5 LGBTQ Organizations to Support on National Coming Out Day

Originally published on Milk.xyz

On National Coming Out Day, it's vital that we recognize the organizations that make it possible for LGBTQ youth across the country and the world to feel safe, secure, and able to be their true selves without feeling ashamed or persecuted - no thanks to the Trump administration.

In a day and age where 4 in 10 LGBT youth say their community is not supportive of LGBT people, and LGB youth are almost five times as likely to have attempted suicide compared to heterosexual youth (the stats for transgender youth are even higher), these five organizations are fighting back. If you or someone you know is in need of support, these organizations are here to help in any way they can. If you or someone you know is considering suicide, dial the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.

The Center NYC

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center, more commonly known as The Center, is an NYC-based hub for classes, organizations, and resources pertaining to New York's LGBTQ community. The center focuses on creating a safe and inspiring space for LGBTQ people of all ages and advocates for justice and opportunity. Serving as a home base for organizations like Gays Against Guns, The Center stands at the forefront for the resistance against the Trump administration and its persecution of the LGBTQ community.

Safe Schools Coalition

The Safe Schools Coalitions seeks to help LGBTQ students and young people feel safer in schools and homes and deals with other issues related to LGBTQ youth. Tackling issues like bullying, addiction, homelessness, and coming out, the Safe Schools Coalition provides resources and hotlines for struggling teens.

Check out the Safe Schools Coalition.

It Gets Better Project

The It Gets Better Project serves to inspire LGBTQ youth to believe that it does get better and to create and inspire the changes needed to make it better for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning young people across the country. By focusing on positivity and active change, the It Gets Better Project was "created to show young LGBT people the levels of happiness, potential, and positivity their lives will reach - if they can just get through their teen years".

Check out the It Gets Better Project and donate to help inspire LGBT youth across the country.

GLAAD

GLAAD is a dynamic media force that fights for more representation and cultural acceptance for LGBTQ people across the country. GLAAD works through entertainment, news, and digital media to share stories from the LGBTQ community that accelerate acceptance and create a large media presence for an often unrepresented group.

Check out GLAAD and donate to raising representation for LGBTQ people in the media.

The Trevor Project

The Trevor Project is the leading crisis intervention and suicide prevention organization for LGBTQ youth. The Trevor Project offers resources such as a Lifeline hotline specifically for LGBTQ youth, which is manned by trained counselors 24 hours a day. The organization also offers TrevorChat, a "free, confidential and secure instant messaging service that provides live help to LGBTQ youth", TrevorText, a "confidential and secure resource that provides live help for LGBTQ youth with a trained specialist, over text messages", and TrevorSpace, a social network specifically designed for LGBTQ youth to connect and reach out to other LGBTQ youth, friends, and allies.

Check out The Trevor Project, donate, and call their hotline (866-488-7386) if you are a young person in crisis, feeling suicidal, or are simply in need of a safe and judgment-free place to talk.