Heidi Belle Gease is a great journalist and wrote a great article about suicide problems on the Rosebud Reservation. Unfortunately, as with most discussions of suicide one major factor is ignored. Suicide rates among gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth are much higher than the national average.
Nearly one third of teen suicide victims are gay. 10% of the population is gay. That means the suicide rate is 300% higher for gay teens. Source: http://www.youth-suicide.com/gay-bisexual/. A local school counselor indicated nearly 60% of suicide survivors she’s encountered had gender or sexual orientation issues.
At The Center West I communicate daily with GLBT Native Americans, mostly teens, from throughout South Dakota. Most tell me they feel lost. Their traditional place of honor within Native Culture has been purged because of white religious taboos. They’re rejected at home and discriminated against in the white community. They’re much more prone to poor self-esteem and the resulting risky behaviors than their straight counterparts. A beautiful group of people is being lost.
The Two Spirit support group at The Center West helps GLBT Native Americans understand, appreciate and begin to restore their traditional place within Native Spiritual Culture. For more info call: 348-3244. E-mail: info@thecenterwest.org.
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