Trump's Military Ban Causes 'Dramatic Spike' in Suicide Hotline Calls from Trans Youth

The Trevor Project, the largest national LGBTQ youth suicide-prevention organization, saw a "dramatic spike" in calls, text messages and online chats from transgender youth after Trump's trans military ban and Texas' gendered "bathroom bill" announcement.

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On an average day, the Trevor Project receives 178 contacts, and 7.3 percent of those self-identify as trans. But 24 hours after Trump sent out a string of tweets labeling the trans community a "burden," the organization saw the number of contacts from trans individuals increase to 17.5 percent of their total communication. In the week following Texas legislation's "bathroom bill," trans callers 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."