New TEEN LINE Educational Video: LGBTQ

May 14, 2015

LGBTQ: Understanding Sexual Orientation and Gender Identities is the latest educational video by TEEN LINE. Hear from several youth in Los Angeles, CA about their coming out process, support, and embracing their identities. Professionals speak to the importance of support, safety, and celebrating individuality.

We’re very excited to share this video with you, especially gearing up for pride month in June. Watch below:

Thank you to everyone who was involved in the making of this video-
We couldn’t have done it without you!

Are you a middle or high school teacher in Los Angeles? Request our LGBTQ outreach! Our video will be made available for purchase in our store this summer. Find out about our outreach and how to request us here.

TEEN LINE is a helpline for teens by teens. We’re open 6-10pm Pacific Time. Teens are trained to talk about suicide, depression, LGBTQ, sex, and more. You can contact us via phone, text, and email. Teens needing more support, please reach out here: Get Help Now

This video was made possible with generous support from The Matthew Silverman Memorial Foundation.

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Comments

  • Congratulations to you Jane and all those who helped make this video possible.
    It is beautifully presented.
    Thank you for making this available to many.

  • Bravo !!! Amazing Video.
    Congratulations to all of you who made this video possible.

  • Your Video is Informative & Presented Positively. I Loved That About Your Video. However, I’m Concerned That The Video Did Not Adequately Warn Of Potentially Negative Consequences of Coming Out. 40% of Homeless Youth Are LGBT & Adolescents/Students Coming Out Should Be Advised To BePrepared To Financially Support Themselves If Their Parents Response Is Rejection. You Should State That The Teen Line Will Be Nonjudgemental & A Safe Place To Find Someone To Talk To And Strongly Encourage Use Of Your Counseling Services. While I Don’t Want To Discourage Anyone SeekingSelf Discovery, I Would Hate To See You Encourage Vulnerable Young People To Take Irreversible actions That Could Damage Their Relationship With Their Parents Before They Are Ready To Be Self-Sufficient. Many College Kids Still Deprnd Upon Parents To Help Them Pay For Their Education, Which Is Crucial To A Young Adult’s Future. Many Parents Are Supportive And Society Is Getting Safer, Slowly, However, Safety In Coming Out Is Extremely Important. People Still Have Very Emotional & Unpredictable Responses To The Important Issues Your Video Addresses.

    • Thank you so much for the feedback about our video! We do mention in the video that sometimes there are still families that are not safe and welcoming, so we do stress coming out only when it is safe for someone. That’s why we also mention alternative sources of support and communities to look for. We wanted to fit so much more in our video, yet we ran out of time! Also, there are ample sources out there already highlighting the dangers, so we wanted to shine a light that there ARE families accepting more and more and that positive change is happening. For each suicide or statistic we hear about in the media, we want to inspire hope and remind folks there are positive stories. Thank you again for taking the time to watch and write!

      • I Came Out As Gay to myself and a select few others while I Was in High School and Came Out to some Family During College. Most of My Experiences Were Positive, But I Have Had Some Trouble With Homophobes In The Workplace. I am now 50 Years Old and Retired Early. I Knew A Lesbian Who Came Out In College To Conservative Parents And Couldn’t Complete College Because of Her Parents Rejection. I’m No Longer Significantly Worried About My Future But Young Students Are In A Different Part of Their Lives & Are Still Vulnerable. Same-Sex Marriage Is Now Legal In Many Places, But In Most Places In USA You Can Still Be Fired& In Some Places Be Denied Housing For Being LGBT.

        Good Luck In Your Admirable Work. –GSF

      • Good day, ever since i opened up here things haven’t really been right lotta trash talks and other form of violence pls i need help to get outta this mess

        • So sorry things have been difficult. I encourage you to call our hotline between 6-10 CA time any night at 310-855-4673 or text teen to 839863, or check out our message boards on our website.
          You can also contact Trevor Project at http://www.thetrevorproject.org if you want to talk to someone who identifies on the LGBTQ spectrum.
          Best,
          Teen Line Staff

        • I feel for you Sweetie. You are a beautiful person who deserves respect. My son just came out to me and I couldnt imagine any thing other than full support. I hope you find love.

  • Thank you thank you thank you for this and for providing youth with yet another form of validation for being.
    You are all such beautiful young people and your courage, well, I stand in honor of you all.

  • My name is Gary, my partner, well husband now have been together 27 years. PLEASE! if you are in the Huntsville, Al area and need help please get in touch with us. We will do everything possible to help you.

    • Hi Eileen, thank you for your question! The “Q” stands for Queer or Questioning. Some teens identify just as queer. Others who are questioning are unsure of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

  • I have had a dear friend (yyea sorry) He was my best friend not lot like that that he wanted to be saved pls we been jokin since 1 Knew how he felt they hated me for excepting it. trass I miss you

  • I thought this was very inspiring I just wish I could come out. Should I tell my strict christian parents I’m lesbian? I’m 13

    • Hi Josie,

      Glad our video touched you.

