Degree Year

2015

Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Comparative American Studies

Advisor(s)

Wendy Kozol

Committee Member(s)

Evangeline Heiliger
Meredith Raimondo

Keywords

Queer, LGBTQ, Youth studies, LGBTQ youth, GLSEN, Anti-bullying, Internet community, Tumblr, Gay Straight Alliance, LGBTQ allies, LGBTQ community formation, Rural youth, Exurban, Cleveland, Oberlin, Ohio, Queers and Allies Club

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of the resources that exist for LGBTQ youth in the Cleveland area and uses the Queers and Allies Club at Oberlin High School (Oberlin, OH) as a case study in community formation among teenagers who identify as LGBTQ or as an ally to the LGBTQ community. Each chapter addresses potential sources of support, including schools, national organizations, and the Internet while presenting opportunities for improvement in each realm, demonstrating that while some LGBTQ youth resources exist, they are designed for youth in urban areas, leaving students in non-urban communities without access to community or information.

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