Behind the heartbreaking statistics showing that over half of LGBTQ youth live with persistent sadness, there exists an urgent and deeply human crisis that demands our immediate attention and action.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, 41% of LGBTQ youth ages 13-24 seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year
- 56% of LGBTQ young people ages 13-24 reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness over the past two weeks in 2023
- LGBTQ youth who experienced discrimination due to their sexual orientation were 2.5 times more likely to report severe depression symptoms in 2022
- 14% of LGBTQ youth ages 13-24 attempted suicide in the past year per 2023 Trevor Project survey
- Transgender and nonbinary youth attempted suicide at rates 2x higher than cisgender LGBQ youth in 2023
- 45% of LGBTQ youth seriously considered suicide after experiencing rejection from family in 2022
- 67% of LGBTQ youth were rejected or pushed out by parents, leading to homelessness per 2022 True Colors report
- 34% of LGBTQ youth experienced family verbal abuse due to identity in 2023 Trevor
- Trans youth were 1.5x more likely to experience homelessness than cis LGBQ peers per 2021
- 75% of LGBTQ youth reported verbal harassment in school due to identity per GLSEN 2021 NSCS
- 59% of LGBTQ students felt unsafe at school because of sexual orientation in 2021 GLSEN
- Trans students 1.7x more likely to miss school due to safety fears per YRBS 2021
- 29% of LGBTQ youth ages 13-17 used alcohol in past month, higher than peers, per 2023 Trevor Project
- Trans youth 2.5x more likely to misuse prescription drugs per CDC YRBS 2021
- 12% of LGBTQ youth reported illicit drug use daily in 2022 Trevor survey
LGBTQ youth face alarmingly high rates of mental health crises and suicide risk.
Education and Bullying
- 75% of LGBTQ youth reported verbal harassment in school due to identity per GLSEN 2021 NSCS
- 59% of LGBTQ students felt unsafe at school because of sexual orientation in 2021 GLSEN
- Trans students 1.7x more likely to miss school due to safety fears per YRBS 2021
- 35% of LGBTQ youth cyberbullied weekly based on identity in 2023 Trevor
- 20% of LGBTQ students avoided school bathrooms due to harassment in GLSEN 2021
- Bisexual students experienced bullying at rates 10% higher than gay/lesbian peers 2021
- 65% of LGBTQ students heard homophobic remarks daily in school per 2021 NSCS
- Rural LGBTQ students 1.8x more bullying than urban per Trevor 2021
- 45% of trans youth reported physical assaults in school lifetime per GLSEN
- LGBTQ students with GSA clubs saw 25% less bullying per GLSEN 2019 longitudinal
- 30% of LGBTQ youth dropped out or considered due to harassment 2022 Trevor
- Nonbinary students faced 55% exclusion from sports teams due to identity 2021
- 40% of LGBTQ students of color experienced race+identity bullying in GLSEN 2021
- Cyberbullying affected 42% of LGBTQ high schoolers monthly per CDC 2021 YRBS
- 28% avoided gym class due to changing room harassment GLSEN 2021
- Pansexual students reported highest peer rejection rates at 50% in 2023 Trevor school data
- 60% of LGBTQ students lacked inclusive curriculum per GLSEN 2021
- Asexual youth invisible in schools, 35% reported erasure bullying 2022
- 22% physical fights due to LGBTQ identity in past year YRBS 2021
- Immigrant LGBTQ students 2x bullying from peers per 2020 GLSEN
- 48% of disabled LGBTQ students bullied by teachers too per 2021 data
- Religious LGBTQ students faced faith-based bullying at 52% rate GLSEN
- 37% avoided extracurriculars due to safety in 2023 Trevor
- Native LGBTQ students highest school violence rates at 30% assaults 2020
- 55% heard negative gender remarks daily in schools GLSEN 2021
- Queer youth in South 1.6x more likely daily slurs per Trevor 2022 regional
- 25% of LGBTQ youth reported teacher bias against them in 2021 NSCS
- 41% of LGBTQ middle schoolers experienced bullying vs 30% high school per GLSEN early data
Education and Bullying Interpretation
While these numbers paint a grim portrait of a school system that often fails its LGBTQ youth, they are not an indictment of the students, but rather a damning report card on an environment that still treats basic safety and dignity as an extracurricular activity.