      You need to make sure it is safe before you come out. If you don’t think your parents will accept you, it might not be the best time. Perhaps there is someone else in your life that you can talk to and be open with. You can always call us at 310-855-4763 between 6-10 PM California time or text “teen” to 839863 to talk further. We are here for you!

  • I love this video. It is really helpful and inspiring. I am 11 and think I may identity as trans, but not sure. Can I call the Teen line even though I am not a teen?

    • Hi Kennady,

      Great to hear you find the video helpful and inspiring! You can still call us if you need to talk to one of our teens. You can also contact Trevor Project at http://www.thetrevorproject.org if you want to talk to someone who identifies on the LGBTQ spectrum.

      Best,
      Teen Line Staff

    • Definitely a fan of the I am jazz series! I’m a straight 45 yr old married female with 3 daughters and I’m always aiming to learn all I can and remain open minded. My question though is what does the q mean at the end of lgbtq? Hoping to help others in understanding love and acceptance <3

      • Hi Janna,

        Thanks for your message! The “q” stands for queer or questioning. Some teens identify just as queer while others who are questioning are unsure of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

        -TL Staff

  • I run an LGBTQ group at a community mental health clinic and watched the video with the teen members of the group. They loved it!

  • My parents are homophobic and I wanna come out to them. The problem is since they’re homophobic I don’t know if there will ever be a “safe time” to come out should I just come out to them now like I’ve been wanting to for years? -I’m 17

  • “Hi i’m Zack and i’m gay and have told only 6 people and non of the which are my family members I need help trying to tell my parents. I am 14 and figured out I was gay when I was 11 years old. “Also I have been picked on by being gay by people I thought were my friends but are not I just don’t pay attention and ignore them so yah just need advise about how to handle all this i ask the same questions am I normal?”

    • HI Zack,

      Thanks for reaching out. I’m sorry that your friends aren’t acting like friends. There is nothing wrong with being gay. Please call us to talk to one of our teens at 310-855-4673 between 6-10 PM CA time. You can also contact Trevor Project at http://www.thetrevorproject.org if you want to talk to someone who identifies on the LGBTQ spectrum.
      Best,
      Teen Line Staff

  • HI Zack,

    I really encourage you to call our hotline and talk further or join our message boards. You will get much better help and feedback.
    Best,
    Teen LIne Staff

  • My name is Steven And I am gay. I have only told my birth family that I was gay. But I am a bit unsure about telling them. I had a boyfriend though only for a week,he lives half way around the world so we had only used video chat to see each other. Today however, was the last day of our relationship. It did hurt a lot. So make sure that you have a great support group to help out in the time of need.

    • well if you ever come back to talk on this web site all give you my number cause i was adopted and have never meet my brother or birth family im trying to find my brother who is in his 20 so it would be cool to talk to you.

  • i dont understand how the teen line can have a page for people like me if all they do is ship us off to talking to somone else what if this was the only way we can communicate

    • Hi Zack,

      Our teen volunteers don’t manage the comment sections on our blog posts. They do however answer calls, texts, and emails every night. If you’re not able to call or text our hotline for help, you can email us at the following link if it’s better for you to communicate this way. Please submit your email to our teens by visiting this link: https://teenlineonline.org/talk-now/

      We hope to hear from you soon.

      Take care,
      Teen Line Staff

  • “Hay Zack i see what your saying but maybe there is only so much they can do you know like mabye this is all they can do.”

  • My name is Aaron Fliegler of Carson City Nevada and im Gay! my phone number is 775-720-8823 if you would like to congradulate me!

  • Hi. my name is Alejandro Cardenas. I’m 16 years old and I’m gay. I have a fear I’ve keeping to myself for years. you see, I’ve never been in a relationship before and sometimes I wonder if I ever will. I’m not much of a social person and I don’t have any friends. I fear I will die old , lonely and sad. What should I do? Please, I need help, or some guidance.

  • Ever since I came out, I’ve been getting beat up and have gotten the cold shoulder from a lot of my family members. Some guy found out i was gay and groped me but i beat him he had to wear a neck brace for 2 months and now everyone leaves me alone.

  • I’m at a difficult time in my life. I have only come out to one person- my best friend- but I feel its too soon to come out. I am bisexual. But I’m also only 13. I have nowhere to go and I feel trapped. I need help. Someone please respond and help me understand what to do. I want to come out. Should I? Is it too soon?

  • HI LJ,

    thanks so much for reaching out. I’m glad you have one person that you have been able to come out to. Before you decide to come out to your parents or anyone else, please make sure it is safe to do so. You can call us at 310-855-4673 between 6-10 PM CA time to talk further about your situation or check out our message boards on our website.

  • Hi everyone and it’s nice seeing this video, really good and I love the presentation.
    I’m 16 lives with a guidian because my parents couldn’t just take it from me as Gay. Thus is because here in our society, it’s a taboo to come out or speak about it in public. Right now my guidian is changing his mind in his support as a result or my new identity. How do I maintain my stand and how do I face my future to enable me complete my studies as a college student. Thanks ad you help asap.

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