A new study from the Gay, Lesbian, & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) puts sobering numbers to the online experience of LGBTQ youth.

Here are some of the key findings on cyberbullying:

  • Nearly half (42 percent) of LGBT youth reported being harassed or bullied online, three times more than non-LGBT youth. 27 percent reported feeling unsafe online.
  • One in four LGBT youth said they had been bullied or harassed online in the past year because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. One in five experienced similar harassment via text message.
  • A third of LGBT youth had been sexually harassed online, four times as many as their non-LGBT peers.
  • LGBT youth spent more time online, with an average of 5 hours online per day, 45 minutes more than non-LGBT youth. Half of LBGT youth reported having at least one close online friend, as opposed to 19 percent of their non-LGBT peers.

We want you to understand that you aren’t alone, and we will always work to keep your youth bully free. We encourage you to attend our meetings.