In light of the 2024 presidential election results, LGBTQ+ Crisis hotline calls have increased in frequency at non-profit organizations such as the Trevor Project and the LGBT National Hotline, according to their websites.
“The 700 percent increase in volume across our classic crisis services on Nov. 6, 2024, marks the largest surge in daily contact volume for The Trevor Project’s classic crisis services since we began providing 24/7 services in 2019,” Zach Eisenstein, a representative of The Trevor Project, said.
Former President Donald Trump, won the 2024 U.S. presidential election by 86 electoral votes and over three million popular votes on Nov. 6 as reported by AP News.
Since then, some LGBTQ+ crisis volunteers and employees have experienced a surge in calls from members of the community who fear for their future.
“Across our lines, we are hearing a general sense of fear and panic from LGBTQ+ young people. Many express concerns for how the 2024 election results will impact their lives, and the lives of the people they love,” Eisenstein said.
With this, a range of emotions from hope to fear arise within the community regarding the election results.
LGBTQ+ member and sophomore photography major, Camdyen Tate said, “I think it’s already difficult to be a member of this community but under his presidency it gives people the ‘okay’ to act even more harsh towards queer people.”
According to Trump’s website, which promotes his Republican presidential plan Agenda 47, he plans to enact and continue many policies such as rolling back Title VII protections for transgender students and reducing gender-affirming care as reported by TIME magazine.
Additionally, Trump has appointed Supreme Court judges that have expressed desires to reduce funding for schools that teach “gender ideology” and “failed to protect” queer people from job discrimination via rolling back Title IX, according to LGBTQ+ focused news website, them.
Kennedy Donnie, a member of the LGBQT+ community from Houston, said some queer people fear what could possibly happen under Trump’s second term.
“At first, I was very upset and was in denial. It’s starting to feel like we’re screwed,” Donnie, the sophomore TV and film major said.
Executive director of the LGBT National Help Center, Aaron Almanza said that many queer people and allies have had to lean on one another in order to receive comfort, but this existential dread has even impacted those who prioritize putting others before themselves.
“I haven’t processed it. I’ve been up until about 2 a.m. every day because we are dealing with it on such a monumental level,” Almanza said.
Almanza said that awareness and advocacy for those affected have managed to persist through what he considers to be a difficult time for the U.S.
“We are checking in with each other. We are checking in on a daily basis with the staff to see how we are doing, so we can be there for each other,” Almanza said.
Jenniah Odige, a sophomore community development major, believes that there is no definitive plan on what the future will entail for her community in America, but the one sure thing that she can count on is a sense of undying hope and unity.
“It is important for others to check up on family, friends, peers etc who identify within the community. We need it more than ever as the impacts of our uncertain future bring unpredictable changes,” Odige said.
Copy edited by Camiryn Stepteau
