Research shows that LGBTQ youth who experienced discrimination attempted suicide at more than twice the rate of those who did not in the past year.
WASHINGTON, DC — The Trevor Project, the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people celebrated the formal reintroduction of the Equality Act, which would amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to protect LGBTQ people from discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, public education, federal funding, credit, and the jury system. The bill had passed the House of Representatives in 2019 but stalled in the Senate. If passed by the full Congress and signed by President Biden, the Equality Act would be the most sweeping federal LGBTQ civil rights legislation ever to become law in U.S. history.
“It is long past time for Congress to pass the Equality Act and protect LGBTQ people from discrimination across all areas of society and everyday life,” said Amit Paley (he/him pronouns), CEO and Executive Director of The Trevor Project. “Research shows that discrimination on the basis of one’s sexual orientation or gender identity is associated with negative mental health outcomes and increases suicide risk. Our government should send a strong message to LGBTQ young people that they deserve to live their lives with dignity and respect — and without fear of being treated differently for who they are.”
According to The Trevor Project’s 2020 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health, 60% of LGBTQ youth reported experiencing discrimination due to either their sexual orientation or gender identity — and those who experienced discrimination attempted suicide at more than twice the rate of those who did not in the past year. Further, a recent survey by The Trevor Project conducted between October and December of 2020 found that over 90% of LGBTQ youth said that recent politics negatively influenced their well-being.
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.
