jump to navigation
Print    E-Mail   Share External link. Please review our Disclaimer 

Zebra Coalition® Town Hall Meeting on Substance Abuse Among LGBT+ Youth Orlando, Florida

INTRODUCTION

Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, the Zebra Coalition® is a network of central Florida social service providers, government agencies, schools, and colleges and universities that provide a full continuum of services to at-risk lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and all (LGBT+) youth and young adults. The coalition seeks to provide LGBT+ young people with opportunities to grow up in a safe, healthy, and supportive environment. In 2013, the coalition worked with one of its member organizations, Orange County Public Schools, to incorporate sexual orientation questions into its Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). Survey responses indicated higher rates of alcohol and other substance abuse, as well as easier access to alcohol, among LGBT students. The Zebra Coalition organized a 2014 Town Hall Meeting to present the new findings about LGBT students and increase community awareness of environmental factors that place these students at risk for underage drinking and other dangerous behaviors.

EVENT DESCRIPTION

The Zebra Coalition used social media—Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest—to promote participation in the May 19, 2014, Town Hall Meeting, which was held on the campus of Rollins College. About 75 community members attended and heard from youth, education and law enforcement representatives, community leaders, and LGBT advocates about the risks for underage drinking and related problems facing LGBT youth in Orange County. Attendees also received a packet of handouts, including a summary of YRBS findings and other evidence-based information related to substance abuse prevention. Participants could create their own posters encouraging support for LGBT youth in a photo booth zone; photos could be uploaded to Twitter and other social media using a designated hashtag. Retweets and reposts gave added life to the Town Hall Meeting discussion.  

MEASURES OF SUCCESS

This first-ever public discussion of the risks to LGBT students of a variety of serious life- and health-threatening behaviors—with early alcohol use as a primary problem—was a milestone in bringing attention to the public health needs of this special population. A May 19 feature article in the Orlando Sentinel, “Research unveils turmoil, abuse for local gay students,”and a May 20 article in Watermark Online, “Orange County gay teens at higher risk for suicide, drug abuse,”delivered key points from the Town Hall program to a much wider audience, helping to validate the need for LGBT-targeted prevention. The event spawned several local radio interviews with coalition members and a radio public service announcement. Online and social media messaging relating to the Town Hall Meeting and the new LGBT data from area schools increased youth awareness to risks faced by their LGBT peers. There was a significant increase in participation and support by staff, faculty, and school board members in the Orange County education system who attended the Town Hall Meeting, some of whom had not worked with the Zebra Coalition before and were unfamiliar with LGBT health issues. As a result, several community members have expressed an interest in becoming involved in the coalition’s prevention efforts.

NEXT STEPS

Acting on recommendations made by event attendees, the Zebra Coalition is planning to establish an alcohol abuse/substance abuse support group for underage LGBT youth. In addition, the coalition intends to provide space for an LGBT-identified Alcoholics Anonymous group to meet on a regular basis.

Orange County Public Schools personnel have agreed to collaborate with the coalition to incorporate underage drinking prevention messages into expanded anti-bullying efforts and training curriculum. School personnel also will help strengthen the coalition’s outreach to LGBT youth as part of a forthcoming prevention campaign.

For more information:
Dexter Foxworth
dfoxworth@zebrayouth.org


Return to Success Stories