LGBTQ Youth React After Trump Wins the 2024 Presidential Election: "We Have to Keep Going"

Since Donald Trump 's election in 2016, LGBTQ youth have face relentless attacks on their rights, attacks that have continued at the state level over the last 8 years, even after Trump left office. Now that Trump — a convicted felon who has also been found liable for sexual abuse — has been elected to a second term, experts and queer and trans youth alike fear these attacks may only get worse.

Trump has vowed to ban gender-affirming care for transgender youth, and indicated that he intends to federally redefine gender to only include male and female. He has spoken about policies that would target trans youth who play sports, and the inclusion of LGBTQ youth in schools. If acted upon, Project 2025, a far-right transition plan meant for the next Republican president, would also significantly erode LGBTQ rights. The plan prioritizes the "biblically based" family structure, which may impact the right to LGBTQ marriage. It also threatens to erase LGBTQ people from federal protections entirely.

GLAAD President and CEO, Sarah Kate Ellis advised turning to community support in tough times.

"The LGBTQ community has been here before, as have all other marginalized communities, and the pain is real today. But as we saw from the Lavender Scare to the Stonewall riots, from the HIV epidemic to the defeat and victory for marriage, every breakdown can lead to a breakthrough. We must see this moment of crisis as another catalyst for change," Ellis said in a statement. "Our community knows how to take care of each other, and how to push our country and world forward."

As young people process his win, we spoke to LGBTQ youth and young adults about their fears, thoughts, and advice for navigating another Trump presidency. The bottom line? People are scared . There's a lot to lose, and the threat of losing it is real. But despite that fear, there is hope. Read on to see how young LGBTQ people are feeling after Trump's election, but first, here are some resources if you're feeling anxiety, stress, or despair.

If you're experiencing a crisis, please call 988, or reach out to the Trevor Project's crisis services here or at 1-866-488-7386.

If you're in crisis: Call the suicide and crisis lifeline at 988. To reach an LGBTQ+-trained crisis counselor, dial 988 and press 3. You can also text with an LGBTQ+-trained counselor by sending the word PRIDE to 988, or you can chat online here .

You can also reach out to the Trevor Project's crisis services here , by calling 1-866-488-7386, or by texting "START" to 678678.

How to navigate a tough or hostile climate: Find the Trevor Project's guidance here .

How to cope with election-based stress: Teen Vogue spoke to seven therapists about dealing with election-based anxiety.

How to be a good ally: If you're a cis, straight person looking to support your LGBTQ peers, the Trevor Project compiled this guide.

How to find mutual aid: FOLX Health published a list of local and regional mutual aid efforts for LGBTQ people who need support. You can also search your area for other queer and trans specific funds.

How to find a therapist: Preserving your mental health is important. Here are some guides on how to find a therapist, including how to find one you can afford.

If you're scared, you're not alone

"As a 17-year-old, genderfluid, Latino activist , my heart is absolutely breaking right now. I'm horrified, in shock, and struggling to process what this means for all of us in the LGBTQ+ community — every lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, and gender non-conforming person who calls this country home. My mind keeps going to our most vulnerable family — our trans siblings, QTPOC, queer youth in unsupportive homes, and everyone who lives at these intersections of identity. I'm scared about what the next four years could mean for our entire rainbow family. I won't sugarcoat it; I'm terrified about the potential rollback of our rights, about what this means for everyone in our beautiful, diverse community." - Desi Napoles

"[As Trump's win became more likely] I began to think of where I was the first time Trump got elected. I was a high school freshman who, for the very first time in my life, was openly trans at my school. I woke up that morning and when I found out the news I cried. I begged my parents not to make me go to school. I reflect on that day and wonder how it would be different now. How being a trans person in Florida is already difficult and how it would be so much worse if I were still in high school. I know about Project 2025 and how the safety of trans kids is in serious jeopardy. I'm concerned for them because I was one of them. I know how scary it is to be figuring yourself out while your government is denying who you are." -Charlie Suor

