To address these issues, the Center for LGBTQ+ Health Equity (CLHE) at USC Social Work, USC’s only research center dedicated to LGBTQ+ issues, created the first-of-its-kind Proud & Empowered school-based intervention aimed at preventing or reducing the impact of traumatic adolescent experiences before the damage is done. The researchers chose schools as the most effective and inclusive environment for the intervention because LGBTQ+ youth are more likely to be out at school than at home, and researchers can partner with school administrations.
“We know that a lot of LBGTQ+ youth have not disclosed their gender identity or sexual orientation to their families,” said Rhoades, who is site principal investigator for the study. “Families are not always a safe place.”
