LGBTQ+ Mental Health

Who you are is acceptable. Who you are is beautiful. Who you are is powerful.

And you deserve to be accepted, loved, and cherished for who you are.

It may seem weird, but one of our best suggestions is to say this to yourself in the mirror (loudly if it’s safe, but softly, if not) every single morning. No matter what your identity is, there are communities out there who will support you.

If you’re having trouble accepting your gender identity or sexuality, remember that you are not alone. You may not feel like you can come out at work or at home. You are not alone there either. Many more people than you realize are queer or trans and even many cis/straight people have questioned their identity at some point or had same-sex curiosity or relationships.

Another technique to use to build acceptance is focused meditation. Start with two minutes of focusing on your breath. Breathe in and out calmly and focus on the air entering and leaving your body. Then think of your identity and who you’re attracted to. How does it make you feel? What feelings and sensations can you sense in your body? If parts of your body tense up, breathe into it and relax. Remind yourself you are safe. You are loved. You deserve to be happy. Welcome yourself and love yourself. Imagine a glowing light spreading from your heart to your whole body.

Find someone to talk to: This is crucial. If you are in other queer people’s lives, support them and ask them to support you. Find a parent, teacher, or friend who is safe and who you can talk to. Or reach out to one of our mentors.

Sex: It’s also important to realize that movies, pop culture, and sexual education are often not designed for you. That is a tragic reality of the world we live in. The internet is your friend and it is okay to Google all the questions you have about how to have safe and enjoyable sex, long-term sexual health, and information on transitioning. The Trevor Project has some resources here to help you get started. If your friends ask you inappropriate questions about how you have sex or what your body looks like, remind them they can use Google too. It’s not your job to educate other people.

And for more about how to keep your internet searches private, read here.

If others don’t accept you: Explain to them politely that sexuality is not a choice. Do not engage with bullies. Try these sentences: “Your statements are hurtful and motivated by a lack of understanding of my identity. I cannot change who I am and mocking me for it is degrading and inappropriate. Please leave me alone.” And walk away or extract yourself from the situation. If your workplace, school, or country is supportive, report homophobic harassment or bullying to appropriate authorities.

If homosexuality or being transgender is a crime in your country, remember that it is not your duty to come out. Stay safe and find ways to leave your situation as early as you can. If you work in an environment where you will be bullied or discriminated for your sexuality, again, it is not your duty to come out. If you choose to do so, know the law. In the United States, Lamda Legal has resources for you to know your legal rights and in many Western countries, it is illegal to discriminate based on sexuality or gender identity. But remember that many countries are still very regressive and conservative and even in countries like the United States, there are many places where discrimination against queer people is sanctioned or even institutionalized.