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    • Use of LGBTQ+ crisis hotlines rises during 2024 election
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    Use of LGBTQ+ crisis hotlines rises during 2024 election

    Harry Posted on

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    The use of crisis services for the LGBTQ+ community saw a sharp increase during election week, according to a national LGBTQ+ organization.

    Since midnight Tuesday, The Trevor Project’s classic crisis services, which include lifeline, chat and text, have experienced a nearly 125% increase in contact compared to normal days, Jaymes Black, CEO of The Trevor Project, said in a statement Wednesday afternoon.

    This raid follows: 200% increase in election-related conversations The Trevor Project’s classic crisis services were reported on 3-4 November. Key words such as “choice” and “right” were used to determine this figure. newsletter.

    The increased outreach to The Trevor Project comes after the LGBTQ+ community was frequently thrust into discourse during the presidential campaign and the community felt anxious about future legislation.

    ‘Making sure the vulnerable among us are connected’

    Local, regional and national LGBTQ+ organizations have been offering expanded resources ahead of the election and since the results were announced Wednesday morning. former President Donald Trump was elected about to serve a second term.

    Aaron Schekorra, general manager GLO Centeran LGBTQ+ resource center in Southwest Missouri, said amid its frustration and fear its priority is to provide resources to the local queer community. presidential election results. GLO Center for a few hours on Wednesdaypost election relief“

    On a larger scale, organizations such as Trevor Project They continue to operate crisis service lines due to the influx of gay individuals seeking support.

    “One of the most important works we can do is to ensure that the vulnerable among us are connected to our communities,” Schekorra told USA TODAY. “This way, when we begin to feel the effects of this election beyond the immediate impacts on mental and emotional health, we can respond and work to keep these individuals safe, providing them with the resources they need.”

    There is an influx of election-related calls to helplines

    The Trevor Project’s 2024 U.S. National Survey of LGBTQ+ Youth Mental HealthThe research, conducted in late 2023, found that 90% of LGBTQ+ youth felt their well-being had been negatively impacted by recent politics.

    “The Trevor Project wants LGBTQ+ youth to know that we are here for you, no matter the outcome of the election,” Black said in the statement. he said. “LGBTQ+ youth, your (lives) matter and you were born to live (to them).”

    While not solely dedicated to the LGBTQ+ community, Crisis Text LineA nonprofit organization that provides free, confidential, text-based mental health support and crisis intervention. election helpline On September 16. The 24/7 toll-free line allows people with concerns directly related to the upcoming election to connect with mental health monitors, clinicians and volunteers. As of Thursday morning, the polling line remained open.

    A Crisis Text Line spokesperson said there have been more than 1,500 conversations mentioning politics on the text line since the beginning of September, and there has been an increase in LGBTQ+ people using the service.

    As of Friday, Nov. 1, 48% of Crisis Text Line users identified as LGBTQ+, the spokesperson said. On Election Day, the number of LGBTQ+ users increased to 56%.

    “LGBTQ+ stress was also one of the sources of election and politics-related stress in our conversations with texters, often appearing as issues such as conflicts between loved ones, losing friends over political debates, conflicts over social media posts,” Crisis Text said. Crisis Text Line spokesperson told USA TODAY.

    Sarah McBride: First transgender person elected to the US Congress

    Gender-affirming care, among other concerns

    Gender-affirming care Social transition (a non-medical transition) for gay individuals, especially children, is among the key concerns of the LGBTQ+ community, as opposition to transgender rights has been part of Trump’s campaign.

    According to the report, as of October 9, before the election, the Trump campaign and some Republican groups had spent more than $21 million on anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-trans television ads. ABC News.

    During a rally at Madison Square Garden in October, Trump told supporters that he would “remove the transgender craze from our schools and keep men out of women’s sports.” Associated Press news.

    Elizabeth Ortiz-Schwartz, a psychiatrist at Silver Hill Hospital in Connecticut, has been working with LGBTQ+ youth for 20 years. He said that ahead of this year’s presidential election, many LGBTQ+ young people expressed fear of social transformation due to concerns about violence, bullying and rejection. These concerns are different from the concerns of previous years.

    “Previously, there was a sense of fitting in better and having a supportive environment in schools in other settings, but now they feel like they can’t rely on their peers and other adults to support their needs,” Ortiz-Schwartz told USA TODAY.

    Brent Satterly, a professor of social work at Widener University in Pennsylvania, has been married to her husband since 1993, before same-sex marriage became federally legal in 2015. Looking to the future, Satterly said he is worried about the state of his marriage.

    “I never thought I’d see marriage equality in my lifetime, and now I’m scared it’s going to be reversed,” Satterly said.

    Trump’s views on gay marriage have been inconsistent for years.

    Trump said during his 2016 campaign: think hard Appointing Supreme Court justices to overturn the 2015 gay ruling because he believed gay marriage was a “states rights issue.” But after winning the 2016 presidential election, Trump said he had no plans to overturn the decision because “This matter was decided in the Supreme Court.”

    ‘Connect’

    Schekorra expressed the importance of gay people connecting with their communities.

    “We know there’s been a lot of isolation in the past for the gay community after disappointing elections. People isolated themselves after those results, and that’s often not the best thing for people to do,” he said. “There’s really no great answer other than plugging in and finding a support system because if you don’t have a support system before, you’re going to need one.”

    Schekorra repeated happily. If connecting with other gay people in person isn’t an option, Satterly suggested finding a gay family online.

    an example TrevorSpaceAn online community for LGBTQ+ individuals ages 13-24. TrevorSpace, hosted by The Trevor Project, offers features such as discussion forms and a writers’ club. The community is free and participants are required to become members for security reasons.

    How can allies help?

    Satterly said the most important thing allies can do is not minimize the concerns of LGBTQ+ families and friends.

    Satterly also suggested practical care, like cooking a home-cooked meal, offering to do someone’s laundry, taking a friend out to lunch, or just sitting at home and watching a movie together.

    “A good clinical strategy is that when someone wants to talk about something, it’s good to ask: ‘OK, do you want a hug, do you want food, do you want to problem solve, or do you just want me to shut up (and listen)?’ Satterly said. “These are good strategies instead of coming in and saying, ‘This is what you need to do.’”

    A look at Trump’s anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, rhetoric

    Trump has supported some anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and those who support it since his first election in 2016.

    The Trump administration encouraged the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2018. stop using words Official documents include terms like “transgender,” “diversity,” “vulnerable” and “science-based.”

    In 2019, Trump opposed passage of the Equality Act, a bill that would have amended the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to ban discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation and gender identity. The bill is still being discussed and it hasn’t been passed yet.

    During his time in office, Trump banned transgender people from serving openly in the military, publicly funded HIV/AIDS studies around the world, and banned health care providers from reporting HIV/AIDS based on prior knowledge. USA TODAY reports.

    USA TODAY contacted Trump’s campaign for a statement regarding the president-elect’s positions on LGBTQ+ legislation but did not receive a response by deadline.

    Need to talk? Here are resources for the LGBTQ+ community

    • LGBT National Helpline: Call 888-843-4564
    • LGBT National Youth Talkline: Call 800-246-7743
    • LGBT National Senior Helpline: Call 888-234-7243
    • Trevor Project: Chat online at: thetrevorproject.org/get-help/Call 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 678-678.
    • SAGE (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Elderly Services and Advocacy) Hear Me: Visit sageusa.org/hearme/ to create a free account
    • Trans Lifeline: Call 877-565-8860

    If you or someone you know is considering self-harm, call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.

    Greta Cross is a national trends reporter for USA TODAY. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross. Story idea? Email him/her [email protected].

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