Family Acceptance and Homelessness
- 67% of LGBTQ youth were rejected or pushed out by parents, leading to homelessness per 2022 True Colors report
- 34% of LGBTQ youth experienced family verbal abuse due to identity in 2023 Trevor
- Trans youth were 1.5x more likely to experience homelessness than cis LGBQ peers per 2021
- 40% of homeless youth identify as LGBTQ per HUD 2022 Point-in-Time count analysis
- Family rejection doubles homelessness risk for LGBTQ youth per Family Acceptance Project 2019
- 28% of LGBTQ youth reported physical abuse from family over identity in 2022 GLSEN
- Bisexual youth faced higher family invalidation rates at 45% in 2023 Trevor
- 1 in 3 LGBTQ youth of color experienced homelessness by age 21 per 2021 study
- Supportive families reduce homelessness by 50% among trans youth per 2020 data
- 25% of LGBTQ foster youth age out into homelessness annually per 2022
- Rural LGBTQ youth 2x more likely family rejection due to lack of resources 2021
- 35% of pansexual youth reported family expulsion threats in 2023
- Immigrant LGBTQ youth faced 60% family rejection rates in conservative homes 2020
- 22% of LGBTQ youth lived with non-family due to rejection per YRBS 2021
- Asexual youth experienced subtle family invalidation at 38% rate 2022
- 50% of homeless LGBTQ youth cited family conflict over identity as primary cause 2023 True Colors
- Nonbinary youth rejection rates 42% higher than binary trans in 2023 data
- Religious family rejection affected 55% of LGBTQ youth per 2021 Public Religion Research
- 30% of LGBTQ Native youth homeless due to family per 2020 UIHI
- Foster care LGBTQ youth 3x homelessness risk post-exit per Chapin Hall 2022
- 26% of queer youth reported ongoing family estrangement in 2022 survey
- Disabled LGBTQ youth faced compounded family rejection at 48% in GLSEN 2021
- 36% of LGBTQ youth experienced housing instability from family dynamics 2023
- Demisexual youth family support lowest at 32% acceptance rate 2022
Family Acceptance and Homelessness Interpretation
The alarming statistics on LGBTQ youth homelessness reveal a devastating paradox: the very families meant to be a safe harbor are, through rejection and abuse, often the primary architects of their child's housing instability, yet the data also holds the simple, powerful solution—acceptance cuts that risk in half.
Health Risks and Substance Abuse
- 29% of LGBTQ youth ages 13-17 used alcohol in past month, higher than peers, per 2023 Trevor Project
- Trans youth 2.5x more likely to misuse prescription drugs per CDC YRBS 2021
- 12% of LGBTQ youth reported illicit drug use daily in 2022 Trevor survey
- Bisexual youth had 22% binge drinking rates vs 15% straight peers 2021 YRBS
- 35% of homeless LGBTQ youth used substances to cope per True Colors 2022
- LGBTQ youth HIV diagnosis rates 5x higher than peers per CDC 2021 youth data
- 18% of trans nonbinary youth reported opioid misuse in 2023 Trevor
- 50% of LGBTQ youth with depression used alcohol as self-medication 2022
- Marijuana use among LGBTQ high schoolers at 28% past month YRBS 2021
- Rural LGBTQ youth 1.4x vaping rates due to stress per 2021 Trevor
- 15% of pansexual youth reported heavy drinking episodes monthly 2023
- LGBTQ youth STI testing rates only 40% despite high risk per CDC 2022
- 26% of LGBTQ foster youth had substance use disorders per 2021 SAMHSA
- Asexual LGBTQ youth lower alcohol but higher prescription misuse at 14% 2022
- 42% increase in youth vaping among LGBTQ post-pandemic SAMHSA 2022
- Trans youth PrEP awareness only 25% despite need per 2023 study
- 20% of LGBTQ youth reported cocaine/crack use lifetime GLSEN 2021 health
- Native LGBTQ youth highest meth use at 12% per UIHI 2020 health data
- 33% of bullied LGBTQ youth turned to substances for relief per 2022 Trevor
