Perhaps one of TV's chief advocates in giving teens who felt like they never really fit in was 'Glee'. High school is never an easy place to be, especially when you are growing up and trying to establish your own identity.
Growing up is especially hard, nevertheless if you feel like you will never fit in. In a world where everything is black and white, what happens if you see things a little differently? What if your world was a little more 'colorful'?
The latest studies have revealed that lesbian, gay, transgender, and bisexual youth have found that the benefits of 'coming out' are certainly far better than the risks of being bullied or discriminated.
The study also says that teens who are more open about their sexuality tend to have higher self-esteem. They also tend to have lower bouts of depression growing up, compared to their peers who are more closed off when it comes to their sexual orientation.
Researchers managed to obtain data from the Family Acceptance Project, a project dedicated to prevent risk and ensure the well-being of LGBT children and adolescents.
The survey was composed of 245 non-Latino white and Latino LGBT youth, aged 21-25. The survey showed that the respondents experienced bullying and victimization in high school due to their sexual orientation, regardless of whether they came out or not.
According to the American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, these findings are of great significance as young adults are coming out at younger ages.
"Until now, a key question about balancing the need to protect LGBT youth from harm while promoting their well-being has not been addressed: do the benefits of coming out at school outweigh the increased risk of victimization? Our study points to the positive role of coming out for youth and young adult well-being," Professor Stephen Russel at the University of Arizona says.
Given this knowledge, should the youth put aide all fears of being discriminated and bullied? With the advent of strong LGBT characters in shows like Glee, the youth would find that they are not alone in the journey of self-discovery.
Celebrities have also helped in the advocacy of coming out without fear of being rejected by society. 'Juno' star Ellen Page admitted that she was gay. While it came as a shock for many, Page says she has 'no regrets'
"The more time went by, the more something just happened, an Oh my god - I want to love someone freely and walk down the street and hold my girlfriend's hand," she told Flare magazine.
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