I Will Survive

Much has been written about gay, lesbian, and bisexual students' negative experience, such as harassment and hate crimes, in high school. This study was undertaken to further explore these issues, as well as to elucidate the positive coping skills, traits, and experiences of the students. Thirty-four current high school students completed a questionnaire containing both original items and previously-developed scales. The majority of the students (73.5%) reported receiving support regarding sexual orientation issues from someone at school, and 41.2% reported that information regarding gay, lesbian, and bisexual issues was available from school staff. However, 35.3% reported a previous suicide attempt, a figure consistent with previous literature. Additional positive and negative high school experiences, as well as their interrelationships, are discussed.