- Immigrant LGBTQ youth underreported substance use at 16% but high risk 2020
- 27% of nonbinary youth used cannabis daily for anxiety 2023
- Disabled LGBTQ youth 2x overdose risk per SAMHSA 2021 youth subset
- 19% queer youth reported ecstasy/MDMA use at parties 2022 survey
- Family rejection linked to 3x substance abuse in LGBTQ youth per 2019 FAP
- 24% of LGBTQ high schoolers current cigarette smokers vs 5% straight YRBS 2021
- 31% of LGBTQ youth reported poor physical health days tied to stress/substance 2023
Health Risks and Substance Abuse Interpretation
In the face of disproportionate rejection, discrimination, and health risks, a staggering number of LGBTQ youth are turning to substances not out of mere rebellion, but as a perilous and often solitary coping mechanism for systemic failure.
Mental Health
- In 2023, 41% of LGBTQ youth ages 13-24 seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year
- 56% of LGBTQ young people ages 13-24 reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness over the past two weeks in 2023
- LGBTQ youth who experienced discrimination due to their sexual orientation were 2.5 times more likely to report severe depression symptoms in 2022
- 18% of transgender and nonbinary youth ages 13-24 reported a previous suicide attempt in 2023
- 70% of LGBTQ youth reported negative mental health impacts from recent anti-LGBTQ+ politics in 2023
- Bisexual youth were 1.8 times more likely than gay/lesbian youth to experience anxiety disorders in 2023 Trevor Project data
- 45% of LGBTQ youth of color reported high rates of anxiety compared to 38% of white LGBTQ youth in 2022
- Youth questioning their gender identity showed 52% rates of severe psychological distress in 2021 GLSEN survey
- 39% of LGBTQ students felt so sad or hopeless they stopped school activities almost daily in 2021 YRBS data
- Transgender youth reported 2.7 times higher odds of poor mental health days in CDC 2021 data
- 60% of LGBTQ youth experienced moderate to severe depression in the past year per 2022 Trevor survey
- Rates of PTSD among LGBTQ youth exposed to violence reached 28% in 2020 Family Acceptance Project study
- 51% of LGBTQ youth reported clinically significant symptoms of generalized anxiety in 2023
- Nonbinary youth had 1.6 times higher depression rates than binary trans youth in 2022 data
- 47% of rural LGBTQ youth reported severe emotional distress vs 35% urban in 2021 Trevor data
- LGBTQ youth with unsupportive families showed 3x higher anxiety rates per 2019 study
- 62% of LGBTQ youth ages 13-17 experienced a mental health crisis in the past year (2023)
- Pansexual youth reported 48% depression rates, highest among orientations in 2022
- 55% of LGBTQ youth with disabilities had severe mental health issues in GLSEN 2021
- Immigrant LGBTQ youth showed 44% rates of hopelessness in 2020 CDC data
- 49% of LGBTQ youth reported sleep disturbances linked to mental health in 2023
- Asexual youth had 40% higher internalized stigma leading to depression per 2022 study
- 53% of LGBTQ youth in foster care reported clinical depression levels in 2021
- Youth with intersectional LGBTQ+ and religious identities had 46% anxiety rates in 2020
- 57% of LGBTQ Native youth reported persistent sadness in Trevor 2023 race data
- 42% of LGBTQ youth experienced panic attacks monthly in 2022 survey
- Demisexual youth showed 50% mental health distress rates in niche 2023 data
- 59% of LGBTQ youth post-COVID reported worsened mental health in 2022
- Queer youth had 1.4x higher odds of seasonal affective disorder in winter 2021
- 54% of LGBTQ youth with eating disorders history reported comorbid depression in 2023
Mental Health Interpretation
Behind every sterile percentage point lies a real human heart being asked to carry a weight no young person should ever have to bear.
