LGBTQ Injustices

By Azalea

We often hear the adage that “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” But this saying simply isn’t true. I believe that Tim Chastain said it best in his twist on this classic adage, stating that “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can do permanent damage.” Negative and aggressive words can cause deep hurt and can have a lasting impact. Take it from me. As an individual who identifies under the umbrella of the LGBTQ+ community, I have been bullied relentlessly throughout my life, specifically within the last two years of my high school experience. On December 5th, 2024, I reached a point where I attempted to take my own life. Now, obviously, my attempt was not successful, and for that, I am grateful, as it allows me to share with you my experience and the experiences of countless others like me.

Of course, any instance of bullying is something that no one should have to endure, and my intention is not to diminish the experiences of those who have been bullied. With that in mind, let’s examine the statistics. The Trevor Project, the leading nonprofit for suicide prevention and mental health awareness for LGBTQ+ youth, finds that 52% of LGBTQ+ youth report having been bullied within the past year, whether online, in person, or both. This statistic stands in stark contrast to the 20% of overall youth who report having been bullied in the same time frame. These numbers become even more pronounced when examining specific identities within the LGBTQ+ community. Transgender and gender-questioning individuals report a higher rate of bullying, at as high as 61%, compared to their cisgender peers.

Many people may say that the aggression and discrimination faced by the LGBTQ+ community is a thing of the past and that it isn’t as bad as it was previously. However, this is exactly the opposite of the truth. For an example of this, we can look at the FBI’s reports of hate crimes against the LGBTQ+ community. Of course, hate crimes are prevalent within all communities, and this fact cannot be overlooked, but my intention today is to highlight those faced by the LGBTQ+ community. In 2021, there were 1,842 hate crimes reported, and while this number should already be astonishing, this fact becomes even more devastating when we look at the number reported in 2022, just 12 months later. In 2022, there were 2,416 hate crimes reported, a staggering 32% increase in just one year. 

While the statistics on hate crimes may show that violence is increasing, we can look to another fact to demonstrate the same point. In 2015, there were a total of 22 bills enacted into law that discriminated against the LGBTQ+ community. In comparison, in 2024, there were an astonishing 674 bills that were not just proposed, but that were enacted into law. This is nearly a 3,000 percent increase in the number of bills passed in just a 9-year span. And while this may sound like hyperbole, I assure you that this statistic is factually accurate.

Now I have provided numbers and statistics, but this is devoid of emotion. So allow me to provide you with a specific example. Nex Benedict, a name that some may recognize and those who don’t, I hope you will after today. Nex Benedict was a 16-year-old high school student attending Owasso High School in Oklahoma. Nex identified as nonbinary, a gender identity that is neither male nor female. On February 7th, 2024, Nex was using the restroom at school. They were using the restroom that was assigned to them at birth; despite this, they were cornered in the bathroom by three of their peers and physically assaulted. Nex died the very next day. The autopsy report showed that Nex suffered bruising on their head, lacerations on the right and left cheek, and a full brain hemorrhage. There were also abrasions along their body that resulted from being dragged roughly. Nex’s death was ruled a suicide. The identity of the attackers has not been released, nor have they been criminally charged. Nex’s mother issued a statement claiming that she “did not want the finding of suicide to overshadow the severity of Benedict's injuries from the altercation.” 

But bullying is not the only form of violence and aggression faced by the LGBTQ+ community. Sexual violence is also disturbingly prevalent. Now, to avoid being too vulgar in my speech, I will refer to this as sexual violence, or unwanted or forced sexual contact, but this includes molestation and rape. As a personal victim, I was targeted by my assaulter as a result of my expression of gender and sexuality. Now, again, any instance of sexual violence faced by anyone is a tragedy and something no one should ever have to go through, but I wish to highlight the facts that should show that these attacks are targeted at the LGBTQ+ community. A survey conducted by the Trevor Project found that nearly half of LGBTQ+ youth ages 13 to 18 report being forced to engage in sexual acts they did not want to do. This 49% of LGBTQ+ youth who will experience forced sexual contact before the age of 18 stands in stark contrast to the 11% of general youth in the same age range who have experienced sexual violence. If this fact wasn’t already devastating enough, those who report having been victims of unwanted sexual contact are twice as likely to attempt to take their own life.

Which leads me to my final point: the impact that this violence and discrimination has on an individual's mental health and well-being. The Trevor Project found that LGBTQ+ youth, ages 13-24, are more than four times more likely to attempt to take their own lives than their cisgender, heterosexual peers. Estimates state that in the United States alone, an LGBTQ+ youth attempts to take their own life every 45 seconds. Every 45 seconds—how many is that over just the time that I have been speaking? In this 45 seconds, nearly 1.8 million will seriously consider suicide. Some people will say that these elevated rates of depression and suicide are directly related to their gender or sexual identity; however, this is entirely untrue. LGBTQ+ youth are not inherently prone to suicide risk because of their sexual orientation or gender identity but are rather placed at higher risk because of how they are mistreated and stigmatized in society.

Luneau, Delphine. “New FBI Data: Anti-LGBTQ+ Hate Crimes Continue to Spike.” Human Rights Campaign, 23 Sept. 2024, www.hrc.org/press-releases/new-fbi-data-anti-lgbtq-hate-crimes-continue-to-spike-even-as-overall-crime-rate-declines. 

The Trevor Project. “Bullying and Suicide Risk among LGBTQ Youth.” The Trevor Project, 14 Oct. 2021, www.thetrevorproject.org/research-briefs/bullying-and-suicide-risk-among-lgbtq-youth/. 

The Trevor Project. “Facts about LGBTQ Youth Suicide.” The Trevor Project, The Trevor Project, 15 Dec. 2021, www.thetrevorproject.org/resources/article/facts-about-lgbtq-youth-suicide/. 

The Trevor Project. “Sexual Violence and Suicide Risk among LGBTQ+ Young People.” The Trevor Project, 13 Aug. 2024, www.thetrevorproject.org/research-briefs/sexual-violence-and-suicide-risk-among-lgbtq-young-people/. 

Trans Legislation Tracker. “Tracking the Rise of Anti-Trans Bills in the U.S.” Translegislation.com, 2024, translegislation.com/learn. 

Vaxter, DeAngelo Marquise. “Nex Benedict’s Family Lawyer Highlights Trauma Noted in Full Medical Examiner’s Report.” KTUL, 2022, ktul.com/news/local/family-lawyer-highlights-trauma-in-nexs-suicide-verdict-citing-undisclosed-medical-report-oklahoma-owasso-high-school-student-death.