LGBTQ+

Embracing the Spectrum of Gender and Sexuality

LGBTQ+ Featured Charity: True Colors United

LGBTQ+ Featured Charity #2: Mind Out

The LGBTQ+ Community has come a long way in Recent Years! In 1996, 68% of people opposed Gay Marriage while only having 27% support. Fast Forward to 2015 : 60% of people supported Gay Marriage and the Supreme Court in the Case of Obergefell v Hodges Ruled that Same Sex Marriage is officially legal in all 50 States! Recent Data Suggests that Approval for Gay Marriage is at 70% nationwide; a 42% increase over the last 35 years. (Source: Gallup Poll and National Constitution Center)

Still, for the LGBTQ+ Community at large, there is a lot of work to be done!!

Two-thirds (64%) of LGBTQ+ individuals have experienced anti-LGBTQ+ violence or abuse, including verbal, physical, and sexual violence. That’s 2 in 3!! (Source: Stonewall). According to the Center for American Progress, 36% of LGBTQ+ people reported experiencing discrimination in the past year, which is significantly higher compared to 19% of non-LGBTQ+ individuals. The Human Rights Campaign noted that in 2023, 571 anti-LGBTQ+ bills were filed in state legislatures, with 77 becoming law. These laws significantly impact the lives of LGBTQ+ individuals, including restricting access to gender-affirming care and attempting to erase LGBTQ+ people from various public and educational spheres​​.

What’s Worse: According to The Trevor Project's 2023 National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People, about 41% of LGBTQ+ youth seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year​. That’s More than 2 in every 5!! Of the 14% that attempted Suicide, severe impact of discrimination, bullying, and lack of supportive environments on their mental health were most often cited in their suicide attempts!

NONE of this even Cites the very real possibility of LGBTQ+ Rights being severely limited or rolled back by an extremely conservative US Supreme Court; an idea already floated by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.

24 1/2 years into the 21st Century, we must do better!!

Solution 1: We Must have national laws protecting students rights to LGBTQ+ communities nationwide. Congressional laws being past with bi-partisan support would go a long way in ensuring the LGBTQ+ youths of America have protected communal groups of support. Contact your local representatives and implore that for the sake of our children’s health & well being, their rights to after school groups & school support systems must be nationally protected via congressionally passed laws.

Solution 2: We must set aside school time in all four phases of the school system: Pre-school, Grade School, Middle School & High School, to implore teachings of equality while strongly discouraging bullying Nationwide. Using the faces of local students who’ve committed suicide coupled with interviews from the families & friends of their loved ones experiencing the grief of their loss will go a long way in hitting home the true potential dangers of bullying someone to the point of no return. This is an especially important implementation for LGBTQ+ youths, who experience substantially higher rates of suicidal thoughts & attempts than their non-LGBTQ+ peers.

Solution 3: For students in middle school & high school who’ve been prone to bullying others, especially those of the LGBTQ+ community, mandatory full semester (two quarter) Pass/Fail Classes on anti-bullying must be completed. This ensures that such students are not only educated on the potential harm they are inflicting on their peers, but that they are being closely monitored by the school staff on their future actions. Such individuals should be recommended by their last grade school teachers based on their year-long observations of the respective students. This move is also beneficial to the students prone to bullying others, as they now have a teacher as a mentor whom they can confide to their personal problems , since many bullies do so because of at home circumstances.

Solution 4: For Students who are engaging in bullying others who are in such classes suggested in Solution 3, In School Suspensions coupled with individual mentorship from a school staff member would be the next best solution. NOT out of school, these students need mentors & people they can confide their issues to as well. This will not only keep repeat bullies out of the hallways & classrooms, but instill proper education & mentorship to the bully themselves.

Solution 5: With Elections upcoming, vote for officials who are pro LGBTQ+ rights. Doing so will maximally ensure that Laws & Regulations are put into place to protect the rights of the LGBTQ+ community.

While the Solutions tailored mostly to in school bullying rather than the LGBTQ+ at large, it’s important to note that students are the future of our country. Protecting students not only will substantially curb the suicide rates of LGBTQ+ youths, but it will also foster a future where LGBTQ+ rights & acceptance continue to rise. Between protecting our children & protecting our laws, we have a duty to ensure that the LGBTQ+ community lives in a place where there world is recognized, fully accepted, and forever protected!

The Trevor Project Offers 24/7 Crisis Support. If you or someone you love is experiencing a mental health crisis related to LGBTQ+ Issues, refer to the following resources:

Text START to 678-678

Call 1-866-488-7386

Start a Chat here: Trevor Project