Proven: Gay/Straight Alliances Save Lives

A new study of Massachusetts schools published in last month's issue of the journal Psychology in the Schools proves that gay/straight alliances are crucial for making schools safer for gay youth.
The study was conducted in 52 schools with and without support groups for LGB students.
The study states:

Sexual minority adolescents - those self-identifying as lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB) or with same-sex desires or sexual experiences - report higher rates of victimization and suicidality than their heterosexual peers...

We see just how bad it can be for gay youth by looking at an earlier study conducted by the Massachusetts Department of Education. This study shows that LGBT teens are over five times more likey to have attempted suicide than their peers. The same study shows that gay youth are three times more likely than their peers to miss school because of feeling unsafe. They are also three times more likely to have been injured at school.
We now have proof that schools with gay/straight alliances are safer for gay youth. The new study of 52 schools with and without support groups for LGB students reports:

As hypothesized, sexual minority adolescents in schools with LGB support groups reported lower rates of victimization and suicide attempts than those in other schools.

Gay/straight alliances save lives. We have known that to be true for a long time. Finally we have the proof. Now we need to keep these life saving groups in our schools. Anti-gay organizations are trying to take funding away from these groups. Take action now to save gay/straight alliances!