A new report from The Trevor Project shows that most LGBTQ+ young people are politically engaged, but that engagement often comes with emotional strain.
The research brief, “Civic Engagement, Political Concerns, and Mental Health Among LGBTQ+ Young People,” draws from the 2024 U.S. National Survey on LGBTQ+ Mental Health. It found that 60 percent of respondents took some political action in the past year, from volunteering to contacting officials. But nearly half reported at least one LGBTQ-related political concern, and many showed signs of anxiety or depression.
Derrick Matthews, the Trevor Project’s director of research science, informs, “The data was collected at the end of 2023, so it’s independent of the current political environment… It wouldn’t be surprising if the rate of political engagement has gone up since the survey was taken…A lot of these young folks are motivated by the anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and policy.” Matthews added that activism doesn’t cause distress; it’s often a response to it. The report concludes that inclusive spaces and fewer systemic barriers are vital so LGBTQ+ youth can shape a future that reflects their unique lived experiences.
