Joanne Addison and Michelle Comstock

Lesbian, bisexual, and gay teenagers are often chastised or silenced by heterosexist peers and adults. Hostile environments discourage some teens from sharing their identity with friends or family. Moreover, when teens do find helpful resources, they are often tailored to the lives of adults. In response to the resulting isolation, many gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth turn to the Internet to find connection, support, and opportunity for social action. In this essay, Joanne Addison and Michelle Comstock discuss their research on lesbian, bisexual, and gay youth cyberculture emerging out of cyberzines, discussion groups, and support services online. They explore how a unique sense of community is nurtured across boundaries of the "real" world and cyberspace, generating a place for queer youth to articulate their identities and assert their significance as important members of society...