Stories

Are LGBTQ Students Safe?

By : Marlena Penninella February 2, 2018 Comments Off

*Note: This article was originally published on Pride Pocket prior to merging with MyUmbrella* The fight for equality has advanced remarkably in the past decade, however, there’s still a lot of work to do. In a survey taken by The Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education, which reports what the school climate was like for teens in 2015, horrifying facts about being LGBTQ in school were revealed. Every child should have the right to equal and fair education; they should also be able to feel safe while getting this education, but unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. The GLSEN study found that “57.6% of LGBTQ students felt unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation, and 43.3% because of their gender expression”[1]. School should be a place of education, not the

Home for the HoliGAYS

By : Alys Earl December 25, 2017 Comments Off

*Note: This article was originally published on Pride Pocket prior to merging with MyUmbrella* Visiting your family for the holidays can be pretty stressful - regardless of your circumstances - but for members of the LGBT+ community, ordinary family tensions can be compounded with bigotry, erasure, and hostility. If this is your first holiday season out to your family, this may be especially true. Whether you have recently begun to transition, are bringing a same-sex partner home for the first time, or just need your family to understand that this is who you truly are - here are some tips, suggestions, and things to avoid to get you through this festive season. Coming out for The HolidaysIf your family does not yet know about your gender and orientation, the easiest

Transitioning 101: MtF

By : Alys Earl December 23, 2017 Comments Off

*Note: This article was originally published on Pride Pocket prior to merging with MyUmbrella* This is the first piece in a series of articles aimed at trans women, transfemmes, or assigned male at birth (AMAB) non-binary people who wish to present themselves in a more feminine way. Together with other articles on this site, it will cover the non –medical aspects of transition, which will help reduce day to day dysphoria and help bring your presentation more in line with your identity, as well as the medical and legal aspects of transition. It aims to give a rundown of costs, practicalities, safety, and other considerations. Please note that not everything will be relevant to everyone, as each person's journey is different. The short overview given here will be supported by

Love, Sex, & Dating: The 411 on HER

By : Britney Achin November 8, 2017 Comments Off

*Note: This article was originally published on Pride Pocket prior to merging with MyUmbrella* You may have heard of HER. It is one of the most popular queer dating apps on the market, boasting over 2 million users in 55 countries. After Ellen gushed, "HER introduces itself as “the app that will introduce you to every lesbian you ever wanted to meet. Finally, you can start dating a lesbian that hasn’t slept with any of your friends. Your weekend just got gayer because now you know where to go to.” HER knows all the right things to say." They attribute their success to a unique platform that functions as a way for queer women to meet each other online and engage as a community. They are far more inclusive than their competitors, offering

Suicide Rates for LGBTQ+ Youth

By : Marlena Penninella October 19, 2017 Comments Off

*Note: This article was originally published on Pride Pocket prior to merging with MyUmbrella* America is what a lot of people would consider a progressive country, but does it really have the best interests for LGBTQ+ youth? A good portion of LGBTQ+ youth will face some kind of mental disorder: most commonly depression, which can lead to self-harming and even suicide. Is there a reason why LGBTQ+ youth are so depressed and is there anything parents and schools can do to help them? According to the Trevor Project1, suicide for youth is, “the 2nd leading cause of death,” and “1 out of 6 students nationwide (grades 9-12) seriously considered suicide in the past year.” These statistics alone are a problem that schools and society need to start taking more seriously.

A Nation’s Shame: The Epidemic of Homeless LGBTQ Youth

By : Britney Achin October 19, 2017 Comments Off

*Note: This article was originally published on Pride Pocket prior to merging with MyUmbrella* The facts of the matter, laid bare by an educational document produced by The National Alliance to End Homelessness, are grim: Homeless youth are typically defined as unaccompanied youth aged 12 to 24 years. The National Alliance to End Homelessness’ typology of homeless youth includes four major categories: runaway (fleeing youth), transitory or episodic (couch surfing youth), unaccompanied homeless youth (shelter hoppers), and street dependent youth (squatters and travelers).In 1999, the Second National Incidence Study of Missing, Abducted, Runaway and Thrownaway Children (NISMART II) was published. The study determined that 1.7 million adolescents experienced at least one episode of homelessness each year.Seven different studies of homeless youth in the U.S. have concluded that approximately 20 percent

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