Gay teens treated as humans by their families less likely to commit suicide

For years, religious fundamentalists in this country have contended that the fact that suicide and drug use were relatively higher among gay teenagers is "proof" that homosexuality is some sort of mental illness.

New research reveals the rather unsurprising finding that gay children whose parents are accepting of them are far less likely to commit suicide, fall into depression, have unprotected sex or become drug addicts. The risk of such problems is also dramatically lower for kids whose parents don't force them into a bogus 'cure' for their non-illness. Notably, research found that these kids had fewer problems even if members of their family were mildly uncomfortable with their sexual orientation, just so long as they weren't belligerently abusive.

Researchers found experienced high levels of rejection were nearly 8.5 times more likely to have attempted suicide. They were nearly six times more likely to report high levels of depression and almost 3.5 times more likely to use illegal drugs or engage in unprotected sex. That was compared with adolescents whose families may have felt uncomfortable with a gay kid, but were neutral or only mildly rejecting.

So basically, scientists found that kids who are treated by their families as human beings, rather than human garbage, do better in life.

It's sad that this will come as news to some people.