11 Facts LGBT Life In America

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1. 42% of people who are LGBT report living in an unwelcoming environment.^["LGBTQ Equality - RYOT News." RYOT News. http://www.ryot.org/cause/lgbtq (accessed August 1, 2014).]
2. 80% of gay and lesbian youth report severe social isolation.^["Gay & Lesbian Youth " National Dropout Prevention Center/Network. Accessed April 15, 2015. .]
3. 6 in 10 LGBT students report feeling unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation. You can encourage your classmates to accept LGBT students by promoting your views on social media. Sign up for Love It Forward.^[Kosciw, Joseph G., Ph.D., Emily A. Greytak, Ph.D., Mark J. Bartkiewicz, M.S., Madelyn J. Boesen, M.A., Neal A. Palmer, M.S. “The 2011 National School Climate Survey: The Experiences of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Youth in Our Nation’s Schools.” 2012. .]
4. 90% of teens who are LGBT come out to their close friends.^["Growing Up LGBT in America: View Statistics." Human Rights Campaign. http://www.hrc.org/youth/view-statistics#.U9unmfldVK1 (accessed August 1, 2014).]
5. In 2013, 92% of adults who are LGBT said they believe society had become more accepting of them than in the past 10 years.^["A Survey of LGBT Americans." Pew Research Centers Social Demographic Trends Project RSS. http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2013/06/13/a-survey-of-lgbt-americans/ (accessed August 1, 2014).]
6. Young people who are LGBT and who are “out” to their immediate families report feeling happier than those who aren’t.^["LGBT Surveys: Read with Caution." Youth Allies. http://www.youthallies.com/read-lgbt-surveys-caution/ (accessed August 1, 2014).]
7. While non-LGBT students struggle most with school classes, exams, and work, their LGBT peers say the biggest problem they face is unaccepting families.^["Growing Up LGBT in America: View Statistics." Human Rights Campaign. http://www.hrc.org/youth/view-statistics#.U9unmfldVK1 (accessed August 1, 2014).]
8. As of July 2014, same-sex marriage is legal in 19 states plus the District of Columbia.^[Cable News Network. "Appeals court rejects Virginia same-sex marriage ban." CNN. http://www.cnn.com/2014/07/28/politics/same-sex-ban-virginia/index.html (accessed July 28, 2014).]
9. The “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, which restricted lesbians, gays, and bisexuals in the military from openly serving, was lifted in 2011. People who are transgender are not permitted to serve openly yet.^["United States Department of Defense." Defense.gov News Article: Obama: Americans No Longer Have to Lie to Serve. http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=65381 (accessed July 29, 2014).]
10. In July 2009, the Senate approved the Matthew Shepard Act, which outlaws hate crimes based on both sexual orientation and gender identity.^["Civil Rights Division Home Page." Civil Rights Division Home Page. http://www.justice.gov/crt/about/crm/matthewshepard.php (accessed July 29, 2014).]
11. The Employment Nondiscrimination Act passed Congress in 2007 is the act that prohibits discrimination of sexual orientation in the workplace, specifically during hiring.^["Employment Non-Discrimination Act." Human Rights Campaign. http://www.hrc.org/resources/entry/employment-non-discrimination-act (accessed July 29, 2014).]