Today Bisexual Health Awareness Month spotlights bisexual+ youth who are of low income or are homeless. These youth typically go without programs, services, and resources that can ensure their well-being — both academically and health-wise.
Bisexual+ youth are often impacted by poverty through an intersectional lens of biphobia, transphobia, racism, and/or ableism. Several reports and research studies have found that:
- A higher percentage of bisexual students reported getting free or reduced-priced lunch at school than their gay/lesbian and straight peers.
- Low educational attainment often impacts income later in life, and bisexuals face several academic disparities.
Additionally, a homeless report by The Williams Institute showed that LGBT youth make up 40% of clientele served by agencies. In the same study cited above, a higher percentage of bisexual students reported running away from home one or more times over the past year compared to their gay/lesbian and straight counterparts. In another study, more bisexual homeless youth reported someone tried to touch them sexually before age 12, and more bisexual youth stated they were homeless because of physical abuse by parents than their straight and gay/lesbian peers. Gay, lesbian, and bisexual homeless youth also have greater HIV risks, but these risks are greater among bisexual female youth.
Stronger policies are needed to provide bisexual+ youth with safe environments to live in that are off the streets. Bisexual+ homeless youth are also in desperate need of programs and services that can care for their sexual and mental health; More LGBTQ-specific homeless shelters in particular are needed for these youth, like the Thrive Youth Center in San Antonio, Texas.
Today’s Featured Resource: The #PowerON campaign by The Trevor Project helps get refurbished laptops donated to underserved LGBTQ youth! Also, today is Women & Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day — and the #BestDefense is a good offense for bisexual+ youth!