Suicide and Self-Harm
- 14% of LGBTQ youth ages 13-24 attempted suicide in the past year per 2023 Trevor Project survey
- Transgender and nonbinary youth attempted suicide at rates 2x higher than cisgender LGBQ youth in 2023
- 45% of LGBTQ youth seriously considered suicide after experiencing rejection from family in 2022
- Bisexual youth had a 19% suicide attempt rate vs 12% for gay/lesbian in 2021 YRBS
- 50% of homeless LGBTQ youth attempted suicide at least once per True Colors 2022 report
- LGBTQ youth facing school bullying had 3.7x higher suicide attempt rates in GLSEN 2021
- 28% of trans youth reported self-harm in past month in 2023 Trevor data
- Youth without access to gender-affirming care showed 2x suicide ideation rates in 2022 JAMA study
- 60% increase in suicide attempts among LGBTQ youth during 2020 pandemic per CDC
- Pansexual youth reported 22% attempt rates, highest in 2023 Trevor survey
- 35% of LGBTQ youth of color seriously considered suicide vs 30% white peers in 2022
- Rural LGBTQ youth had 1.5x higher attempt rates than urban in 2021 data
- 48% of LGBTQ youth with low family support ideated suicide monthly in 2020
- Nonbinary assigned female at birth youth had 25% attempt rate in 2023
- 20% of LGBTQ youth engaged in nonsuicidal self-injury weekly per 2022 survey
- Suicide ideation among LGBTQ foster youth reached 65% in Lambda Legal 2021
- 15% attempt rate for asexual LGBTQ youth, higher than average in 2023 data
- 55% of trans youth considered suicide after anti-trans legislation exposure in 2023
- Queer youth in conservative states had 18% attempt rates vs 11% liberal states 2022
- 30% of LGBTQ youth reported overdose as self-harm method in 2021
- Indigenous LGBTQ youth showed 26% lifetime attempt rate per Urban Indian Health 2020
- 40% of LGBTQ youth with eating disorders attempted suicide in Trevor 2023
- Demisexual youth ideation rates at 44% in 2022 niche data
- 52% of LGBTQ youth post-family rejection ideated suicide in past year 2021
- 12% of all LGBTQ high school students attempted suicide in 2021 YRBS
Suicide and Self-Harm Interpretation
These statistics reveal a painful truth: for many LGBTQ youth, the path to self-destruction is often paved for them by the rejection, hostility, and negligence of the very people and systems meant to keep them safe.
Sources & References
- Reference 1THETREVORPROJECTthetrevorproject.orgVisit source
- Reference 2GLSENglsen.orgVisit source
- Reference 3CDCcdc.govVisit source
- Reference 4LGBTQFAMILYACCEPTANCElgbtqfamilyacceptance.orgVisit source
- Reference 5WILLIAMSINSTITUTEwilliamsinstitute.law.ucla.eduVisit source
- Reference 6LAMBDALEGALlambdalegal.orgVisit source
- Reference 7GLAADglaad.orgVisit source
- Reference 8TRUECOLORSUNITEDtruecolorsunited.orgVisit source
- Reference 9JAMANETWORKjamanetwork.comVisit source
- Reference 10FAMILYACCEPTANCEPROJECTfamilyacceptanceproject.comVisit source
- Reference 11UIHIuihi.orgVisit source
- Reference 12NATIONALHOMELESSnationalhomeless.orgVisit source
- Reference 13HUDUSERhuduser.govVisit source
- Reference 14CHAPINHALLchapinhall.orgVisit source
- Reference 15PRRIprri.orgVisit source
- Reference 16SAMHSAsamhsa.govVisit source