Do We Need a LGBTQ Audit? Park this reality: One in three LGBTQ teenagers attending the Montgomery County Public Schools (@MCPS) have a plan in place to commit suicide. @mocoboe

by Joseph Hawkins

In March, the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) will survey students, and others, as part of a systemwide Antiracist Audit. You can find information about the surveys and the audit at this website: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/antiracist/.

After MCPS finishes its Antiracist Audit, and based on data presented below, MCPS might ponder undertaking a systemwide LGBTQ Audit. Data from MCPS LGBTQ teens is both concerning and disturbing. Is it not concerning a third of our LGBTQ have in place a plan to commit suicide and another third have no adult they can turn to for help?

Since the 1990’s, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has monitored the health-related behaviors of young people that contribute to causes of death and disability. Monitoring is accomplished through a system of surveys. The official CDC system is referred to as the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS). You can read more about this CDC system at this website: https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/index.htm

Several survey cycles back, CDC started allowing teens to self-identify their sexuality. The two survey questions used to self identify as LGBTQ are:

Which of the following best describes you?

• Heterosexual (straight)

• Gay or lesbian

• Bisexual

• Not sure

Some people describe themselves as transgender when their sex at birth does not match the way they think or feel about their gender. Are you transgender?

• No, I am not transgender

• Yes, I am transgender

• I am not sure if I am transgender

With CDC guidance, Maryland’s Health Department takes this information and generates a “Sexual Identity Report.” You can find the complete report here:

https://health.maryland.gov/phpa/ccdpc/Reports/Documents/2018%20YRBS%20YTS%20Reports/Montgomery/2018MDHS17%20Sexual%20Identity.pdf

From that report, one might notice immediately that MCPS LGBTQ teens are way more likely to be bullied on school property than are straight teen peers—24.7% versus 12.8%. Also, MCPS LGBTQ teens are more likely to have in place a plan to commit suicide than are straight teen peers—34.0% versus 10.7%. Disturbing? Concerning? Perhaps disturbing and concerning enough for a separate MCPS LGBTQ audit?

(Note: The MCPS data below are from 2018. Currently, Maryland is collecting data for the 2021/22 school year.)