BUFFALO, N.Y. — GLYS Western New York is one of many organizations of its kind.
“We provide support services to LGBTQ young people across Western New York,” said Jack Kavanaugh, executive director for Glys WNY.
They are organizations that Kavanaugh says are in high need since the 2024 election.
“I think it’s definitely something you’re going to see across demographic lines within the LGBTQ community, particularly for trans and nonbinary folks,” he said.
According to The Trevor Project, their mental health crisis services for members of the LGBTQ community saw an approximate 125% increase after the election, with a 200% increase in election conversations across its crisis service lines.
“I think a lot of just has to do with, again, if you wake up and feel like you’re living in a world that doesn’t care about you as a person, what does that do to your mental health? It’s not good,” said Kavanaugh.
This comes as the fear of limited access to things like gender affirming care and protection of LGBTQ rights increases.
“For a lot of people in other states, it becomes this idea of hopelessness if I’m being forced to return to the person that I didn’t want to be when I was younger before I transitioned. I would just rather not be alive than do that,” Kavanaugh said.
And while national crisis hotlines are a great first step in getting help, they aren’t the only place those in need should be seeking help.
“Where we really come in is providing a lot more of that long-term support afterwards because you call that crisis hotline, they’re going to be focused on keeping you alive for the next 24 hours but the existential dread doesn’t go away.”
Which makes local resources like GLYS and local branches of The Trevor Project important in helping those influx of callers.
“It all comes together to form a supportive safety net for these young people,” Kavanaugh said. “We have to keep them alive in the moment, but we also have to make sure that we’re providing the infrastructure to give them the long-term support they need to really be successful.”
