LGBTQ Suicide Hotline Calls from Transgender Youth More than Double Following Trump's Trans Military Ban Tweet and Texas "Bathroom Bill" Introduction

The Trevor Project Calls on Policymakers to Cease Anti-Transgender Rhetoric

August 2, 2017 (West Hollywood, CA) – Today, the Trevor Project – the nation's largest LGBTQ youth crisis intervention & suicide prevention organization – reported a dramatic spike in calls, text messages and online chats overall, and most specifically from transgender youth following President Trump's tweet regarding transgender military service members and the announcement of the "bathroom bill" in the Texas legislature.

Of the approximately 178 contacts per day (on average) received by The Trevor Project, 7.3 percent typically self-identify as transgender. However, within 24 hours after President Trump's tweet regarding transgender military service members, contacts from transgender individuals spiked to 17.5 percent of all contacts. Furthermore, in the week after the Texas legislature introduced the anti-trans "bathroom bill," contacts from transgender young people doubled to 14.7 percent.

"This data makes clear that our elected officials can no longer ignore that their anti-transgender rhetoric is putting lives at risk," said Trevor Project CEO and Executive Director Amit Paley.  "Anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and legislation directly leads to crisis among our community's young people. While The Trevor Project will continue to be there for them around the clock, our elected officials must stop throwing young people into crisis for political gain. Discrimination is un-American, and we will hold to account those legislators who attack the most vulnerable members of the LGBTQ community."

The Trevor Project is available 24/7/365 for LGBTQ young people who need someone to talk with. Call the Trevor Lifeline at 1-866-488-7386. Text and chat counseling is available from 3-10pm EST every day at www.thetrevorproject.org/help.

The Trevor Project is the leading and only accredited national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) young people under the age of 25.  The Trevor Project offers a suite of crisis intervention and suicide prevention programs, including TrevorLifeline, TrevorText, and TrevorChat as well as a peer-to-peer social network support for LGBTQ young people under the age of 25, TrevorSpace. Trevor also offers an education program with resources for youth-serving adults and organizations, a legislative advocacy department fighting for pro-LGBTQ legislation and against anti-LGBTQ rhetoric/policy positions, and conducts research to discover the most effective means to help young LGBTQ people in crisis and end suicide. If you or someone you know is feeling hopeless or suicidal, our Trevor Lifeline crisis counselors are available 24/7/365 at 866.488.7386. www.TheTrevorProject.org