Suicide hotline sees increase in trans teens calling as state debates anti-trans laws

transgender, teen, texas, texans, suicide
Photo: Shutterstock

This year so far, roughly 4,000 transgender and non-binary youth in Texas have called The Trevor Project, a suicide hotline for LGBTQ youth.

They’ve told The Trevor Project’s crisis counselors that they’re feeling stressed, using self-harm, and considering suicide because of the wave of anti-LGBTQ laws being considered by their state’s legislators, the Los Angeles Blade reported.

Related: Vote now for your LGBTQ Nation Hero of the Year

Of the 10,800 crisis contacts (calls, texts, and chats) that have come into The Trevor Project from Texas this year, 3,900 came from trans and non-binary youth. That’s roughly 36 percent of the state’s total crisis calls into The Trevor Project.

Furthermore, crisis contacts to The Trevor Project within the state have increased 150 percent during 2021 compared to the same period from last year.

“The Trevor Project’s crisis counselors have been hearing from transgender and non-binary youth in Texas who are scared and worried about anti-trans laws being debated in their state — and some have even expressed suicidal thoughts,” Amit Paley, CEO and Executive Director of The Trevor Project told the aforementioned publication.

“This is a crisis. We urge Texas lawmakers to consider the weight of their words and actions — and to reject [anti-trans legislation],” Paley added.

This year’s slate of anti-trans bills included one to ban trans students from playing school sports and another bill that would redefine child abuse to include parents who allow a doctor to give their trans children gender-affirming health care.

Democrats successfully blocked Republican legislators from passing the bills during the normal legislative session. But even after that, state Republicans still introduced at least 12 anti-trans bills for consideration during a special legislative session called by the state’s Republican Gov. Greg Abbott.

Ricardo Martinez, the executive director of Texas Equality, told the Texas Signal, “This is all placating to a small, but loud fringe minority, and for anti-LGBTQ and anti-equality legislatures, this is just another opportunity to garner some votes.”

If you need to talk to someone now, call the Trans Lifeline at 1-877-565-8860. It’s staffed by trans people, for trans people. The Trevor Project provides a safe, judgement-free place to talk for LGBTQ youth at 1-866-488-7386.

Don't forget to share:

Support vital LGBTQ+ journalism

Reader contributions help keep LGBTQ Nation free, so that queer people get the news they need, with stories that mainstream media often leaves out. Can you contribute today?

Cancel anytime · Proudly LGBTQ+ owned and operated

Jake Gyllenhaal discusses the “stigma” of playing a gay character in Brokeback Mountain

Previous article

Students sue school that banned Pride flag for discriminating against LGBTQ club

Next article