More than 250,000 LGBTQ+ youth and their families in the United States have moved to other states because of LGBTQ+ politics and laws, according to estimates outlined in a new report examining public responses to hostile policy environments. I am doing it.
A report compiled by The Trevor Project and the Movement Advancement Project found that nine out of 10 LGBTQ+ young people say politics affects their well-being, and four out of 10 say LGBTQ+ They said they had considered moving to another state because of friendly politics and laws. At home.
This proportion is even higher for transgender and non-binary young people, with 94% saying politics has affected their well-being and almost half (45%) saying they have considered moving.
“For many LGBTQ+ youth in the United States, the constant stream of anti-LGBTQ+ news can feel overwhelming right now,” said a national LGBTQ+ youth advocacy group focused on suicide prevention. said Steven Hobaika, a researcher at the Trevor Project. “It is heartbreaking that nearly half of transgender and non-binary youth are considering moving because of anti-LGBTQ+ policies.”
Only 4% of LGBTQ+ youth ages 13 to 24 report having been forced to leave their home due to anti-LGBTQ+ policies, but based on population estimates for LGBTQ+ youth, this is approximately 266,000 The organizations said this represents young people and their families.
Trump administration presents new threats
The report was released as President Donald Trump returns to the White House after making gender identity a focus of his campaign. On Monday, after being sworn into office, President Trump issued a series of executive orders, including one calling for the removal of legal protections for transgender people in the federal government and the potential exclusion of transgender people from military service. These included laying the groundwork for a ban and declaring that the U.S. government would only recognize two people. Gender, male and female.
“Regardless of one’s personal political beliefs, our research and the stories of LGBTQ+ youth tell us that these policies negatively impact the mental health of LGBTQ+ youth,” said Trevor. said Janson Wu, the project’s national senior director. Advocacy and Government Affairs.
The organization said crisis services on its anniversary increased by 33% compared to normal numbers. But that still pales in comparison to the seven-fold increase in crisis services experienced the day after the 2024 election, the report said.
“Regardless of our political beliefs or how we feel about the current administration, one thing must be made clear to all of us living in the United States,” said James Black, CEO of The Trevor Project. “The lives of real young people are at risk.”
Recent years have already seen an increase in state laws and bills targeting the LGBTQ+ community, particularly those aimed at curbing the rights of transgender youth.
“In addition to calling attention to the negative effects of these divisive political attacks, this study supports the idea that a more inclusive policy environment can lead to better outcomes for LGBTQ youth through a variety of measures. It’s important to emphasize that,” Logan-Casey said. , Director of Policy Research, Movement Promotion Project.
Harsh climate increases mental and emotional health risks
These organizations continue to support LGBTQ+ youth despite research showing that LGBTQ+ youth experience greater mental health issues in hostile policy environments and a higher risk of suicide. The report said it took into account the lack of research on how people respond to a hostile policy environment.
“By gaining more knowledge about how LGBTQ+ youth are responding to the policy environment, advocates and policymakers can create or modify policies to better support LGBTQ+ youth and their families.” “can be done,” the report says.
The companies’ joint report is based on data collected from The Trevor Project’s 2024 U.S. National Survey on LGBTQ+ Youth Mental Health, which collected responses from more than 18,600 LGBTQ+ individuals ages 13 to 24. . It also incorporates data from the Movement Advancement Project. , a Boulder, Colorado-based organization that tracks LGBTQ+-related laws and policies across the United States and its territories. Each is then assigned a negative or positive policy index.
More than a quarter (27%) of respondents lived in states with negative policy indicators, according to the report. These people were more likely than others to consider moving to another state and more likely to travel to another state for medical care.
The report noted that not all LGBTQ+ youth and their families who wish to immigrate have the resources to do so.
“Notably, the same factors that can impede mobility for LGBTQ+ youth and their families, such as poverty, housing discrimination, and access to employment, also disproportionately impact LGBTQ+ people of color. These are the same factors that increase mental health risk and suicide,” the report said.
