The Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Youth Well-Being newsletter is a benefit to past Time to THRIVE attendees as well as current Project THRIVE members. This month’s newsletter features HRC's response to tragic fatal hate crime in Colorado Springs, Time to THRIVE registration, HRC's celebration of Transgender Awareness Week, a story from USA Today on the importance of gender affirming care, and Seventeen Magazine’s asexuality series.
Navigating The Holidays
For many LGBTQ+ youth, the winter holidays can be fraught with difficult family dynamics and isolation from school and peer support. In this webinar, we will take a closer look at some of the unique challenges facing LGBTQ+ youth, from anxiety about being with extended family members who are not supportive, to intensified loneliness while away from friends, GSAs, and other supports. We will point to skills and tactics youth can turn to if they are feeling especially stressed out this time of year, and how family members and providers can help to mitigate the challenges. The webinar will take place on Thursday, December 15th from 4pm-5pm EST, please register here
HRC Responds to Tragic Fatal Hate Crime in Colorado Springs and Honors the Victims
The deadly shooting at Club Q, an LGBTQ+ club in Colorado Springs, has left us devastated. The club was hosting a drag performance that evening and planned to commemorate Transgender Day of Remembrance the following morning. Our hearts are with the families, friends, and community members who are grieving their loved ones. We honor Daniel Davis Anston (he/him), Kelly Loving (she/her), Ashley Paugh (she/her), Derrick Rump (he/him), and Raymond Green Vance (he/him). Join us in sharing their stories.
HRC has officially recorded at least 300 murders of transgender and gender non-conforming people since the organization began tracking this violence ten years ago, including 32 in 2022 alone.
Time to THRIVE Registration
Time to THRIVE in the Deep South registration is now open! This conference will be held on Friday, February 3 (7pm-10pm ET) and Saturday, February 4, 2023, (8:00am-9:00pm ET). It will focus on Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Florida. As part of HRC's commitment to maintaining a regional local focus for Time to THRIVE, those living and working in the target states will have priority registration, while those living and working outside the region will have limited registration.
HRC observed Transgender Awareness Week! The week occurs annually from November 13 to November 19 and is seen as an opportunity to uplift the community. The week culminates in Transgender Day of Remembrance which takes place on November 20 and honors the memories of the transgender people whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence that year.
In the face of hate and discrimination, Transgender Awareness Week allows us to highlight positive stories of trans people across the country.
USA Today on Gender Affirming Care
USA Today released an article addressing the importance of transgender youths' access to gender affirming care. The article talks about how barriers to the highly individualized medical care can cause higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide. Specifically highlighted is a statistic from a Trevor Project poll which states that, “85% of trans and nonbinary youth say recent debates about state laws restricting their rights have negatively impacted their mental health.” To read the full article click here.
Asexuality Series in Seventeen Magazine
Seventeen Magazine created a series disscusing some lesser known identities that fall under the umbrella of asexuality. The series covers Asexuality, Graysexuality, Demisexuality, and Cupiosexuality providing descriptions of each , ways to self-identify, flags , and resources and features information and quotes from HRC’s Director of Youth & Family Programs, Ted Lewis. Below is a brief description of the each and links to the full articles on each identity:
Asexuality — Asexual people may seek a romantic, emotional, or spiritual connection with someone but would not choose to engage in sexual activities. “Some asexual people may engage in sexual activity because they have a sexual libido, to express intimacy to a partner, or for another reason.” notes Keygan Miller Public Training Manager at The Trevor Project.
Graysexuality — Graysexual people may rarely experience attraction and only occurs under certain situations or circumstances. “Graysexuality may feel more frequent sexual attraction than asexuality, even if it is very rare” (Miller).
Demisexuality — Demisexual people only sense sexual desire after developing a strong emotional bond with another individual. When it comes to connections, demisexual individuals depend nearly completely on secondary attraction, which is why they may take longer to feel genuinely interested in their partner.
It’s important to note is that you can identify as heterosexual, gay, lesbian, bisexual, or pansexual when it comes to your sexual attraction, and also be demisexual.
Cupiosexuality — Cupiosexual do not experience have sexual desire but desires a sexual relationship. Individuals who are Cupiosexual, like other asexual identities, frequently come to realize one‘s identity via a lack of sexual desire, often understanding that they don't have the desire to engage in sexual fulfillment.
The terms we use to describe our sexual orientation, as well as our understanding of sexuality, are constantly evolving. In recent years, more terms have emerged that help us better describe our experiences and attractions. They are helpful to learn so that we can affirm and support others in how they identify.
Resource Bank
If you or a person you know is thinking about harming themselves or needs to talk to someone — get immediate support. Use this link to the Trevor Project to connect via chat or text or call 1-866-488-7386.
Chat with like-minded peers in live chats designed for youth! Q-Chat provides online discussion groups for LGBTQ+ and questioning teens ages 13 to 19.
Take a look at HRCs provided list of resources for those who may be starting or trying to assist in the coming out process.
HRC closed - 12/23/22-1/2/23 Reopen 1/3/23
Please note, the HRC offices will be closed from Friday, December 23, 2022 until Monday, January 2, 2023. The office will reopen on Tuesday, January 3, 2023.
