April 10th was National Youth HIV & AIDS Awareness Day [1]! Learn more about actions you can take [2].
We don’t need to tell you that health is important. But lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth have different health needs than our heterosexual and cisgender peers. The resources below can help you make sure that your health needs are being taken care of by people who understand those needs. So, check out these resources, learn from them, and teach your peers. Let's create a safe and healthy community.
Sex, etc. [3]: Sex, etc. is on a mission to improve teen sexual health across the country! They have an LGBT specific section [3], and make sure to subscribe to their magazine [4]!
Ambiente Joven [5]: This Spanish-language website is a project of Advocates for Youth dedicated to serving the Latino/a LGBT Community.
Youth Resource [6]: A project of Advocates for Youth, Youth Resource is by and for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth. It takes a holistic approach to sexual health and issues of concern to queer youth.
I Wanna Know [7]: I Wanna Know offers information on sexual health for teens and young adults. Get facts, support, resources, answers to your questions, referrals and access to in-depth information about sexual health, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), healthy relationships, and more.
Advocates for Youth [8]: Advocates for Youth champions efforts to help young people make informed and responsible decisions about their reproductive and sexual health.
Amplify [9]: Amplify is a project of Advocates for Youth and is specifically a youth-driven community working for change. Youth are able to use their voice to bring awareness to issues, take action and advocate for their rights through multi-media.
My Sistahs [10]: My Sistahs is a project of Advocates for Youth that focuses on the sexual and reproductive health of young women of color. This project is run by and for young women of color.
Teen Source [11]: An online resource developed by the California Family Health Council, Teen Source aims to improve the health and well being of young people in California by providing non-judgmental, accurate, and reliable sexual and reproductive health information and resources. You can also find a clinic for testing via their website.
Go Ask Alice! [12] : Go Ask Alice! is a health question & answer internet resource with reliable, accurate, accessible, culturally competent information and a range of thoughtful perspectives, enabling youth to make responsible decisions concerning their health and well-being. Information provided by Go Ask Alice! is not medical advice and not meant to replace consultation with a health care professional.
GYT: Get Yourself Tested [13]: GYT is a partnership of MTV & the Kaiser Family Foundation. This campaign provides the facts on STIs, testing, and protection, as well astips to help young people talk with their partners, parents, and health care provides. GYT also has a testing center locator provided by the CDC.
KNOWIT [14]: Send your 5-digit ZIP code via a text message to “KNOWIT” (566948) to find an HIV Testing Site near you. This is a nation-wide service.
*California Specific*
HOOKUP [15]: HOOKUP sends weekly text messages with sex information and life advice. You can also find the clinic nearest you that provides low- to no-cost sexual health services.
*Bay Area Specific*
The Little Black Book 2 [16]: This comprehensive youth resource guide for the Bay Area has a special emphasis on agencies serving the needs of the LGBTQIQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and Questioning) communities.
*This resource page was supported by the Cooperative Agreement CDC-RFA-DP11-1101 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Links:
[1] http://amplifyyourvoice.org/nyhaad
[2] http://www.gsanetwork.org/news/blog/national-youth-hivaids-awareness-day-gsas-fight-aids/04/04/13
[3] http://www.sexetc.org/topic/lgbtq
[4] http://www.sexetc.org/page/subscribe
[5] http://www.ambientejoven.org/
[6] http://www.amplifyyourvoice.org/main.cfm?actionid=globalShowStaticContent&screenKey=cmpCampaignShow&campaign=youthresource&htmlUid=636da615-5a3b-45f1-9ea8-881563303512&s=amplify
[7] http://www.iwannaknow.org/teens/lgbt/overview.html
[8] http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/
[9] http://www.amplifyyourvoice.org/
[10] http://www.amplifyyourvoice.org/mysistahs
[11] http://www.teensource.org/ts/
[12] http://goaskalice.columbia.edu/
[13] http://www.itsyoursexlife.com/gyt/gytnow/
[14] http://www.aids.gov/knowit.html
[15] http://www.teensource.org/ts/hookup
[16] http://www.dimensionsclinic.org/littleblackbook.html