INDIANA NEWS SERVICE - Rural LGBTQ+ youth in Indiana face greater mental health
challenges, but have found ways to build community online, according to
a new report.
48% of the state's LGBTQ-plus youth live in a small city or town,
according to the 2024 Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People
in Indiana study. The next largest region is the suburbs.
Michael Parent, principal researcher with HopeLab, said the demographic
has difficulty finding support in their communities, compared to their
urban peers, but noted that there are some positive trends too.
"They had a lot of sense of internal pride in their identity," he said.
"So despite being in some more challenging circumstances, they also had
really positive internal feelings about themselves."
Parent added that, while young LGBTQ+ people in rural areas struggle to connect in person,
they often find friends online. Those communities can be based around a
shared LGBTQ+ identity but can also involve a shared passion for gaming
or art. 53% of this demographic in Indiana are aged 18-to-24, while 47%
are between 13 and 17.
Data from the survey found that family and community are seen as places
of affirmation - an environment of validation through a sense of
belonging, safety, and respect. Parent agrees community plays an
important role, but pointed to a lack of in-person support for rural
LGBTQ+ youth.
"Rural LGBTQ+ young people are having a lot of challenges in their
circumstances and environments," he added. "But finding that they had a
lot of internal sense of pride in their identity is really positive and
was surprising, because we didn't really think that would show up."
Other ways to show support for the community include not supporting
politicians that advocate for anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, accepting their
partner, and doing research about gender identities.
Terri Dee wrote this article.
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