February 22, 2023
2:02 pm
The Trevor Project estimates that there are over 1.8 million LGBTQ youth in the United States seriously considering suicide each year. Their mission is to end suicide among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning young people. Their programs include Crisis Services, Peer Support, Research, Public Education, and Advocacy. For more information visit their website at The Trevor Project.
For immediate support and connections to a crisis counselor, please visit Reach A Counselor.
February 16, 2023
10:58 am
Every student deserves to learn in a safe and supportive setting, free from discrimination. As the Department of Education has reaffirmed, discrimination based on sex—including sexual orientation and gender identity—isn’t just wrong, it’s prohibited in America’s schools. Yet many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) students experience bullying, harassment, and other discrimination because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
For transgender students in particular, this discrimination can threaten students’ well-being and ability to thrive or even participate in school—one national survey found that transgender students were three times more likely to miss school than other students. Additional research cited in a report from the Department’s Office for Civil Rights found transgender youth were more likely to report feeling unsafe at school and being bullied, and that the COVID-19 pandemic harmed their mental health. Some transgender students experience multiple forms of discrimination at once, including race, gender or disability discrimination, which amplify the challenges they face.
For more ways schools can support transgender students, visit the U.S. Department of Education’s guidance Supporting Transgender Youth In School.
