The Trevor Project

When I look at the LGBTQ+ community, I am amazed at the resiliency of this group. For many in this minority group, they present to the public smiles and love and hide their fears and scars. But when I read statistics such as: forty-percent of our homeless are LGBTQ+ youth, over 55% have contemplated suicide, 45 percent experience bullying in schools, and LGBTQ+ youth are 4 times likely to attempt suicide due to bully according to The Trevor Project. I have learned to slow down and when I ask who someone is doing, really let them know, I want to know how they are doing., is there anything I can help them with?

I’ve heard ignorant people speak about the mental health of the LGBTQ+ community, citing higher suicide attempts as an indication of being mentally ill. They ignore the stigmatization this group endures at the hands of misinformed bigots. LGBTQ+ members are told it’s a choice, it’s not real, and refuse fundamental support due to identification of these individuals.

If you felt unloved, unheard, and unvalued as a human being by people you have loved unconditionally from birth how bright is your future? If you are told your preferences, likes, and dislikes are mental illness, who would you open up to? Who would you trust? I ask you, the next time someone states LGBTQ+ are mentally ill, challenge them on their information. Challenge them on their knowledge of bullying. Hold them accountable for the misinformation they are spreading because they continue to hurt more people than they help.

The Trevor Project is a non-profit organization through leading suicide prevention for LGBTQ+ young people. Following the last presidential election, the Trevor Project experienced a 700% increase from LGBTQ+ youth seeking support. This non-profit has been serving the queer community for 30 years and now, more than ever, this service is needed. If you can, please donate your time or a couple of dollars to this much needed organization. We need to keep our minority members safe and healthy…both physically and mentally. We need to let them know they are loved unconditionally for who they are and they are safe to be their true authentic self within our society.

To help please check out the link to the Trevor Project: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/research-briefs/bullying-and-suicide-risk-among-lgbtq-youth/