For Youth: Resources for youth.

A Better Place

Mark A Roeder, 2011 (format: Book)

The story of two boys from two completely different worlds struggling to find themselves amongst a whirlwind of confusion.

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Be Yourself: Questions & Answers for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Youth

PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) (format: Free Download)

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Bulletproof Faith: A Spiritual Survival Guide

Candace Chellew-Hodge, 2008 (format: Book)

Written by a UCC pastor out of her experiences as a gay Christian searching for how to live with integrity while contending with hateful opposition. The spiritual survival tips that conclude each chapter serve not only as summaries but also as direct points of advice for GLBT persons coping with inevitable conflict. A confident, sensible approach to handling the opposition and self-doubt that can undermine a GLBT person’s sense of worth and belonging as a Christian.

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Campus Pride

(format: website)

Check out the Campus Pride website for a wealth of information to empower young people.

Campus Pride serves LGBTQ and ally student leaders and campus organizations in the areas of leadership development, support programs and services to create safer, more inclusive LGBTQ-friendly colleges and universities. It exists to develop, support and give “voice and action” in building future LGBTQ and ally student leaders.

Campus Pride envisions campuses and a society free of anti-LGBTQ prejudice, bigotry and hate. It works to develop student leaders, campus networks, and future actions to create such positive change.

Every year Campus Pride publishes a Lil’ Purple Backpack full of student organizing and social justice tips and tricks, how-to’s and action guides. Make sure the young people in your life have a copy!

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Coming Out Young and Faithful

Leanna McCall Tagert and Timothy Brown, 2001 (format: Book)

Inspired by the Youth and Young Adult Ministries Program of the United Church of Christ, this is a book of coming-out experiences of spiritual teenagers and young adults. Written by teens for teens, and also a good resource for anyone who works with teens.

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Free Your Mind: The Book for Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Youth and Their Allies

Ellen Bass, 1996 (format: Book)

A very accessible basic guide for youth and those who care about them includes many valuable, practical suggestions and pointers to additional resources. Includes chapters on self-discovery and coming out, dealing with friends and first love, dealing with family, defending and asserting oneself in school, finding solace in spirituality, and locating community support, as well as information for parents.

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GLBT National Youth TALKLINE

(format: website)

The GLBT National Youth Talkline provides telephone and email peer-counseling, as well as factual information and local resources for cities and towns across the United States.

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GLBTQ: The Survival Guide for Queer and Questioning Teens

Kelly Huegel, 2003 (format: Book)

A great choice for teens who are gay or questioning their sexuality. Moves through the primary issues of coming out; dating and sexuality; religion; and life at school, work, and home. Gives sound, practical information and advice in an inviting package.

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Guía de Recursos Para Salir Del Clóset

Human Rights Campaign, 2013 (format: Free Download)

El Proyecto Nacional Para Salir del Clóset del HRC es un programa para promover honradez y franqueza sobre el ser gay, lesbiana, bisexual o transgénero en la universidad, en el trabajo y en la comunidad. Esperamos que la Guía de Recursos Para Salir del Clóset de la Human Rights Campaign sea un buen punto de partida en este tu viaje.

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It’s Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, and Sexual Health

Robie H. Harris, 1996 (format: Book)

From conception and puberty to birth control and AIDS, it is a refreshingly open and thorough presentation of the facts of sex—both biological and psychological—which children need now more than ever.

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Know Your Rights

Lambda Legal (format: book)

A website from Lambda Legal for young LGBTQ persons designed to help you know your rights and make sure they’re respected.

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Most LGBTQ are Cyberbullied. Here’s How to Stay Safe Online

(format: website)

A guide for protecting yourself from online bullying.

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Queer: The Ultimate LGBT Guide for Teens

Kathy Belge, 2011 (format: Book)

A humorous, engaging, and honest guide that helps LGBT teens come out to friends and family, navigate their new LGBT social life, figure out if a crush is also queer, and rise up against bigotry and homophobia.

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Rainbow Boys

Alex Sanchez, 2003 (format: Book)

Chronicles the senior year of three gay teens struggling with issues ranging from coming out to first love to an HIV scare.

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Resource Guide to Coming Out

Human Rights Campaign, 2012 (format: Free Download)

There is no one right or wrong way to come out; it is a lifelong process of being more open and true with yourself and others. Throughout the process of coming out and living more openly, you should always be in the driver’s seat about how, where, when and with whom you choose to be open. This guide was designed to help you through that process in realistic and practical terms. This resource is great for school groups, community centers and individuals, and should be a staple in every LGBT library across the country. Whether it’s for the first time ever, or the first time today, coming out may be the most important thing you do all day. Talk about it!

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Resource Guide to Coming Out for African Americans

Human Rights Campaign, 2012 (format: Free Download)

People of color may face unique challenges when they come out as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. To address these issues, the HRC Coming Out Project has developed a resource on coming out in the African-American community. The guide includes the stories of several amazing people from the African-American community who have left their indelible mark on this country.

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Same Gender Marriage – Study Guide

UCC Coalition Publishers (format: Book)

A curriculum designed as a study for youth groups and campus ministries about same-gender marriage. It can be done in one long session, or two shorter sessions.

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The God Box

Alex Sanchez, 2009 (format: Book)

Dramatizes the plight of teens who struggle to balance their homosexuality and their deeply felt religious beliefs. The God Box is well written and youth enjoy reading it. Read the review published in Crossbeams.

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The Journey Out: A Guide for and About Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Teens

Rachel Pollack, 1995 (format: Book)

“You are not alone” is the intrinsic message of this frank, reassuring book aimed at teenagers who either are questioning their sexual orientations or have acknowledged that they are gay. The authors repeatedly emphasize the importance of self-acceptance as they offer advice on such topics as coming out to family and friends, coping with prejudice and rejection, reconciling one’s sexuality with the sometimes conflicting tenets of organized religion and combating myths and stereotypes. An explicit discussion of sexually transmitted diseases concludes with basic facts about AIDS and a characteristically sound admonition: “Become a responsible adult-not a statistic.”

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Transgender College Student Resource Guide

(format: website)

This website provides information and resources for trans youth heading for college.

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Transgender Visibility Guide

Human Rights Campaign, 2013 (format: Free Download)

The Transgender Visibility Guide aims to help transgender people and their loved ones through the process of disclosure in realistic and practical terms. Whether you’ve just come to understand yourself as a transgender person, or you’ve waited years to share what you know to be true about your gender identity with the people around you, this guide will help you take the next step into the kind of wholeness and fulfillment so many transgender people have discovered.

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