America today is a mess. The country is in shambles and only becoming more polluted with political nonsense daily. At the forefront of the insidious agenda is America’s politicians that have been seeping through the woodwork. The cause for their sudden emergence and attack on rights? Well, if you follow American politics there are probably two names that stick out to you.

The first is judge Amy Coney Barrett. Although she is formally educated in law from the prestigious university of Notre Dame, her personal beliefs are starting to turn the tides towards a more religious, less accepting American government. 

The next snake riding the wave along with her? None other than Brett Kavanaugh. The man who misled state senators willing stating he would not overturn Roe v. Wade, the case that gave women in America the right to do what they choose with their body. 

Now, hear us out before jumping off the page. We wouldn’t be using such rhetoric without fact to support it. 

LGBTQ+ youth in America are facing a wave of hatred. The fear and worry they experience is growing in number each day. Since the supreme court is now majority led by republicans, the country has been slowly tightening the noose around the necks of our community. 

For starters, schools in the south of America can no longer offer guidance and support for students that identify with our community. To make matters worse, legislation exists in Florida that has made it impossible for these children to remain safe. In some instances, schools must disclose to parents if their child is gay. What an invasion of privacy for a country that is supposed to protect life and liberty while supporting the right to the pursuit of happiness. 

With the darkening future of America’s LGBT youth across the country teens and young adults are starting to experience the mental constraints the government is placing on them. 

Across the nation young people see their community, which they have yet had the opportunity to become involved with, being attacked. One of the sacred acts of our community has been attacked many times over, setting the precedent for further oppression from people who feel their Christian values trump the rights of others who lead alternative lifestyles.  

Often those who oppose our lifestyle make damning accusations that we are the group that most puts children at danger, and the incidents aren’t isolated to the USA. On the same token, they also avoid the facts at hand regarding the catholic church and the boy scouts, both run overwhelmingly by people who condemn homosexuality. 

As bad press continues to plague our community, people disregard how it is affecting the youth – but statistics don’t lie. However, these numbers are seemingly overlooked by many who attack us daily. 

The numbers from The Trevor Project are startling, and if you read through the lines of this blog post it is easy to understand why. 

• 45% of LGBTQ youth seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year.
• Fewer than 1 in 3 transgender and nonbinary youth found their home to be gender-affirming.
• 60% of LGBTQ youth who wanted mental health care in the past year were not able to get it.
• 18% of LGBT youth (ages 13-17) attempted suicide in the past year. 
• 1 in 2 LGBT youths (ages 13-17) considered suicide in the past year.

America’s youth live in a period of on demand news. Media outlets life FOX spew misinformation that is slightly below the bar of propaganda. As adults we can hardly avoid the information, but the youth has almost no control of their exposure to such hatred. It’s no wonder why America’s youth is feeling so down. 

When will the people railing against us start to understand that it could be affecting someone they love? Will they care? Let us know what you think below because we would love to hear from you about a topic that is so saddening. 

These stories do not need to lead to further issue. We simply need to change our mindset so we can address the issues we see. We cannot win everyone, but we can help those who most need us. 

Mental health is the biggest problem plaguing the LGBT youth in America. If you grew up in the 90s you may have felt some discomfort about your sexuality. Moving in the early 2000’s and 2010s there was a surge in acceptance for our community. Youth during this time was greatly exposed daily to more acceptance. It isn’t to say that everyone cared about our community, that would be absurd. However, the nasty truth is that this golden age of acceptance seems to be moving in the wrong direction in recent years. 

So, if someone you know is starting to feel that life is hopeless, what can you do to support them? Whether they identify as trans, cisgender, gay, straight, lesbian or pansexual, many organizations exist to help you support them.

First and foremost you need to recognize the signs of suicidal depression. Then, start by asking non-intrusive but direct questions.

• How are you coping with negativity in your life?
• Do you ever feel like throwing in the towel and giving up?
• Do you think about dying?
• Are you considering hurting yourself?
• Have you thought about ending your life?
• Have you ever thought about or tried to commit suicide before?
• Have you thought about how to commit suicide?

If any of these questions result in a yes, you should follow up with how immediate the actions may be carried out and seek immediate help. However, if the answer is no, you should still offer support and get help. 

If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts because of the recent backlash towards our community, you can ask for help. There are people that care, and you only need to look to find them. 

Below is a list of numbers you can use to get the help you need for yourself or someone you love. 

How to Support LGBTQ Children

How to Support Kids Who Are Questioning

Transgender Children: A Mother’s Story

Transgender Kids and Gender Dysphoria

Quick Facts on Gender Dysphoria

If you landed on this page and feel affected by the negativity the world is spewing, try to ignore it. Just remember, it gets better.