Remapping the journey of lesbian youth through strength and "truth telling".

The psychological literature provides ample explanations that map out the direction of adolescent development and facilitate the tracking of their progress into adulthood. The "normal" steps or tasks that adolescents need to master in order to become healthy adults are traced within this construct. But lesbian youth end up charting their course without such maps or outlines to guide them. They-whether supported or not by those around them-negotiate development through an alternate route. Their "difference" sets them apart from the adolescent norm and their very existence challenges the heterosexist constructs that misguide, render them marginal, and pose potential risks to their healthy growth and development. This article proposes alternatives to understanding the experience of lesbian youth and emphasizes the need for strength-based interventions that promote understanding, social justice, advocacy, and empowerment.