Becoming An Ally for LGBTQ+ Youth

Lesson 1: Pro Tip: It Starts With You

If ever there was a time to stand up as an ally for LGBTQ+ youth, it would be NOW.

Since 2024 when we started this project, US state legislatures have introduced more than 520 anti-LGBTQ+ bills, a record-breaking number. A substantial percentage of these bills specifically target transgender youth. In fact, experts in a January 5th post from the Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention and Human Security name what is happening to trans folx in the United States as a “genocide”.

Our government is literally working to eliminate all trans people. This is the environment we are navigating and our young people are coming of age in.

Obviously, this environment is taking its toll on LGBTQ+ youth mental health. Here are just a few things we have learned from The Trevor Project, the leading suicide prevention and crisis intervention nonprofit organization for LGBTQ+ young people:

Up to 9 out of 10 LGBTQ+ students reported being harassed or bullied in the past year

66% of LGBTQ+ youth reported experiencing recent symptoms of anxiety, and 53% reported symptoms of depression. These rates are even higher for transgender and nonbinary youth.

39% of LGBTQ+ youth seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year, including 46% of transgender and nonbinary young people.

An estimated 20-30% of the LGBTQ+ youth abuse substances, compared to about 9% of the general population.

We know that this is a lot to digest. Take notice of how your brain and body are doing after taking in this information. As adult allies, we deserve our own resourcing and care to settle our nervous systems and ground before we can connect to and show up for our young people.

In Lesson 1 of the Queer Futures Now Network curriculum, you are invited to:

1. Listen to Episode 1 of The Queer Futures Now Podcast: We Are Not Aliens if you haven’t already

2. Take a look at the Trevor Project’s 2024 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People.

3. List 3 supports you have in place for yourself (for example: spiritual practice; trusted friends/family; therapy; body work; arts practice; good food/movement, etc.)

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Make sure to subscribe to Queer Futures Now here on Substack. When you do, you become part of the Queer Futures Now Network, a virtual support community facilitated by our partners at HEAL Plus New Mexico. The Queer Futures Now Network is for parents, families, educators and the rest of us who are ready to show up on behalf of queer and trans youth…now.

Each week, you will receive an email with new lessons like this one with tools and resources to add to your ally toolbox.