Learn / Supporting LGBTQ+ young people
Supporting LGBTQ+ young people
Being LGBTQ+ is not a problem to fix. The risks young people face come mostly from rejection, bullying and isolation, not from who they are.
What it can feel like
Hiding a part of yourself to stay safe. Worrying about how family, classmates or a church will react. Feeling alone, especially in a place where few people seem like you. For some, coming out means losing housing or family support.
Why acceptance matters
Research from the Trevor Project shows LGBTQ+ youth are more likely to consider suicide, and that even one accepting adult makes a measurable difference.
How to be a safe adult
- Listen first. Let them lead and use the name and pronouns they ask for.
- Keep what they tell you private unless their safety is at risk. Outing someone can put them in danger.
- Do not ask for proof or an explanation. Say you care and that nothing changes how you see them.
- Share the Trevor Project Lifeline, 866-488-7386, or text START to 678678.
- If a young person is kicked out or unsafe at home, connect them with Hope House, 205-252-4673, or call 211.