Even today, LGBT+ young people face enormous challenges
Many still aren’t accepted at home or in school.
However, when LGBT+ young people get the support they need, they are able to see a positive future ahead.
Why now?
Recent years have seen increasing hostility, particularly towards trans young people, and rising levels of hate crime.
As the world becomes more polarised, young people have faced a 25% increase in the most serious cases of anti-LGBT+ bullying in schools over the past four years.
Despite progression of certain legal rights such as adoption and marriage, LGBT+ young people still have little autonomy. They don’t get to choose if they grow up in an accepting home or go to a school where they’ll be bullied.
Just Like Us supports young people directly and equips allies, including teachers and parents, to make that difference possible.
Safety is a necessity
Bullying is twice as likely for LGBT+ school pupils. Every morning, 42% of LGBT+ school pupils don’t feel safe going to school. Or as one secondary school pupil put it: “Bullying is very much still a thing for LGBT+ people in school.”
Half are estranged from at least one family member.
They face disproportionate trauma and isolation, just because of who they are.
“If you don’t have a home life where people are accepting of being LGBT+, you need it to be accepted at school so you know it’s OK.”
Matthew, 14
Feeling seen is a lifeline
Three quarters of LGBT+ pupils who have never had positive messaging from their school about being LGBT+ have contemplated suicide.
But equipping teachers and parents to see, understand and support young people changes everything.
LGBT+ young people need to both feel seen and see that they can have a positive future ahead of them.
An impact that lasts a lifetime
When an LGBT+ young person doesn’t get the support they so desperately need and deserve, the shame stays with them, and the mental health consequences follow them well into adulthood.
Just Like Us works to tackle the shame and stigma they face in school and at home.
Without support, they become adults who are more than twice as likely to have panic attacks and self-harm.
Beyond school, a quarter of LGBT+ young adults go back into the closet when they enter the workplace.
“Having a Just Like Us mentor has been great. I feel secure in bringing my LGBT+ identity with me. I am left feeling proud and excited for my future, it feels like my mentor really believes I can do well which has really helped my professional confidence.”
Beckett
Donate today
LGBT+ young people need our support more than ever
In these increasingly difficult times, LGBT+ young people really need our support and demand for our programmes is growing. Please will you make a donation to Just Like Us today?
A small amount monthly may be more manageable and would help us commit to long-term projects.
