WASHINGTON, DC — May 10, 2021 — The Trevor Project applauded the Biden Administration’s announcement today that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity among all health care providers and organizations that receive federal funding.
“With the physical and mental health toll of the last year, it’s critical that all LGBTQ people can access the health care they need without fear of discrimination,” said Amit Paley (he/him pronouns), CEO and Executive Director of The Trevor Project. “According to our research, one in three transgender and nonbinary youth stated that they didn’t receive the mental health care they desired in the past year because they didn’t feel a provider would understand their sexual orientation or gender identity. The Trevor Project will continue to work with the administration to break down barriers, expand access to culturally competent health care, and fight back against recent efforts to limit gender-affirming medical care.”
A peer-reviewed study by The Trevor Project found that transgender and nonbinary youth who report experiencing discrimination based on their gender identity had more than double the odds of attempting suicide in the past year compared to those who did not experience gender identity-based discrimination.
If you or someone you know is feeling hopeless or suicidal, contact The Trevor Project’s TrevorLifeline 24/7 at 1-866-488-7386. Counseling is also available 24/7 via chat every day at TheTrevorProject.org/Help, or by texting START to 678-678.
About The Trevor Project
The Trevor Project is the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people. The Trevor Project offers a suite of 24/7 crisis intervention and suicide prevention programs, including TrevorLifeline, TrevorText, and TrevorChat as well as the world’s largest safe space social networking site for LGBTQ youth, TrevorSpace. Trevor also operates an education program with resources for youth-serving adults and organizations, an advocacy department fighting for pro-LGBTQ legislation and against anti-LGBTQ rhetoric/policy positions, and a research team to discover the most effective means to help young LGBTQ people in crisis and end suicide. If you or someone you know is feeling hopeless or suicidal, our trained crisis counselors are available 24/7 at 1-866-488-7386 via chat www.TheTrevorProject.org/Help, or by texting START to 678-678.
