Crisp, C., & McCave, E. L. (2007).

Gay affirmative practice: A model for social work practice with gay,
lesbian, and bisexual youth. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 24, 403-412.

Gay affirmative practice is a set of guidelines that affirms GLB identity as an equally valid and positive
expression of sexuality as heterosexuality that includes:
- Person in environment
- Strengths perspective
- Cultural competency models
- Unconditional positive regard
It does not prescribe any particular theoretical model and works well in a variety of settings

GLB Youth’s Resilience and Protective Factors GLB Youth’s Challenges

- Contact with supportive individuals - Coming out and disclosure
- Supportive school policies - Mental health and substance use
- Individual Factors - Sexuality and sexually transmitted disease
- Harassment and violence

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Skills for Affirmative Practice with GLB Youth
- Knowledge
o Terminology
 Affirmative terms: gay, lesbian, bisexual instead of homosexual; partner instead of
boyfriend/girlfriend
 Challenge abusive/derogatory terms: faggot, lezzie, etc.
o Demographics and diversity
 Diverse group with no one personality type able to embody group
 Be aware of how GLB youths of color have added pressures/stress from racial/ethnic
minority
o Symbols, historical dates, contemporary figures
 National Coming Out Day (Oct 11), Gay Pride Month (June), National Day of Silence
(April), Stonewall Riots (June 1969), Lawrence v Texas (June 2003)
 Rainbow flag, inverted pink triangle, Human Right’s Campaign’s equality sign
 Keep track of athletes and celebrities that identify as GLB
o Experiences with oppression and policies that impact GLB youth
 Limited rights due to federal laws, harassment and victimization from peers, lack of
educational resources at library, blocked internet searches
o Community resources
 Youth groups, gay-straight alliances, GLB affirming programs/centers, faith-based GLB
affirming groups, educational scholarships available for GLB youth
- Attitudes
o Key component of culturally competent practice with GLB youth
o If hold homophobic attitudes can be deleterious to therapeutic relationship
o Important for counselors to be aware of attitudes hold about this population and be aware of
how can influence counseling relationship and work to change negative attitudes
- Skills
o Create safe environment for GLB youth
o Assess GLB youth’s orientation
o Help youth work through stages of coming out process, determine how “out” youth is, and who
supports him/her
o Treat presenting problem, not the sexual orientation, in context of lives as youth and GLB
Crisp, C., & McCave, E. L. (2007). Gay affirmative practice: A model for social work practice with gay,
lesbian, and bisexual youth. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 24, 403-412.
o Work with family members to help accept and support GLB youth
o Refer youth to gay affirmative resources
o Acknowledge negative feelings about GLB youth and work to address them
o Engage in ongoing training and continuing education around GLB issues