How Can Mentors Serve as Advocates for LGBTQ Youth?

One of the most interesting findings coming out of David DuBois’ 2011 meta-analysis of youth mentoring evaluations was the fact that program impact seemed to be stronger in programs where the mentors took on an advocacy role in working with their mentees. While this advocacy was somewhat undefined in the meta-analysis report, it sparked a wave of interest across the field about how mentors could be used more purposefully to “advocate” on behalf of the youth they serve. In this piece, Christian Rummell, one of the leading experts on providing mentoring for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (GLBTQ) youth, weighs in on how mentors might support this vulnerable population through advocacy-focused mentoring. His response provides a powerful reminder that it’s not only mentors who can be advocates for these youth, but all of us who play a role in the mentoring field.

On May 21, 2015, Collaborative Mentoring Webinar Series presented a webinar on Welcoming LGBTQ Youth in Mentoring Programs which included discussion on creating a more inclusive program environment to support and ensure the safety of all youth including LGBTQ youth. For more information on this webinar, go to Welcoming LGBTQ Youth in Mentoring Programs.