Years ago, I was blindsided when a family friend asked me if my child was gay. I’d never even considered the possibility. He was only 8. How would he even know? “I don’t think so,” I replied. Fifteen years later, when he did come out to me, he told me he had always known. “Please don’t tell anyone,” he said. “Matthew Shepherd was killed an hour from here.”
This emotional plea made me realize how much fear and uncertainty he felt and how ill-prepared I was as a parent to really support my child. In my search to better understand, I read “Prayers for Bobby,” the true story of a young gay man who took his own life after feeling rejected by his family, friends, and even God. I knew then I would do everything possible for my son’s story to be different.
The Trevor Project, an organization dedicated to preventing suicide among LGBTQ+ youth, estimates that more than 1.8 million LGBTQ+ young people ages 13-24 seriously consider suicide each year. According the Trevor Project’s 2024 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People, nearly half of LGBTQ+ young people ages 13-17 have experienced bullying, and those who did reported significantly higher rates attempting suicide than those who weren’t bullied. Last year more than 1 in 10 LGBTQ+ youth attempted suicide and 39% seriously considered suicide including 46% of transgender and nonbinary young people.
The survey also reports 90% of LGBTQ+ young people said their wellbeing was negatively impacted due to recent politics. Between 2018 to 2022, 48 anti-transgender laws were enacted in the U.S. across 19 different state governments. During this time, incidents of suicide attempts among transgender and non-binary youth increased by as much as 72%.
My journey to understand and support my son led me to PFLAG, the nation’s largest organization dedicated to supporting, educating, and advocating for LGBTQ+ people and those who love them. PFLAG’s extensive network of local chapters and more than 325,000 members and supporters are dedicated to helping to create an equitable, inclusive world where every LGBTQ+ person is safe, celebrated, empowered, and loved. Our local PFLAG Greeley chapter, established in 2015, has supported the LGBTQ+ community and provided support and education to parents, grandparents, local agencies, and allies in Greeley for 10 years.
This spring PFLAG Greeley will host Transgender 101, a workshop designed to provide a foundational understanding of transgender identity and experiences, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 26, in Greeley. This interactive workshop is open to parents, grandparents, educators, counselors, medical professionals, clergy, allies, high school and college students, and community members who want to expand their knowledge, build empathy, and foster a more inclusive society. Participants will explore key topics including understanding gender identity and expression, challenges faced by transgender individuals, and becoming a stronger ally.
Having just one accepting adult in an LGBTQ+ young person’s life reduces their suicide risk by 40%. The Transgender 101 workshop is a great resource for anyone looking to better understand and support their loved ones and be that accepting adult.
For more details and a link to register for this workshop, email [email protected]. The location of the workshop will be provided to those who register. The deadline to register is April 19. For more information about PFLAG events and other activities supporting the LGBTQ+ community, follow PFLAG Greeley at www.facebook.com/PFLAGGreeleyCO or Instagram:@pflaggreeley or visit our website www.pflaggreeley.org.
Patricia Kennedy is a Greeley resident.
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