![]() If you know someone exploring their identity, it’s vital to try your best to create “a safe, nonjudgmental experience for your loved one,” urges Lurie.Ĭreating a safe, nonjudgmental space could look like being thoughtful about your language and the terms you use and avoiding assumptions by asking your friend or loved one directly so that they feel seen and heard.Īccording to The Trevor Project’s 2021 survey, only 1 in 3 youth found their home to be LGBTQ affirming. “To feel like who you are is wrong can really be taxing, and it can be really exhausting to have to carry that every day.” “It can be very difficult and distressing to feel like there’s no space in the world for you to be who you are,” explains Lurie. Part of what’s driving mental health concerns in these communities is the stigma, bullying, social rejection, and a lack of support from parents and caregivers that many face. And according to a 2020 study, suicide death risk is higher in trans people than in the general population. The Trevor Project’s 2020 national survey found that 48% of LGBTQ youth reported engaging in self-harm in the past 12 months, including over 60% of nonbinary youth and transgender youth. Support is key for someone who is exploring their gender identity. How to support someone who is exploring their gender identity ![]() There is no rulebook for how you explore your gender identity, so it’s an opportunity to really hone in on what aligns most with you. You may want to let friends and family know how you identify, keep exploring how this new identity feels, seek support from like-minded communities, or do another option that feels safe and supportive. If so, a next step you may consider is offering yourself a chance to internally honor what you’ve discovered and to show yourself compassion. You may run through this exercise and find that you feel aligned with genderfluidity - or come to that conclusion through another path.
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