
Alterheros: Demystifying Our Differences
This contains a specific section on GLBTQ youth.
Egale Canada
This is an official organization in Canada that aims to advance "equality and justice for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-identified people, and their families."
GayCanada: Canada's Largest Online Gay & Lesbian Community
This is the most comprehensive site that I found that is a resources portal to numerous Canada-wide websites on all topics. This site is hosted by the Canadian Gay, Lesbian & Bisexual Resource Directory, a group founded in 1994 that is "dedicated to the collection, compilation and distribution of information important to or of relevance to the GLB communities across Canada."
GayHealth
Although this site is not specifically devoted to youth, its extensive coverage of GLBTQ-related health issues will make this a valuable resource for teens. There is also a directory of physicians who have allowed their names to be included. As stated on the site, "The providers in this directory have listed themselves as gay-friendly."
Gay Teens Resources
You can view resources by continent or by a few key topics. Particularly useful is the Weblinks page that appears in the "North American" subsite, which contains not only resources that pertain specifically to gay issues, but also links to other resources such as games, entertainment, and so on, that do not necessarily come from a GLBTQ perspective. This recognizes these teensŐ personal interests, as not everything that they do, or that impacts on them, is filtered through the lens of their views on their own sexual orientation or the impact of accepting/struggling with that identity.
Lesbian Gay Bi Trans Youth Hotline
"The Lesbian Gay Bi Trans Youth Line is a toll-free Ontario-wide peer-support phone line for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, 2-spirited, queer and questioning young people. The Youth Line also provides online peer-support through the online forum and email response."
Mogenic
This is a valuable youth-centered resource that can help teens of GLB orientation. They can socialize, give support, and share thoughts with each other through the site's blog and its 24/7 chat room, which is monitored to ensure that people over the age of 25 cannot use this feature. As well, there is information on other topics such as entertainment and fashion, but with a GLBTQ perspective. There are pages devoted to creative writing as well, which include autobiographical coming out stories (personal testimonies by actual youth) and fiction. When GLBTQ teens become members of Mogenic, they can create their own profiles, photo albums, and link directly to their profiles from the chat rooms.
OASIS
This is an online Webzine written by and for LGBT youth. Back issues of the Webzine are also available from the website.
OutProud: Resources for Queer and Questioning Youth
As the National Coalition for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Youth in the United States, OutProud provides a wide range of resources for youth as well as educators or GLBT issues:
- read stories about other people who have come out
- search the database for titles of works that deal with GLBT issues
- access online brochures for information on issues related to sexual orientation
- browse through the OutProud Online FAQ for answers to GLBT youth's questions or ask one of their own
Resources for Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Youth: Select Organizations, Web Sites, Videos, and Books
Part of the Advocates for Youth website, this page contains links to online resources about pertinent GLB organizations and topics such as gay/straight alliances, gender identity and expression, and sexual orientation. There is also information about hotlines for GLBTQ youth as well as print materials and videos about being gay, lesbian, and bisexual.
The Youth Lists
This is a youth-run, nonprofit organization that focuses on GLBTQ youth. Of particular interest is that the site offers moderated email discussion lists that are separated by age groups (13-17, 17-21, 21-25), which aim to provide support for GLBTQ youth.
YouthResource: A Project of Advocates for Youth
This website specifically targets issues of concern to Gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer (GLBTQ) youth. The "Resources" section of the website is particularly helpful as it encompasses a variety of links. There are specific subsections for gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth, the focus of my paper, in the "Queer Living" section.