"As a queer individual, I woke up this morning to the sound of my wife's silent sobs as she tried not to wake me up with the weight of the reality we are currently living in. As a newly married couple, we've only recently moved from New York to Florida, and now we feel engulfed in a sea of red with no way out. I work as a PhD student, and my research and work are centered around training and advancing knowledge to dismantle LGBTQ+ health disparities, especially for our most vulnerable trans community. I've been so passionate about this work—about challenging systems that marginalize us, especially within healthcare institutions. Today, I feel defeated. The emotional toll of this political climate has been overwhelming. But tomorrow, I will pick myself back up. I will continue my work because I know how important it is; how necessary it is, especially in Florida. We need voices in the darkness leading us toward a path of light." -Hanna Birenbaum

"I just want a meaningful life; to fall in love, to take care of my family, to write beautiful literature, to look at myself in a mirror and admire what I see. What about the life I thought I had here? I am moved to tears watching the life I was building crumble before me." -Malika Saint Laurent

And if you're angry, it's justified

"When I saw the early numbers, I had a panic attack. I had to step outside to clear my head. I asked myself, 'Is this nation truly united by hate?' This individual has openly declared his intent to block Medicare and Medicaid for doctors providing gender-affirming care, to prevent federal agencies from acknowledging the legitimacy of gender transitions at any age, and to launch investigations into the medical industry, implying it has concealed the alleged long-term harm of these treatments for profit. To be honest, I'm angry. I'm deeply upset. I know these emotions alone won't enact change, but it's what I'm feeling. Now is not the time for me to grieve or rage; it's time to call for further political engagement. I have never felt safe as a transgender woman. The culture that a Trump presidency curates will make this even worse. My advice to young trans girls is this: carry pepper spray and develop a good support system." - Ryann Lynn Murphy

It's OK to ask for help

"To every LGBTQ+ person, but especially our youth: I know your heart might be hurting like mine. Your pain, your fear, your shock — it's all valid. Please take care of yourself right now. If you're struggling, reach out. The Trevor Project's lifeline (1-866-488-7386) is available 24/7 with people who understand what we're going through. You can also dial 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Find your chosen family, your supportive friends, your local LGBTQ+ organizations. None of us are alone in this. Even through this heartbreak, I know our community's strength comes from our unity, our love for each other, and our refusal to be erased. We've faced darkness before. We will hold each other up. We will protect each other. We will survive this together." - Desi Napoles

Take some steps to prepare

"I'd recommend that everyone uses the next 60 days to prepare as much as they can. I have a GYN appointment next week, my friend is trying to get their tubes tied, their sister is booking an IUD appointment. We need to ensure the safety of ourselves and others while we still can. Find solace in yourself, your friends, communities, and family, (whether they're blood or found.) Make art, write stories, express yourself however you can. Gather resources and emergency hotline numbers." - Finnick Brown

Survival is resistance

"As a trans person, the most important thing we can do now is survive. The Trump administration has outlined how they plan to define transgender people out of existence, so our strongest act of resistance is to exist. Our community and the care we can give to each other is our greatest resource. The thing I remember most about that 2016 election day was my first class. The teacher didn't go on with the lesson as usual. She talked to us about the election results and gave us space to talk too. She was wearing a safety pin and explained the significance that we are always safe with her. I remember that many of my peers had safety pins on as well. We made it through his first term and were able to thrive. I'm now a graduate student who does research on the trans community in my area and demonstrates how we are resilient. Now is not the time to lose hope. We will make it through this next term and flourish with each other's support." -Charlie Suor

"My trans friends are emotionally disassociating, and the Queer community is furious. I've been watching social media, and I can't believe that 50% of America voted against human rights. Seriously? But it's important to note that this leaves the other half who DID vote for actual Democracy ... to support Black and Brown people, reproductive healthcare, marriage freedom, and gender equality. I think that today everyone is heartbroken, but I believe that (not unlike other oppressed groups) if we work together, we can make progress. The Queer community has a long history of resilience, what makes them think we will stop now?" -Jameson Johnson, AKA Ophelia Peaches

"I know everything looks bleak... but we have to keep going. We can't let them win. We have to stay alive." - Finnick Brown

"I wouldn't give up being queer for the world. It may seem impossible, it may seem unlivable, but as long as I have air in my lungs and blood pulsing through my veins, I will be here — Black, nonbinary, living and full of love."