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IN FOCUS: ARTICLE |
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LGBTQ on the Web
by TAG and Ellen Friedrichs, 06.02.06
What's on the web for LGBTQ teens? TAG went online and came up with these eight sites that reach out to LGBTQ teens with information, stories, resources, and support.
1. OutProud, produced by the National Coalition for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Youth, offers resources for teens and educators, as well as coming out stories, movie reviews, and more.
TAG's take:
This site is good for teens who have recently come out. A lot of the stories were interesting, but some were too long. We liked taking the poll because it was something to do, and we also liked the poetry. It gives a lot of different resources. We think the font is too small, and we want to see more color and graphics.
2. Taking its name from a film about a gay teen who attempts suicide, the Trevor Project is a website and hotline designed to help promote acceptance of gay and questioning teens and to aid in suicide prevention.
TAG's take:
This site provides information and support for people who might be thinking about suicide. We found it a little hard to figure out where to go to read about the history of the website's name, but aside from that, everything was clear and easy to understand.
3. Advocates for Youth, a non-profit organization that promotes sexual health and reproductive rights, runs YouthResource, a website by and for LGBTQ youth that offers health information, activism tips, news, resources, and more.
TAG's take:
This website looks great and is very easy to navigate. It could help a lot of teens and give important information. We can't think of anything that would improve the site!
4. The GLBT National Help Center has a youth helpline page that provides a telephone hotline and peer counseling for LGBTQ youth.
TAG's take:
It is good that this hotline exists. It is easy to find the information that you need, because the phone numbers for the youth line are posted clearly. Once you go there, though, there isn't really anything else to do on the website.
5. Youth Guardian Services is a youth-run, nonprofit organization that provides support services to LGBTQ teens and their straight allies.
TAG's take:
This is a good website for LGBTQ teens to hear stories from other kids in the same situation. We liked that they have e-mail lists that you can join to talk to people online and get help and information. Our only complaint is that we'd like to see more pictures and less writing.
6. The Gay-Straight Alliance Network is a youth-led organization that connects school-based Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) to each other and community resources. (For more info on GSAs, check out Fight High School Homophobia!)
TAG's take:
The website has helpful articles for teens and good information on starting a GSA. This site looks like it is best for people who already know that they want to start a GSA, rather than for people who just want general information. Also, we think the font is too small and we'd like to see more graphics.
7. PFLAG (Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) has a website that offers resources and support for LGBTQ people and their friends and families.
TAG's take:
This site isn't really designed for teens, but we liked the friendly pictures on every page and that everyone looked happy. This is a good site for families of LGBTQ teens and adults. We would like to see a place for visitors to leave comments.
8. The Lesbian Gay Bi Trans Youth Line is a Canadian site run by LGBTQ youth for LGBTQ youth. It provides confidential peer support through telephone counseling, information and referral services, and outreach.
TAG's take:
This website looks really good. It has a lot of color and is attractive to teens. It also has contact information where you can call and ask questions, and everything is confidential, free, and non-judgmental. We really liked the personal stories and thought that the definitions and facts were helpful for clearing up confusion. Overall, a great site!
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What would you like to hear TAG talk about? Send us a Talk Back comment with the subject line "TAG." |
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