Breaking news of the CDC conducting a study on "at risk" youths of a sexual minority is generating headlines that state the study is the first of its kind. While it might be the first move by the government to take action after too many stories of abuse and suicides in the young LGBTQ community, it seems the world is forgetting that Lady Gaga did it first.

A few years ago, Lady Gaga became very open about her history of struggle with her identity and inner peace. She decided that she didn't want to just share her story of struggle, she wanted to do something about it. Since 2012, Gaga has been working with various partners to find ways to protect the most vulnerable kids in the most at risk times of their lives.

Her "Born This Way Foundation" has been conducting research to look into the mental health and wellbeing of at risk youths for years. The official website states, "The Born Brave Experiences Research is a series of studies focused on improving our understanding of the factors that influence youth engagement, mental health, and emotional wellbeing. Grounded in existing psychological research, the studies are designed to identify the conditions that empower young people to live their best lives and to improve the services and resources available to them online and offline."

So often we hear stories of recovered victims of abuse due to sexual orientation. Projects such as the "It Gets Better" program share the stories of celebrities like Wanda Sykes who share "how it got better." But what about the young people who are still struggling through it?

The incredible pressure to feel included, especially in preteen and early teenage years has proven too much for too many young people. In some less progressive communities, the only support network available is one they are offered by celebrities on Youtube, and the United States Government finally decided that it wasn't enough.

For the first time in history, a government funded study was conducted to assess the level of risk of violence United States youths of a sexual minority are in. Titled "Homophobic Teasing in the Bully-Sexual Violence Pathway," the study is described by the CDC as "the first step in answering the question of whether bullying in early adolescence might be a precursor to sexual violence perpetration in that the need for control and dominance that underlies bullying is transferred to increasingly escalating forms of aggression."

The study conducted found that 8 percent of 1.3 million high school students identified as gay, bisexual, or transsexual. Of that eight percent, 40 percent claim they have seriously considered suicide at some point in their high school careers. 29 percent claimed to have attempted suicide in the year before they took the survey.

In an interview with The New York Times, Dr. Miller, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, said, "We have to start conversations early with young people about healthy sexuality, attraction, relationships, intimacy and how to explore those feelings in as safe and respectful a way as possible."

Brave people like Gaga who have stepped out in front of all of the hate and discrimination to spread knowledge and acceptance have finally gotten the attention of our leaders, and it's a great feeling. We can't forget to thank them!

 

Tags: Lady Gaga cdc lgbt