Articulating identities: Language and practice with multiethnic sexual minority youth

Abstract

Clinicians working with sexual minority youth (SMY) should be knowledgeable about the contemporary language around sexuality and gender used by adolescent clients. Such knowledge contributes to the clinical environment and aids clinicians in developing therapeutic relationships. However, individuals working with SMY should also be aware of the potential impact of social environment and individual context on SMYs language and terminology. This paper discusses the role that socio-demographic and contextual factors may play in access to discourses of sexuality and sexual identity taxonomies for a population of multiethnic sexual minority youth (MSMY) (n = 500) from Miami-Dade County, Florida. The study population is comprised of primarily Black, non-Hispanic (31.4%), and Hispanic (65.4%) SMY; 94.2% identify using traditional sexual identity terminology, including lesbian (38.1%), gay (25.7%), and bisexual (28.1%). The impact on clinical practice and counseling with SMY is discussed throughout.

Keywords:

• sexual minority youth
• LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer/questioning)
• adolescence
• clinical
• practice
• language
• terminology

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the amazing contributions of the youth participants and staff of The Alliance for GLBTQ Youth. Gratitude is also due to the Children's Trust of Miami Dade County for funding the youth programs.