The document discusses issues facing LGBTQ youth in Humboldt Park, Chicago. It provides an overview of key topics, including definitions of LGBTQ identities, demographics of the area, health disparities, and limitations in data collection for the LGBTQ population. Mixed methods were used to understand issues, including surveys of local LGBTQ youth, key informant interviews, and participant observation. Emerging themes included the importance of social networks and identity for LGBTQ youth, limited access to resources and health needs, and forces of change in the community. Suggestions focused on promoting community programs, increasing data collection, and expanding support for LGBTQ youth.

1. LGBTQ Youth Issues:
Humboldt Park
Alana Aziz
Jenny Byelick
Ashley Dyer
Elena Grossman
Sara Lake

2. Overview
 Introduction to LGBTQ
 Limitations
 Assessment Methods
 Analytical Approach
 Findings: Emerging Themes
 Forces and Trends
 Suggestions

3. LGBTQ Introduction
L: Lesbian
G : Gay
B: Bisexual
T: Transgender
Q: Queer or Questioning

4. Estimated LGBTQ Population
 5-10% of the population
– How do we measure youth?
 What are we trying to measure?
– Persons self-identifying as LGBTQ
– Persons defined by:
• Behavior
• Attraction

5. Demographics of Humboldt Park
Race/Ethnicity Percentage
Hispanic 48
Asian .4
Black 47.4
White 3.3
Other .3
Multiple .6
Health Status Index Series Vol XVI No V, pg. 55

6. Latino LGBTQ in the US
 Of all Latino Same-Sex Couples:
– 45% Mexican
– 9% Puerto Rican
Negron-Muntaner, Frances and Antonio (Jay) Patrana Jr. (2010). Ahora: The State
of the LGBT Latino Communities. Hispanics in Philanthropy.

7. Public Health Significance:
LGBTQ Youth in Humboldt Park
 Known marginalized
population
 Sexual and racial
minorities
 Proven health
disparities
 Presence of
population
Images from QueerProm

8. Limitations in Data Collection
 LGBTQ data not collected in US Census
information
 Reliance on estimates
 Difficulties in identifying LGBTQ (attraction,
sexual behaviors, freedom of expression)
 Focus on health issues mainly around
HIV/AIDS, restricted to gay/bisexual male
level data
 Unit of analysis: Lacking community level
data

9. Methods
 Existing secondary data sources
 Windshield assessments
 Key informant interviews
 Partnership high school survey (n=9)
 Participant observation
– informal interviews
 Community mapping

10. Quantitative Data
NAME OF STUDY # OF PARTICIPANTS (N)
Proyecto Latina
N=300
(Amigas Latinas Survey)
2007 US Youth Risk Behavior
N=14,041
(YRBSS)
N= 1,118
2007 Chicago Youth Risk Behavior Heterosexual =951
(CPS YRBSS) Bisexual=46
Gay/Lesbian=32
Questioning= 37

11. Proyecto Latina Results

12. Proyecto Latina Results cont.

13. National vs. Chicago YRBSS
 CPS students reported they were less
likely to:
– Drink alcohol and drive a vehicle
– Smoke or use tobacco products
– Use alcohol or drugs before intercourse

14. National vs. Chicago YRBSS cont.
 Studentsin Chicago Public Schools
(CPS) reported they are more likely to:
– Not attend school due to safety concerns
– Be threatened with a weapon
– Be injured in a physical fight
– Be physically forced to engage in sexual
intercourse

