Statistics
– Family acceptance of LGBTQ+ children and youth is associated with positive mental and physical health (Source)
– As acceptance has grown, Millenials are more than 2x as likely to identify as LGBTQ+ than the Boomer generation (52-71) and 2/3x more likely than Gen X (25-51) (Source)
– 12% of Millennials (as many people that are left handed) identify as transgender or gender non-conforming (Source)
– LGBTQ+ teens who reported high levels of family rejection during adolescence were (Source):
– More than 8x as likely to have attempted suicide
– Nearly 6x as likely to report high levels of depression
– More than 3x as likely to use illegal drugs, and
– More than 3x as likely to be at high risk for HIV and sexually transmitted diseases
– More than 40% of LGBTQ youth reported that the Covid-19 pandemic had affected their ability to express their LGBTQ identity (Source)
These statistics show that as acceptance of LGBTQ+ people grows, more and more young people feel comfortable coming out! It also shows how important it is to have supportive and accepting folks around to make the harrowing coming out process easier.
How can we support someone coming out?
Coming out is a big deal, so please:
- Be non-judgmental and supportive!
- Use the names and pronouns that are shared with you
- Remember that this person took a big risk telling you
- Respect their privacy by not sharing the information with others unless they have given you permission to do so
Guides, Handbooks, and other reading
- PFLAG (the US’s largest organization uniting parents, families, and allies of LGBTQ+ people) webinar on “When Someone Comes Out: A PFLAGers Guide to Demonstrating Acceptance and Support”
- Handbook on Coming Out for LGBTQ Young People
- GLSEN’s Guide to Supporting, LGBT Students in Your School
- Recommended reading list from PFLAG: Recommended Reading: Coming Out
- Other Coming Out Resources from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC)
Resources
- Outright International
- Pride Foundation
- Pride Guide Hawai‘i
- The Center: The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center
- The National LGBTQ Society
- ILGA World – The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association
- International Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans, and Intersex Law Association
Hawaii LGBT Legacy Foundation
Community resources.
The Trevor Project
Providing confidential support for LGBTQ youth in crisis, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.Trans Lifeline
A 24/7 hotline available in the U.S. and Canada staffed by transgender people for transgender people.
Mental Illness Resources
WCC Mental Health Counseling
Provides free mental health counseling for all WCC students
National Alliance for Mental Illness info@nami.org
The NAMI HelpLine
1-800-950-NAMI (6264)
Free Support 24/7
https://www.nami.org/Find-Support/NAMI-HelpLine
The NAMI HelpLine can be reached Monday through Friday, 10 am–6 pm, ET. HelpLine staff and volunteers are prepared to answer your questions about mental health issues including:
- Symptoms of mental health conditions
- Treatment options
- Local support groups and services
- Education programs
- Helping family members get treatment
- Programs to help find jobs
- Legal issues (the NAMI Legal Resource Service can connect individuals with attorneys in their area but does not have the resources to provide individual representation)
Crisis Text Line
Text NAMI to 741741
Use the Crisis Text Line to connect with a trained crisis counselor to receive free, 24/7 crisis support via text message.
Trained expert advocates are available 24/7 to provide confidential support to anyone experiencing domestic violence or seeking resources and information. Help is available in Spanish and other languages.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Call 800-273-TALK (8255)
United Self-Help
People helping people to help themselves
c/o Waikiki Community Center
310 Paoakalani Ave
Honolulu, Hawaii 96815
USA
E-mail: director@unitedselfhelp.org
Telephone: (808) 947-5558
Information: Toll Free: 1-866-866-HELP(4357)
unitedselfhelp.org
United Self-Help on Facebook