Youth's Lives Every Day
Statement from Kasey Suffredini (he/him), Senior Vice President of Prevention at The Trevor Project:
“For most young people, marriage equality is a settled societal norm, something they’ve simply grown up with. However, as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the first legal same-sex marriages in the U.S. today, it’s important to remember that marriage equality didn’t happen by magic. It’s the product of decades of hard work and perseverance – organizing, educating, sharing our stories and showing people who we are.
We’ve made tremendous progress as a community. And just as importantly, we will continue to make progress.
It’s no secret as we celebrate today’s anniversary that our young people are facing unprecedented legislative attacks all across our country, especially our transgender and nonbinary friends, family members and neighbors. In our research, 90% of LGBTQ+ youth said that recent politics negatively impacted their mental health in the past year.
But there is cause for hope. Last year, our community defeated nearly 90% of the over 600 anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced. And so far, this year, fewer than 5% have passed. This is because in legislative hearing after hearing, in state after state, LGBTQ+ young people and their families are organizing, telling their stories, and changing hearts and minds. When people know us, they support us.
Today is a reminder of our resilience as a community and our effectiveness as advocates of our shared humanity. It’s also an invitation to double down on creating a country that affirms all LGBTQ+ people, especially our young people.
We’re grateful to stand on the shoulders of the brave plaintiffs in the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court case that paved the way for the nation’s first same-sex marriages, as well as peer organizations like GLBTQ Advocates and Defenders and MassEquality, and all the tireless advocates who successfully secured our freedom to marry. At The Trevor Project, we commit to honor this success with continued action toward creating the safe, welcoming and supportive world that all LGBTQ+ young people deserve.”
If you or someone you know needs help or support, The Trevor Project’s trained crisis counselors are available 24/7 at 1-866-488-7386, via chat at TheTrevorProject.org/Get-Help, or by texting START to 678678.
