Crisis Calls Spike As Trans Youth Face Uncertain Future Under Trump’s Proposed Policy Changes
The recent US election brought big changes. Donald Trump’s win led to a rush of calls to support lines. The Rainbow Youth Project saw their numbers jump to 5,500 calls in just 10 days. That’s nearly double their normal monthly count of 3,700.
A 16-year-old from Alabama felt the impact firsthand. They called the crisis line after seeing Trump’s campaign ad that ran 15,000 times. The message? “Kamala is for they/them. President Trump is for you.” Their mum, Carolyn Fisher, didn’t know how much these ads hurt her child until then.
Numbers Tell the Story
During the 2024 election, Republicans nearly spent $215 million on ads that some saw as harmful. This info comes from Ad Impact, a media tracking firm.
Recent CDC data shows the facts. About 3.3% of high school students identify as transgender. Another 2.2% are thinking about their gender identity. Many face tough times – 72% feel sad often. One in four have tried to harm themselves in the past year.
Trump’s plans are clear. He wants to change Title IX rules that protect students. These rules affect how schools handle names, bathrooms, and sports teams. He also wants Congress to pass a law saying there are only two genders.
Jude Armstrong, 17, from New Orleans, leads protests against strict rules about pronouns. Alejandro Jimenez, a student in Texas, wants to teach theatre but worries about his future there. Some students even think about moving to other countries.
Groups are stepping up their support.
The Rainbow Youth Project now runs more online meet-ups. It Gets Better reaches out through Twitch and YouTube. As Eli, an 18-year-old student in New York, says: “You’re not alone. We will come out the other side.”
The changes ahead might seem scary. But support networks are growing stronger. People are speaking up. Communities are coming together. That’s what matters most right now.
