Does it Get Better? Comparing the Experiences of LGB & Heterosexual Canadians

• In Event: Sexuality, Victimization, and Offending

Abstract

“It gets better”. This is what many young queer individuals are told when they are at their worst. Centered around providing hope to LGBTQ young people, what began as one storytelling video turned into a movement. With over 70,000 videos posted on media sites like YouTube, the term “it gets better” is synonymous with the insinuation that well being improves after adolescence. While much has been written about this movement, little critical analysis has examined if ‘it’ actually gets better, when it does, and for whom.
The study uses factors related to well being, like mental health, social supports, physical health, housing, income and more to determine how these variables change between adolescence and adulthood. Using a national data set with more than 100,000 participants, this quantitative research allows for the comparison between those who identify as queer and those who do not, so as to grasp a more contextualized understanding of the complex inequities faced by lesbian, gay, and bisexual Canadians. By turning a critical eye to the claim that ‘it gets better’, this research aims to illuminate the lifespan experiences of queer folks in Canada.

Author

• Larissa Janssen, Ontario Tech University