VICTIMIZATION OF LESBIAN, GAY, AND BISEXUAL YOUTH IN COMMUNITY SETTINGS

One hundred ninety-four lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth between the a ges of 15 and 21 were surveyed about victimization due to their sexual orientation. Three areas were assessed: (1) the prevalence of differe nt kinds of victimization, ranging from verbal abuse to armed assault; (2) the specific social contexts in which anti-lesbian/gay victimizat ion occurred, including family, school, work, and the broader communit y; and (3) correlates of anti-lesbian/gay victimization, including age -related sexual orientation milestones, concealability of sexual orien tation, sex, race/ethnicity, and safety fears. Most respondents had ex perienced some form of victimization, with no social environment being free from risk of harm. Particularly vulnerable for abuse were youth who self-labeled or self-disclosed at an earlier age and those whose s exual orientation was less concealed or concealable.