The Trevor Project Is Here for LGBTQ Young People During Pride
By Sam Brinton, Vice President of Advocacy and Government Affairs, The Trevor Project
Founded in 1998 by the creators of the Academy Award®-winning short film TREVOR, The Trevor Project is the world’s largest crisis intervention and suicide prevention organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people under 25.
June is National LGBTQ Pride Month in the U.S., a time to celebrate and honor the voices and experiences of LGBTQ people. As our community celebrates Pride and the progress we have made in old ways and new this year, at The Trevor Project, we’re focused on those who can’t celebrate at all: the many LGBTQ young people who are isolated from supportive and inclusive communities that affirm who they are. And 1.8 million have seriously considered suicide in the U.S. in the past year.
We just released our 2021 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health, which captures the experiences of nearly 35,000 LGBTQ youth.
Seventy percent of LGBTQ youth stated their mental health was “poor” most of the time or always during the COVID-19 pandemic, and nearly half of LGBTQ youth could not access the mental health care they desired.
These staggering rates emphasize the need for greater investment in mental health care and intersectional policy solutions to confront the public health crisis of suicide.
More than 80 percent of LGBTQ youth stated that COVID-19 made their living situation more stressful — and only 1 in 3 LGBTQ youth found their home to be LGBTQ-affirming.
LGBTQ youth who had access to spaces that affirmed their sexual orientation and gender identity reported lower rates of attempting suicide.
“The past year has been incredibly difficult for so many LGBTQ young people because of multiple crises, from the COVID-19 pandemic to the hostile political climate and repeated acts of racist and transphobic violence. This data makes clear that LGBTQ youth face unique mental health challenges and continue to experience disparities in access to affirming care, family rejection, and discrimination,” said Amit Paley, CEO & Executive Director, The Trevor Project.
Our mission is urgent, and our goals are clear: to be here, whenever and wherever LGBTQ youth need us, always 100 percent free. With supportive 24/7 crisis services and peer support; with critical resources to support their mental health and affirm their identities; with year-round advocacy and education initiatives that fight for a safer world, so they can thrive.
Visit The Trevor Project website to learn more.
The Trevor Project is a member of the National Health Council.
