Project Description Narrative:
In a national sample of 117 adolescents who reported exclusively same-sex intimate relationships, 14.6% of males and 26% of females reported psychological violence, and 24% of males and 28% of females reported physical violence. While those in same-sex relationships typically experience the same types of violence as those in opposite-sex relationships, same-sex youth report the additional fear of being outed by their partner.
Results from the 2009 Wisconsin Youth Risk Behavior Survey reveal that LGBT youth in Wisconsin are at significantly greater risk of experiencing violence in their dating relationships than their heterosexual peers. Additionally, 35% of same-sex youth reported they had been forced, either verbally or physically, to take part in a sexual activity compared to 12% of heterosexual youth.
Aiming to reduce disparities in intimate partner and dating violence that exist among LGBT youth in Wisconsin, project partners seek to promote healthy relationship behaviors among LGBT youth in Wisconsin (ages 14-24) by implementing community- and group-level IPV prevention programming alongside social marketing, peer outreach, and social media strategies to shift social norms about healthy dating behavior among LGBT youth.
Community partners: Alexander Hamilton High School (Milwaukee), Alliance School (Milwaukee), Bay View High School (Milwaukee), El Puente High School (Milwaukee), LGBT Partnership (Green Bay/Appleton), Milwaukee Public Schools, Our Next Generation, Inc. (Milwaukee), Sojourner Family Peace Center (Milwaukee), Youth Go (Neenah)