Gay Youth

Breaking the silence surrounding gay and lesbian teens.
by
Year Released
1996
Film Length(s)
30 mins
Closed captioning available
Remote video URL

Introduction

Gay Youth is a powerful and accessible educational video for high schools and colleges that breaks the silence surrounding adolescent homosexuality. This important film addresses the ways in which gay and lesbian teens are still at high risk for dropping out of school, drug and alcohol abuse, violence, homelessness, and suicide. By contrasting the tragic suicide of 20-year old Bobby Griffith, a gay teen who could not find acceptance, with the remarkable life of 17-year old Gina Gutierrez, Gay Youth shows us that information, acceptance, and support make enormous differences in the lives of these young people.

Featured review

Gay Youth is a lovely short film, ideal for showing in classrooms... It humanizes young gay people and clearly and forcefully depicts the challenges they face, as well as their desire to be accepted and to be allowed to live like everyone else. As a teaching device, the DVD also comes with a short study guide with recommended questions and an essay called 'Homosexuality: The New Frontier in Sexuality Education' by Andrew Humm of the Hetrick-Martin Institute in New York City.
David Eller
Community College of Denver, Anthropology Review Database

Synopsis

Gay Youth was nominated for the Young Adult Library Association's 2006 Select DVD List. It is also included in WW. Norton's 2009 DVD compilation, Sociology in Practice: Thinking about Inequality. Gay Youth continues to be one of the most widely used educational tools about gay and lesbian young people. Adolescence is a time when teenagers need to feel secure in a peer group. But adolescents who are different often have no one to relate to and suffer isolation and bullying. Gay and lesbian young people are at especially high risk for dropping out of school, drug and alcohol abuse, violence, homelessness, and even suicide. Gay Youth is a powerful and accessible educational video for high schools and colleges that breaks the silence surrounding adolescent homosexuality. Across the nation this award-winning video and its 16-page study guide are being used by educators and organizations that care for young people. By contrasting the tragic death of 20-year old Bobby Griffith, a gay teen who could not find acceptance, with the remarkable life of 17-year old Gina Gutierrez, this important video shows us that information, acceptance, and support make enormous differences in the lives of these young people.

Reviews

If instructors have time and resources for just one videotape, it should be Gay Youth for its insightful treatment of coming out, parental support, peer harrassment, and suicide among gay and lesbian teens.
Robert-Jay Green
California School of Professional Psychology
Students see Gay Youth as an important source for learning about the experiences of lesbian and gay youth. The contrast between the two major stories makes for excellent discussion about the risk factors involved in growing up gay in a homophobic and heterosexist society.
Arnold Grossman
PhD, Dept. of Applied Psychology, Steinhart School of Education, NYU
Gay Youth lets lesbian and gay young people and their families tell their seldom heard stories. It depicts both the pain of growing up on the margins of an intolerant society— and the joy of achieving self-acceptance and confidence.
Hetrick-Martin Institute
New York City

Awards and Screenings

Nominated Young Adult Library Asssociation's Select DVDs, 2006
W.W. Norton's DVD Sociology Compilation: Thinking about Inequality, 2009
CINE Golden Eagle
Silver Apple, National Educational Video Festival
Blue Ribbon, American Video Festival
Silver Award, Short Documentary, Philadelphia International Film Festival
LGBT Festivals: San Francisco, New York, Chicago, Austin, LA, London, Torino, Hamburg, Hong Kong, Sydney
Museum of Modern Art, NYC: Gays and Film Get Reel

Features and Languages

Film Features

  • Closed Captioning
  • Resources for Educators

Promotional Material

Promotional Stills

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