In the days following Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential win, an unprecedented spike in calls to LGBTQ+ crisis hotlines in the days after the election, wherein The Trevor Project took in nearly 200% more calls on November 3-4, 2024. This increase speaks directly to the increased anxiety and terror that LGBTQ+ people carry in what such a return of Trump might portend for their rights, safety, and well-being.
The Trevor Project, a major crisis intervention and suicide prevention organization for LGBTQ+ youth, had its support lines overwhelmed shortly after election results were announced. Keywords were filled with “election” and “rights.” So many young people were articulating deep fears about their future. It shows the tangible ways in which significant political events actually affect vulnerable communities, particularly during election cycles that focus on divisive issues.
The victory of Trump brought fresh anxieties for many in the LGBTQ+ community regarding policy reversals that would, in effect, reverse hard-won rights. These fears are, at this point in history, imbued with challenges and questions over protections lost under a second Trump administration. The LGBTQ+ community has suffered a host of legislative reversals in times past, and many now fear its progress will stall or be turned back. This has made members of the LGBTQ+ feel more vulnerable, especially with concerns over potential limitations to health care access, protection against discriminatory acts, and other legal rights.
Into this urgent need for support come organizations like The Trevor Project. Jaymes Black, chief executive officer for The Trevor Project, described how important it is to connect those vulnerable individuals with confident communities and support resources. “One of the most crucial roles we can play,” said Black, “is making sure that LGBTQ+ youth know they are not alone in this.”
In addition to national efforts, other LGBTQ+ centers have been opening safe spaces in the U.S. where people in need of emotional support can find refuge. Aaron Schekorra, for example, is director of The GLO Center in Missouri; he opened “post-election decompression” spaces where community members could process their concerns together. The idea is to create designated havens where people can share their common fears and know exactly who else knows they have a reason to be afraid.
Studies have documented the significant psychological burden of anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and political insecurity. Its recent National Survey reported that 90% of LGBTQ+ youth from The Trevor Project were negatively impacted by recent politics, adding that divisive narratives heightened pre-existing depression and anxiety. Previous research has documented that hostile political environments are associated with increased mental health challenges among LGBTQ+ populations, including heightened risk for suicide, particularly among transgender teenagers. Those are concerns this election season brought to the fore as community members steel themselves for possible policy changes.
Aside from The Trevor Project, other resources have been busier as well. In September, the nonprofit Crisis Text Line launched a dedication election hotline. People are using the confidential support mechanism to talk about political stress.
