Friend, I want to share my story with you.

When I was 11, my dad found out I was attracted to boys. That’s when my parents decided to put me in conversion therapy — a dangerous and discredited practice that attempts to change someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity. I survived that experience, despite physical and mental suffering, but I still carry the scars of being made to question who I was and who I loved. 

I’ve come a long way since middle school, and now I’m the proudly bisexual and gender fluid Head of Advocacy here at The Trevor Project. In this role, I hear all-too-often from survivors of conversion therapy whose painful experiences have contributed to them contemplating suicide — and data like that collected by The Trevor Project’s National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health tells an even bigger story about the urgent need to prevent LGBTQ youth suicide by protecting young people with laws that end discredited practices like conversion therapy. 

Today is World Suicide Prevention Day and I am spending it working hard with The Trevor Project to get us closer to a world without LGBTQ youth suicide. Protecting young people is our number one priority.

This World Suicide Prevention Day, I encourage you to reach out to a young person who may need you — give them a hug, encourage them to chase their dreams, and if they need The Trevor Project’s crisis services, please give them our information and let them know they’re never alone. 

We can end LGBTQ youth suicide — we just have to do it together. Thank you for being a part of our online community and listening to my story. 

In solidarity,

Sam Brinton
they/them
Head of Advocacy
The Trevor Project