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VP Kamala Harris says she plans to 'earn and win' Democratic nomination after Joe Biden drops out and endorses her; New Alabama bill threatens voter rights, legal challenge ensues; Fact-checking GOP claims on immigrants; Water contamination a concern in Midwest flood aftermath.

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President Joe Biden drops his 2024 re-election bid. He's endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris to take his spot on the ticket, and election experts say they see benefits to this decision.

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It's grass-cutting season and with it, rural lawn mower races, Montana's drive-thru blood project is easing shortages, rural Americans spend more on food when transportation costs are tallied, and a lack of good childcare is thwarting rural business owners.

Report finds Black LGBTQ+ youth hardships easing a bit

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Wednesday, March 13, 2024   

A new report said Black LGBTQ+ youth are seeing more equality, in Connecticut and the U.S. but it does not always mean greater opportunity.

The Human Rights Campaign reported around 82% of kids were "out" to someone in their immediate family, showing a growing comfort level they have in being who they are. But the findings also indicate comfort does not always translate into acceptance and can lead to concern.

Ryan J. Watson, associate professor of human development and family sciences at the University of Connecticut and a researcher for the report, said a key takeaway is how Black LGBTQ+ youth face exclusion on several fronts.

"Maybe their Black African American relatives, friends, are in particularly unsupportive of them being a sexual-gender minority, and so, they kind of have stigma from that side," Watson explained. "And then also, the kids in this report are reporting they feel excluded by white LGBTQ youth and populations."

Almost 59% of kids reported they have experienced some form of parental rejection and around three-quarters have dealt with racism from the LGBTQ+ community. The report suggested parents can educate themselves about sexuality and gender identity as well as use the name and pronouns their kids use to define themselves.

The report also found mental health is a big concern. Around 59% of Black LGBTQ+-plus youth screened positive for depression, while close to 40% of those surveyed were diagnosed with anxiety. Watson found the figures alarming.

"We can leverage health professionals, teachers, parents," Watson noted. "But if I were developing an intervention right now to help a particular group of youth, this to me seems like a population in dire need."

Nearly half of Black transgender or gender-expansive youth have unmet mental health needs. Surveys have shown accessing mental health care in Connecticut is a challenge for many Black or minority residents.

Many are concerned about how their gender identity will affect their futures. More than 80% said they want to attend college but almost one-third worry how being LGBTQ+ could harm their future higher education opportunities.

Support for this reporting was provided by Lumina Foundation.


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Vice President Kamala Harris spoke at a political event in Grand Rapids, Mich., in early 2024. (The White House/Wikimedia Commons)

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