GLBTQ RCC NYC USA: Gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, questioning and residential child care in New York City, United States of America

It is impossible to calculate accurately the number of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning (GLBTQ) young people in residential child care as this would depend upon all GLBTQ young people being confident enough and willing to identify themselves as such. An estimate, however, can be made based upon studies of both the general and the residential child care population. Research suggests that between two and nine per cent of young people have had some same-sex sexual experience (National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles, 2000). Given that there are approximately 2500 young people in residential child care in Scotland, this means that a substantial minority of young people who are looked after away from home are GLBTQ.