15. Leading Causes of Death
Ages 15-24 for Chicago 2004
NON-HISPANIC
RANK HISPANIC MEXICAN PUERTO RICAN BLACK ALL GROUPS
1 Homicide (54) Homicide (9) Homicide (9) Homicide (184) Homicide (253)
2 Accidents (25) Accidents (21) Accidents (3) Accidents (52) Accidents (119)
Heart Disease Heart Disease
3 Suicide (5) Suicide (4) Suicide (1) (14) (20)
4 Cancer (4) Cancer (3) * Suicide (8) Suicide (16)
5 Heart Disease (2) Heart Disease (2) * Cancer (6) Cancer (13)
Influenza & Chr. Lwr. Resp Chr. Lwr. Resp.
6 Tuberculosis (1) Pneumonia (1) * Dis (5) Dis (6)
Congenital Influenza & Influenza &
7 Influenza & Pneumonia (1) Abnormalities (1) * Pneumonia (3) Pneumonia
Congenital Abnormalities Congenital
8 (1) * * Septicemia (2) Abnormalities (3)
9 * * * HIV (2) Septicemia (2)
10 * * * Diabetes (2) HIV (2)
Bocskay KA, Harper DM, Thomas SD.Hlth Index Series: Vol. XV No. IVChicago, IL:CDPH, Dept. of Epidemiology, 2005.

16. Chicago YRBSS:
Demographics Stratified by Sexual Orientation
Chicago YRBSS 2009; compiled by Child Health Data Lab, Children's Memorial Hospital

17. Chicago YRBSS Results:
Stratified by Sexual Orientation

18. Chicago YRBSS Cont.:
Stratified by Sexual Orientation

19. STIs and HIV/AIDS
CDPH, Community Health Inventory 2004,

20. STIs and HIV/AIDS cont.
CDPH, Dept of Epidemiology, Office of HIV/AIDS Surveillance

21. Community Map 1 of 5

22. Community Map 2 of 5

23. Community Map 3 of 5

24. Community Map 4 of 5

25. Community Map 5 of 5

26. Qualitative Methods
 Participant Observation with focus group at
partnership high school LGBTQ group
(n = 5-9)
 Survey given to partnership high school group
 Key Informant Interviews (n = 7)
– 6 Community leaders and 1 medical provider
 Windshield Assessment

27. Partnership High School:
LGBTQ Group Findings
 School-wide survey (106 students)
– 88 straight
– 7 gay/lesbian
– 9 bisexual
– 0 transgender
– 2 unsure
 Partnership high school group:
– Participatory research
• attended 7 group meetings
– Surveys (n=9)

28. LGBTQ Identify Issues
 Perceived perceptions:
– Women
– Latina women ALL NEGATIVE
– LGBTQ
 Community, peer and family issues with sexuality:
– Often negative, not accepting
– Passive acceptance
 Issues of identity – “need” to label oneself based on
sexuality:
– Different perceptions/beliefs within LGBTQ community
– Lack of support for bisexuality even within LGBTQ
community

29. Educational Activities
 Local HIV/AIDS organization conducted a sexual
education session for the group
– Shared a variety of contraceptive /safe sex materials (condoms,
female condoms, dental dams)
– Allowed time for students to discuss, share and ask questions,
safe, open and comfortable setting
– Reported little sexual education regarding HIV/AIDS and STI’s prior
to session
 Created handouts regarding health issues among LGBTQ
individuals
– smoking, mental health issues, access to care, etc.
 Importance on acceptance and respect
- Reaching straight peers
- Understanding challenges people face in coming out and feeling
comfortable in their community

30. Advocacy
 Students prepared for annual ‘Day of Silence’ event
– Dedicated to hate crime victim Jorge Lopez Mercado
– Raised awareness about anti-LGBTQ bullying and
harassment in schools
– Created posters, handouts, announcements and
ribbons for the event
– Shared information on bullying and hate crime
statistics in U.S., Chicago and Puerto Rico

31. Survey Results

32. Survey: Bullying
5 out of 9 felt it was an issue
 4 out of 9 had personal experience with
anti-LGBTQ bullying/harassment
 7 out of 9 had seen someone bullied
 Forms of bullying
– Name-calling
– Unnecessary comments
– Harassment/comments

33. Survey: Places in the community for LGBTQ
Places students felt Places students felt
comfortable being openly unwelcome:
LGBTQ:
• Home
• Home • Library
• School • Some family’s homes
• Downtown • Church
• Personal room • Restaurants
• The park • Shoe stores
• Street • Places with men (ie: bball
• Best friend’s home court)
• Partner’s home • Museums with kids
• Neighborhoods in city • Hospitals
• Local cafe • Barber shop
• Local activities/events

