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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 17, 1995)
14* W f ^ i » ï v « w local news Risky survey ome sexual minority youth advocates are questioning the Oregon Depart ment of Education’s failure to include sexual identity questions in a state wide survey of Oregon youth which is designed to pinpoint suicide risk factors among that population. That omission, they say, could ▼ place the well-being of sexual minority youth in jeopardy. by Inga Sorensen “Studies have repeatedly shown that gay and lesbian youth are at risk for suicide for a variety of Oregonians between the ages of 15 and 19 commit tempted suicide: a history of physical or sexual reasons: unaccepting family, societal condemna ted suicide. From 1991 to 1993, the rate was 16 per tion, a lack of support,” says Jay Roberts, a abuse; drug, alcohol or tobacco abuse; harassment 100,000— more than a fivefold increase. (Accord licensed clinical social worker with the Portland- and violence in school; and weight problems. ing to federal data, Oregon has the 10th highest based Mental Health Services-West, a nonprofit “It’s a pretty standardized survey,” says Paul suicide rate in the nation.) social services organization. “Yet here we have Kabarec, an education specialist with ODE. “The The latter timetable coincides with the on this study that doesn’t even mention this as a risk. survey is used in schools across the country. That slaught of anti-gay-rights ballot initiatives launched way the CDC can get a sense of any national It’s very disturbing.” by the Oregon Citizens Alliance. Some believe the trend.” Kabarec concedes, however, that ODE has Roberts is referring to the Youth Risk Behav campaigns have created a climate of intolerance the authority to make changes to the survey if it ior Survey, which state officials say is conducted that has contributed to the climb in the teen suicide believes those adjustments could be beneficial. every other year as part of a cooperative agree “I believe that Oregon is on the cutting edge in ment between the state Department of Education rate. “There is no doubt about that in my mind,” says terms of the questions it asks [in this survey],” says and the federal Centers for Disease Control. Steve Fulmer, director of information resources Oregon and other states that sign on to the agree Alexander. “We ask some very personal questions ment receive federal funds and in return are asked to comply with certain CDC requests, such as conducting the risk survey. In Oregon, ODE contracted with the Oregon Health Division to assist with the survey, which asks questions about everything from students’ nutritional habits to theirsexual histories to whether they smoke or drink alcohol. No questions, however, sought to determine the sexual orientation of the respondents, despite other findings that show that sexual minority youth are vulnerable to harassment and violence, drug and alcohol abuse, homelessness and sui cide. A 1986 study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Task Force on Youth Suicide, in fact, placed suicide as a leading cause of death among gay and lesbian youth, estimating that as many as 30 percent of completed youth suicides were sexual minority youth. Prior to sending out the statewide survey, OHD set up a committee to review questions and submit toODEany recommendations for changes. According to state health and education officials, ODE makes the final determination of which questions will be asked. “We tried to get a question in about sexual orientation,” says Tammy P. Alexander, OHD’s adolescent health coordinator. “It wasn’t a blatant for Portland Public Schools. “We may think it’s about things like sexual abuse, about whether the question. We simply wanted to ask in the survey’s easier for young gay people today, but it’s not. ‘sexual activities’ section what the sex of the student has had sexual intercourse, and what they Many years ago we didn’t talk about this issue, but student’s last sexual partner was. That was it. know about HIV.” And the survey asks about more today young gays and lesbians are hearing their mundane behaviors, such as whether a teen wears Unfortunately, |OHD| didn’t have the last say.” parents discuss homosexuality at the dinner table. Preliminary 1995 data from nearly I4,0(X) a seat belt. If the parents are disapproving, it can be very middle and high school students in 50 schools Yet the line appears to be drawn on questions painful.” statewide found that an estimated 3,000 teens say relating to sexual orientation. Alexanderasks: “How He continues, “In the old days we could hide in they have been treated for a suicide attempt. The can we assist this population if we can’t even the closet. That was certainly hard, but these kids survey found the following to be risk factors identify them?” today are under enormous pressure. They’re hear From 1959 to 1961, three in every 100,000 associated with youth who say they have at- S State omits sexual orientation from school questionnaire leaving sexual minority youth vulnerable THE BEST RATES THE BEST SERVICE THE QUICKEST RESPONSE , ing the terrible messages of the OCA, and oftentimes they don’t know where to turn.... To say that smoking leads to suicide is absurd. Being gay in a disapproving environment can lead to suicide.” Alexander adds: “I would imagine an unfriendly atmosphere can make some kids less likely to seek support.” Anne Bliss, president of the Portland chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays says, “This needs to be part of the study. We tend to want to ignore gay and lesbian youth, but I think society has a responsibility to these kids.” Portland PFLAG has distributed informational packets to Oregon schools statewide. The packets, which contain research materials that indicate gay and lesbian youth are at risk for suicide, are de signed to inform and assist educators who will undoubtedly be working with sexual minority youth. “ I don’t think the general public realizes the statistics on these kids,” says Bliss. “We have to talk about this, and parents who support human sexuality education in schools have to speak up.” Speaking in ODE’s defense, Kabarec says: “There are certain special interest groups in Or egon that are looking for any avenue to attack the schools. We’re trying to move ahead in terms of getting teachers educated and trained about HIV and AIDS. We’ll lose support for things we are doing if we move too quickly. This is a very conservative agency.” When asked whether he believes the needs of sexual minority youth have been compromised by ODE’s tentative approach, Kabarec responds: “That’s a very good question, but I believe in the long run this will be a more effective way to get things done.” “What is he doing, running for public office or trying to lower the teen suicide rate in Oregon?” asks Fulmer. Some have questioned whether Norma Paulus, the state schools superintendent who is currently running for the GOP nomination for the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by Bob Packwood, has urged her agency to lay low on gay issues for political reasons. (A side note: Unlike many states, Oregon elects its state schools superintendent rather than appointing one.) “That’s ridiculous,” says Paulus campaign spokeswoman K.C. Cowan. “The issue has never even come up. We’ve never been told to lay low on any gay issues.” Cowan says if Paulus were nervous about ad dressing gay and lesbian rights issues she never would have spoken out in favor of gay and lesbian rights legislation or other gay-positive issues. According to Kabarec, ODE will use the data from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey to formulate programming to meet the needs of those consid ered at risk. He says he is unaware of any plans by the Oregon Department of Education to create programs specifically addressing the needs of sexual minority youth. IS YOUR PET PARI OF TIIE FAMILY? Tender, loving care for the furry and feathered m em bers o f your family! GUARANTEED PACI FI C GUARANTEE M0RT6A6E 2 4 6 -LO A N C 5 6 2 6 ) E xp erien ce... In tegrity.. .R eliability Dr. Patricia E. H u ff D.V.M . and Associates 2519 E. BURNSIDE, PORTLAND CALL 233-5001