LGBT+ youth in the justice system
Melissa Jonnson on bi+ youth, homelessness, and desistance.
Melissa Jonnson is a PhD student in Clinical Forensic Psychology at Simon Fraser University. Her research focuses on LGBT+ youth in the justice system.
Why are you interested in research on bisexualilty?
Throughout my graduate training, I have become more aware that some
LGBT+ youth are overrepresented in the justice system and that many professionals lack knowledge about how to work with this population.
Given the significant lack of research in this area, I am interested in better understanding (1) the magnitude of justice system disparities across sexual orientation and gender identity, (2) risk and protective factors related to offending, desistance, and justice system involvement among LGBT+ youth (e.g., minority stress, housing instability, professional biases), and (3) the extent to which experiences differ across distinct subgroups of LGBT+ youth (e.g., lesbian versus bisexual girls; cisgender sexual minorities versus TGNC sexual minorities).
I hope that this research will help decrease disparities and increase the quality and accessibility of services for LGBT+ youth at risk.
What is your research about?
I recently published a systematic review and meta-analysis on the prevalence of sexual minority youth in the justice system. More recently, I have begun exploring whether common risk and protective factors are generalizable to LGBT+ youth.
My current research also assesses whether LGBT+ homeless youth experience harsher justice system outcomes (e.g., arrest, conviction) compared to their peers when controlling for rates of self-reported illegal behaviour.
What are the most interesting facts that you have learned about bisexuality from your research?
My recent systematic review found that disparities in justice system involvement differed across gender.
Compared to girls in community samples, about twice as many girls in the justice system identify as lesbian or bisexual.
Rates of gay and bisexual boys, on the other hand, were similar across samples.
Unfortunately, there were too few studies to assess rates of TGNC youth in the justice system. These findings highlighted the importance of considering intersectionality between sexual orientation and gender when looking at experiences of justice system involvement, which has informed my current research.
3 things you wish everyone knew about bisexuality?
Our sexual orientation does not change just because we develop a relationship with someone who is a different gender than our previous partner(s).
Bisexual partners not inherently less trustworthy or more promiscuous than monosexual partners.
Bisexual people often feel excluded from both the gay and straight communities.
How do you define bisexuality?
For me, bisexuality means attraction to my own gender and other genders (not necessarily to the same degree, in the same way, or at the same time).
What do you think are the most pressing concerns within the bisexual community in 2020?
Increasing our visibility and better understanding the diverse ways people can experience bisexuality.
What bi research would you like people to know about?
Although not related to LGBT+ research specifically, Shepherd's (2019) article "Cultural awareness workshops: limitations and practical consequences" raised my awareness about why diversity training is not as effective as many of us would hope or expect. As someone who provides invited talks on SOGIE issues and wants to improve professionals' knowledge, this article is thought-provoking.
Are you bi?
Yes
Does being bisexual change how you approach your research or work?
Yes, I think it makes me more curious about the variation in LGBT+ experiences rather treating sexual and gender minorities as a homogenous group.
Can you tell me a bit about your experience?
I knew I was bi since I was a teenager, even before having my first sexual or romantic encounters. However, since I didn't have much information about or exposure to bisexuality, I didn't fully explore these feelings until I was in my 20s.
As a feminine-appearing person, most people assumed I was straight and, for awhile, I was only out to a few close friends because it didn't seem like a pressing concern at the time.
However, in my late 20s, I realized that I was feeling invisible and inauthentic by not expressing this part of myself with more people.
I wanted to be more involved in the LGBT+ community and to focus my research and clinical work in this area as well. These feelings and goals led me to come out to my family, followed by my work and school colleagues. I am now out to most people in my life and feel passionate about helping people better understand sexuality in all of its beautiful, complex forms.
Learn more about Melissa Jonnson here.