34. LGBTQ Support Group at Partnership
High School
5 of 9 stated it was very important to
have time to learn about LGBTQ issues
and share feelings/thoughts
7 of 8 felt class was very important
7 of 8 felt class important to help them
better understand and be proud of
themselves

35. Key Informant Interviews: Pride
in Identity
 Embracing sexual
identity
– “I’m a queer Puerto
Rican y que!”
 Family
– Source of pride and
anguish
 Heritage
– Source of pride and
adversity
Mural in Humboldt Park

36. Key Informant Interviews:
Environment in Humboldt Park
 LGBTQ Presence  Homophobia
– Pioneers pave path for – “Fag to Fag”
safety and acceptance – “Get boys to work for
– Role models them and they come out
– Paseo Boricua Pageant: as little girls.”
“Cacica Queen” – “You deserved it (HIV
– Boricua Pride positive) for sleeping
– New homeless shelter with men.”
– New social/educational – “You’re a man! You’re
program a man! You’re a man!”
– “There is much violence
in this neighborhood,
some gay related.”

37. Key Informant Interviews: Community
Building and Recognition
 Preventing appointment
of perceived
homophobic Alderman
 Boricua Pride fundraiser
at Institute of Puerto
Rican Art and Culture
 Boricua Pride
 Vigil for Jorge Steven
Lopez Mercado
Participant during the vigil for Jorge Steven
Lopez Mercado

38. Key Informant Interviews: Services
Needed for LGBTQ Youth
 Drop-in Centers – “Out and Proud”
 A community center
 Transgender focused organizations
 Organizations without HIV/AIDS association
 Sexual & reproductive health for LGBTQ
Youth participating in a fundraiser for Ambiente del Paseo’s new campaign, “Mas Color, Mas Poder,” which
was launched to raise awareness of homophobia and transphobia in Humboldt Park. La Voz del Paseo
Boricua, June 6, 2008.

39. Analytical Approach
 Mixed methods: identifying relationships
 Quantitative
– secondary: data statistics
– primary: mapping, survey information
 Qualitative
– primary: interviewing,
observation
– ATLAS.ti®

40. Emerging Themes

41. Theme #1: Social Networks

42. Theme #2: Identity
Identity is integral in
understanding LGBTQ youth.
Culture,
Gender, and
Orientation
More Youth ‘Out’
Identity and Comfortable
Perceptions

43. Theme #3: Access to Resources
Access to care and resources for
LGBTQ youth are slow to gain.
Power
Dynamics
Access to Care Limited Outlets
& Resources for Activity
Social
Networks

44. Theme #4: Health Needs
Health needs for LGBTQ youth
include greater education, focusing
on sexual behaviors and mental
health.
Potentiality for
Risky
Behaviors
Social Health Needs
Support
Organizations
Emphasize Needs
in Services

45. Forces and Trends
 Chicago Public School
Closures on the West side
 Economic Recession
 Anti-Violence Resolution
 National Battle --> Same Sex
Marriage
 Immigration/Migration
 Latino Unification
 Generational Transition
 IL SB 3266--Illinois Prevent
School Violence Act
Crowned Cacica Queen of 2008

46. Suggestions
 Promote ongoing efforts of in-place community
programs
 Increase data collection
 Enumerate the LGBTQ population
 Educate providers
 Create additional housing and social services
 Maintain and expand a comprehensive list of
resources
 Advocate for LGBTQ policy
 Destigmatize mental health
 Build more LGBTQ networking among the youth

47. Thank You
 Dr. Virgina Bishop  Zenaida Lopez
 Evette Cardona  Edward Negron
 Judy Diaz  Mona Noriega
 Miguel Garcia  Aurora Pineda
 David Fischer  Janeida Rivera
 Gentrification  Shannon Sullivan
Group
LGBTQ Support Group
Pedro Albizo Campos High School