News Update

Transgender youth almost 10 times more likely to be homeless as their peers, data shows

Students who identify as transgender are nearly 10 times as likely to experience homelessness as their non-transgender peers, according to new data collected by the Centers for Disease Control.

The data, based on the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey distributed to schools nationwide, was analyzed and released Monday by Schoolhouse Connection, an advocacy group that tracks data and policy related to LGBT youth.

It was the first time that the CDC survey contained enough data to single out the experiences of transgender youth. Homeless transgender students were also more likely to be forced into sexual activities than their peers, according to the analysis.

Overall, LGBT young people were 2 to 3 times more likely to attempt suicide than their peers, according to the analysis. They were also more likely to be bullied on campus and miss school.

The group recommends that schools enforce anti-bullying policies; invite local LGBT groups to advise on campus policies, curriculum and activities; and work on creating a positive campus climate that benefits all students.